Introduction to Jewelry and Metalsmithing
Syllabus
Fall 2010 Arts 2341 CRN: 65638
Tuesday and Thursday_9:00AM-1:00PM
Instructor: Audry Herber
Email: audry.herber@hccs.edu
Art Office phone number: 713-718-6600 leave a message
Office Hours: by appointment only
Website: http://learning.cc.hccs.edu/members/audry.herber
Podcasts: http://itunes.hccs.edu/ (Click on Central College)
Course Description
Credit: 3 (2 lecture, 4 lab)
This class will cover the basics of jewelry fabrication and create simple jewelry pieces using the techniques
demonstrated in class. Students will complete assignments to demonstrate the processes.
Prerequisites
Students must meet the basic intellectual competencies for core courses including reading, writing,
speaking, listening, critical thinking and computer literacy.
Repeating the Course
Students who repeat a course for a third or more times may soon face significant tuition/fee
increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities. Please ask your
instructor/counselor about opportunities for tutoring/ other assistance prior to considering course
withdrawal or if you are not receiving passing.
*Jewelry and Metalsmithing has now been added to studio courses to the exemption list.
Disability Disclaimer
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who
needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office at the respective
college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty are authorized to provide only the accommodations
requested by the Disability Support Services Office. Visit the ADA Web site at
http://www.hccs.edu/students/disability/index.htm
Health Safety
It is strongly advised against taking this class if you are pregnant, have respiratory difficulties,
sensitivity with chemicals, metals, or hand and wrist problems.
Insurance Disclaimer
The Fine Arts Department at Central College strongly recommends that all HCCS students carry
some form of medical insurance to cover illness and injury, both on and off campus. Information
regarding low-cost health insurance for students is available in the Fine Arts office. Under Texas
state statute, HCCS is immune to liability in the event of accident or injury.
Course Content
Using tools and equipment safely
Analyzing and problem solving of jewelry pieces
Basic Jewelry fabrication
Basic soldering techniques
Simple metal formation
Basic stone setting
Course Objectives
Shop Safety
Investigation of basic design
Craftmanship
Understanding the use of varies tools and processes in the creation of jewelry pieces
Learning the properties of metal
Exploration of finishing metal surfaces
Exploration of joining techniques
Use of a acetylene torch for annealing and soldering
Investigation of stones and simple setting
Learning formation techniques
Upon Completing this course
Students must have an understanding of shop safety
Students must have an understanding of the use of tools and equipment in jewelry making
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Students must understand and complete the guideline requirements for each project
Students must be able to apply concepts and techniques taught in class on all projects
*Attendance:
Class attendance is checked is checked daily and begins at 9:00 AM students arriving late
(thirty minutes or more) without a valid excuse, or contacting the instructor through email or
phone will be counted as an unexcused absent. Furthermore students are expected to remain in
class for the entire four hours.
Students with more than 3 days of absences will be dropped or missing in excess of 12.5 percent
of the hours of instruction .
If you are unable to come to class or will be late, you must email the instructor or leave a
message at the art office that you are unable to come. * This will not change the due date of the
assignments.
Grading
*An “I” or Incomplete will be given if the student is unable to hand in the final assignment if
there is an “unplanned event such as an emergency or death.”
**Students are responsible for dropping classes on the given withdrawal date (*November
23, 2010 4:30 pm Last day of withdrawal) and failing to do so will result in a failing grade .
*No make –up assignments will be given
*Work turned in past the dateline will receive a lowered grade
*Work must be handed in the following manner:
Assignments will be placed in a clear plastic bag and clearly marked with your name .
Adherence to the Assignment guidelines: Completing all assignments on time and following
instruction.
Quality of Execution: Work must properly finished and well crafted.
Quality of Design: The use of creativity, balance of elements and use of positive and negative
space.
Application of Techniques and Concepts: Competence in the use of tools and techniques taught
in the class.
Organization: Keeping the working environment clean and respectful of fellow students and the
tools used in the studio.
*Writing ability: Students will keep a notebook with their notes and ideas and answer essay
questions in relationship to each assignment. Students failing to do so will receive a lower grade
and can only make it up by presenting , with the final assignment, a 5 page research paper on
Jewelry and Metalsmithing from a variety topics given by the instructor.
Research: Students must understand and be able to use a computer and the library to further
enhance their knowledge on Jewelry and Metalsmithing.
All students must show up for shop clean up and critique failing to do so will result in a
lower final grade.
Scholastic Dishonesty Policy
Houston Community College defines “scholastic dishonesty” as: cheating on a test, plagiarism,
and collusion. Penalties for academic dishonesty at HCCS include, but are not limited to, “O” on
the test or assignment in question and will result in a grade of “F”.
Grading and Evaluation of Jewelry Projects
The final grade will be an accumulation of points, which will then be averaged by the
number of assignments. Each project is worth 20% of your final grade.
Grade points for Fundamentals of Jewelry Projects
Assignment
Assignment
Assignment
Assignment
Assignment
Final
Projects
1
2
3
4
5
possible
points
100
100
100
100
100
500
Possible
points
Use of the criteria above and below will be applied when assessing the grad on the following levels:
A 90-100 Excellent (500-600)
B 80-89 Good (400-499)
C 70-79 Average (300-399)
D 60-69 Poor (200-299)
F 0-59 Fail (0-199)
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Course and Studio Polices
Students not adhering to the safety policies, or using unsafe practices with equipment,
causing disruptive behavior with inappropriate conduct such as arguing, fighting, and
insensitivity toward the students or the instructor, will not be tolerated and will be
documented and will lead to expulsion from the class and studio. (Be nice, and be safe!)
2. Information covered in class will not be repeated for students who are absent or tardy. Students
are responsible on obtaining lectures and assignments missed from other students.
3. Students missing any of the tests will not be able to make them up.
4. Students are responsible to keep up with their handouts, and should they lose them it will be their
responsibility to secure a copy from the instructor’s Web site.
5. Removal of tools, books, equipment, or property of others including the instructors, will lead
to expulsion from studio and class.
6. Improper use of tools and equipment, which may cause harm to you or another, will not be
tolerated and can lead to expulsion from studio and class.
7. Cell phones should be switched to silent mode. If you must take a call please take the call outside
the classroom.
8. Taking a call or use of a cell phone during exams is forbidden and will be viewed as cheating.
9. No personal stereos, headphones, or pagers.
10. No recording devices or photography, or video from any device may be allowed without
documentation from Disability support Services.
11. Texting or talking on the cell phone while working in the studio and during a lecture is forbidden.
12. Only Students currently enrolled in the Jewelry and Metalsmithing classes may use the Studio
facilities and equipment with valid pass. Those who are not enrolled will be asked to leave.
13. The studios contains some dangerous equipment and chemicals and therefore, please refrain from
bringing pets and small children, they may be injured.
14. It is strongly advise against eating in class and beverages should have some sort of lid.
15. Students must take notes and ask questions about techniques and equipment if they do not
understand.
16. *Students are responsible for obtaining the tools and materials used in the assignment.
17. Students are responsible for the cleanliness of their workspace and returning studio tools to the
proper area.
18. Students are responsible for picking up their art and supplies before the end of the semester:
All unclaimed art and supplies become the property of HCC
Academic advisement concerning specific Fine Arts Courses and degree plans for Jewelry and
Metalsmithing is available to Central College students during the academic semesters. Please sign up in the
Fine Arts office, FAC 101, to speak to a full time instructor in your area of interest.
All students are encouraged to sign up for the Fine Arts Newsletters:
www.centralfinearts.info
Use of Metal Studio
1. In order to use a studio, a student must have a current art studio pass issued by the fine arts office,
and signed by his / her current art instructor.
2. Students agree to adhere to the posted office hours and metal studio hours, and to be clear of all
spaces in time for the office staff to close according to security guidelines or before a class meets.
3. To receive a key to open a studio or when no instructor is present, students must register in the
Fine Arts Office:
a. Write your name, or HCCSD ID number legibly
b. Write the room number, date and time.
c. Leave studio pass with the office staff.
d. Sign out after using the studio: and reclaim studio pass.
e. There will be a $65 charge if you misplace the key.
4. Children and pets are not allowed in the art studios
5. Only students currently enrolled in the Jewelry and Metalsmithing classes may use the studio.
6. It is not acceptable to keep a key and leave personal belongings in a studio while attending another
class, or otherwise leave the building or campus.
7. Each student is responsible for keys checked out. Keys should never be passed from one student
to another. The student who signed for the key is responsible for the key until that student returns
to sign out.
1.
3
8.
When leaving the Metal studio make sure that your space is clean and tidy, all tools are put away
and stored in their proper place. All trash is dispose of. The gas is shut off and the lines are bled.
The vent is shut off. Pickle pots are turned off and unplugged. And the lights are turned off.
9. Any student who disregards these guidelines will lose the privilege of using the FAC studios.
10. The department strongly recommends that all students care some form of medical insurance while
enrolled at HCC Central College
Open Studio Schedule
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Studio
Class 9AMStudio
Open studio Class 9AMOpen studio
Open studio
Closed
1PM
1PM
Closed
1:00 PM
1:00 PM
9:00 AM
(class in
-9:30 PM
Open studio
-9:30 PM
Open studio
3:30 PM
session)
1-5
1-5
Class 5:15
Class 5:15
to 10:00 PM
to 10:00 PM
Suppliers of Tools and Equipment
Jewelry Supply In Houston:
*Jemco
9000 Southwest Fwy, Suite 300
Houston, Texas 77074
713-541-4242
www.jemco-usa.com
In United States Jewelry Supply
Allcraft Jewelry Supply
135 W 29th Room 402
New York, NY 10001
1-800-645-7124
www.allcraftonline.com
Houston Hardware and Hobby Stores:
Home Depot, Lowes, Ace, Tool Club, Northern
Hobby Lobby, Michaels
Indian Jewelers Supply Company
601 East Coal Ave.
Gallup, NM 87302
1-800-545-6540
ijsinc.com
Gemstones
Fire Mountain Gems
http://www.firemountaingems.com/
Out of Our Mines
http://www.outofourmines.com/
**International Gem and Jewelry Show
United States (Metals)
R. J. Leahy Company
http://www.rjleahy.com/
Hauser & Miller Co (specialty metals)
Box 500700
St Louis, MO 63150
1-800-462-7447
hauserandmiller.com
Otto Frei
PO Box 796
Oakland, CA 94607
1-800-722-3456
http://www.ofrei.com
Rio Grande
7500 Blue water Road NW
Albuquerque, NM 87121-1962
1-800-545-6566
www.riogrande.com
Online Resources
Houston Metal Arts Guild
http://www.hmag.org/
Houston Gem & Mineral Society
http://www.hgms.org/
Society of North American Goldsmiths
http://www.snagmetalsmith.org/
Society of American Silversmiths
http://www.silversmithing.com/
Ganoksin.com
http://www.ganoksin.com
Houston Center for Contemporary
http://www.crafthouston.org/
American Craft Council
http://www.craftcouncil.org/
“Metalsmith”, “American Craft”, “Jewelry Crafts”, “Crafts”, “Jewelry Arts & Lapidary Journal”,
“Ornament”
Textbooks for this course can be found at bookstores such as, Amazon, Borders, Barnes and Noble and
used bookstores
Textbook
Complete Metalsmith, Student Edition by Tim McCreight
(Optional)
Jewelry: Fundamentals of Metalsmithing by Tim McCreight
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Jewelry Making Techniques by Elizabeth Olver
The Workbench Guide to Jewelry Techniques by Anastasia Young
Design & Make Mixed Media Jewellery by Joanne Haywood
Highly recommended
The Art of Jewelry Design from Idea to Reality by Elizabeth Olver
Materials for Jewelry and Metalsmithing:
(These items may be obtain as needed)
Optional
Tools
Resources
*Safety Glasses
Apron and gloves
Hearing protectors
Hardware store
Jeweler’s Saw frame
Drill bit No.
54,56,57, 60,
70,74,77
2/0, 3/0
Saw blades as
needed
Brass brush
Jewelry Supply
store
3rd hand
Jewelry Supply
store
Bezal pusher or
rocker
Jewelry Supply
store.
Round nose pliers
Ring clamp
Jewelry Supply
store
Raw hide mallet
Riveting hammer
Burnisher, Cross
lock tweezers
Scraper
Jewelry Supply
store
Spring clamps
Toolbox
Hardware store or
Discount supply
store
Center punch
Hardware store or
Discount supply
store
Required Tools
Needed:
Materials:
6x6 inches of
copper or brass
sheet, 20 gauge
(KIT)
(KIT)
2 dozen or more each
of saw blades in sizes
1/0 (KIT)
6 inch ½ round file
#0 or #2 (KIT)
A set of needle files
(KIT)
Wet/ Dry Sandpaper
in grits of 320, 400,
600 (KIT)
Flat Nose Pliers
Pliers with teeth
(KIT)
Tweezers with a fine
point (KIT)
Soldering pick (KIT)
Permanent Markers
both fine and ultra
fine in black, pencils
Jewelry Supply store like
Jemco
Or mail order from Rio
Grande, Allcraft, etc.
Wire solder in
grades easy,
medium, hard (KIT)
Brass or Copper
wire or rod (silver
optional) (KIT)
Brass or Copper
tubing (silver
optional) (KIT)
Cabochon stone
Hardness 6.5
5-8mm round/oval
Bezel wire
Dependent on
stone size
Optional: silver
sheet assort.
gauges
Paper
Jewelry Supply store
Jewelry Supply
store
Ruler
Discount supply store
Jewelry Supply
store
Small found
objects
Jewelry Supply
store
Jewelry Supply
store
(KIT)
Snips or cutters
Resources
Hardware store, Jewelry
Supply store, Craft supply
Hardware store, Jewelry
Supply store, Craft supply
International gem show
Rio Grande
Jewelry Supply
Jewelry Supply store
Discount supply store
(KIT)
Rubber cement
Drill bit set 1/16-5/32
*(KIT #50-52)
2-3 inch Masking
tape
*Plastic sandwich
bags
*Towel or paper
towels
*Notebook/ journal
Wooden Dowels
or Wood strips in
assorted widths
Scribe
Band-Aids
KIT(about $118)
(Safety glasses
and Toolbox not
included) (Jemco)
Has the basics and
metal except for silver
bezel wire and stone for
the final ring
assignment.
Hardware store
Hardware store
Discount supply
store
Discount supply
store
Dividers
Discount supply
store
Magnification glasses
Craft supply /etc
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Assignment Outline
The following is an outline of lecture and assignments for the semester. It is subject to change if there are
any natural or unnatural disasters, any weird or bizarre occurrences, which may affect the students,
instructor, class, building, or campus being open.
Week 1- Course Introduction
September 28: Introduction, course requirements and grading, student profile, overview of
studio, shop safety, examples of work, lecture on understanding and creating craft objects.
Handout of Assignment 1
September 30: Lecture on bookmark and basic skills and Handout of Assignment 1- Creating a
Bookmark, *images due, begin on Assignment 1
Week 2- Assignment 1 Creating a Bookmark
October 5: Work on Assignment 1
*October 7 : Studio time: Work on Assignment 1,Assignment 2 handout and Assignment 3
handout Assignment 1 Due at end of class
Week 3- Assignment 2 Cold Connections, Annealing, Textures
October 12: Studio time: *Lecture and demonstration.
Introduction and the use of the Acetylene torch, principles of annealing, the creation of textures,
and cold connections. Work on Assignment 2
*October14: Work on Assignment 2 due at end of class
Week 4- Assignment 3 Soldering
October 19: Studio time: Lecture and demonstration of soldering and joint types
*October 21: Studio time: Work on Assignment 3 due at end of class (Handout on wearable art
with examples)
Week 5- Assignment 4 Extreme Wearable Art with found object. “NO STONES”
October 26: Studio time: Work on Assignment 4
October 28: Studio time: Work on Assignment 4
Week 6- Assignment 4- Extreme wearable art with found object
November 2: Studio time: Studio time: Work on Assignment 4.
November 4: Studio time: Studio time: Work on Assignment 4.
Week 7- Assignment 4- Extreme wearable art with found object
November 9: Studio time: Studio time: Work on Assignment 4.
*November 11 Studio time: Work on Assignment 4 due at end of class
Week 8- Assignment 5 - Ring with stones (November 23 Last Day for Administrative/Student
Withdrawals - 4:30 pm)
November 16: Studio time: Ring Demo Work on Assignment 5
November 18: Studio time: Work on Assignment 5
Week 9- Assignment 5 - Ring with stones
November 23: Studio time: Work on Assignment 5
*STUDENT ART SHOW RECEPTION 6-8PM
November 25 Thanksgiving Holiday campus closed.
Week 10- Assignment 5 - Ring with stone
November 30: Studio time: Work on Assignment 5
December 2: Studio time: Work on Assignment 5
Week 11- ***DECEMBER 7-ALLWORK DUE AT THE END OF CLASS
December 9- Shop Clean up and critique Mandatory
Work handed back and class critique and discussion of student work Students are responsible for picking
up their work.
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