Emilie Shapiro Studio
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This 6 week intermediate wax carving class will introduce the various stone setting techniques of this wonderful medium. We will be making two projects in this class over the 6 weeks - a ring and a pendant.
This course is open to intermediate levels, prior wax carving knowledge is suggested.
Students will design and carve a ring in hard wax with a bezel setting for a cabochon or flat bottom stone. Learn to use files, burs, and carving tools for subtractive sculpting to create your stone setting. We will also learn to set the stone in metal.
For our second project, students will learn to modify their bezel carving skills to add prongs, tabs and other setting techniques. Wax carvings will be sent out to a professional casting house and we will learn to finish the metal in this class including casting clean up, polishing, patina and stone setting.
Wax carving is an ancient technique dating back to the Egyptians where you carve a small, detailed sculpture and cast it into metal using the lost wax casting technique. Wax carving and casting is a wonderful technique for creating your own handmade jewelry and is a great technique to practice at home that requires very few tools.
Tools and wax materials are included, and a tool list is provided if you'd like to purchase your own tools. The material cost for metal casting is not included and there are a few different options for casting - brass, bronze, sterling silver, and different karats of gold (although not recommended for beginners projects). Castings in base metals like brass and bronze are usually around $15, depending on the weight.
Emilie Shapiro is a jewelry designer, instructor and educator and has been practicing her craft for over 20 years. Emilie received her B.F.A. in Art + Design with a concentration in jewelry and metalsmithing from Syracuse University. She also studied at Alchimia, a contemporary school of jewelry in Florence, Italy with artists Peter Bauhuis, Yoko Shimizu, and Marzia Rossi. Before launching her own jewelry line, Emilie worked as a bench jeweler and production manager for various jewelry companies in New York City. Emilie also teaches jewelry workshops in her studio, as well as online classes offered on her website, and has taught at wonderful institutions like the 92Y, Brooklyn Brainery, Liloveve Jewelry Studio and more. Emilie is the author of How to Create Your Own Jewelry Line & Creative Wax Carving.