A jeweler in West Africa will typically own a hammer, pliers or tweezers, and a few other odds and ends that they keep in a hand-made toolbox. They must rely on their ingenuity because commercial tools are rarely available. The Toolbox Initiative aims to address this imbalance. Jewelers and teachers Tim McCreight and Matthieu Cheminée formed The Toolbox Initiative to assist the metalsmithing community in West Africa and to recognize them for their kindness and generosity during the research for the book, Legacy: Jewelry Techniques of West Africa.
inspiration
Annie Koenig’s Saul Bell Design Journey Chapter Four: The Completion of Surrender
Annie Koenig won second place in the gold/platinum category of the 2014 Saul Bell Design Award competition. She documented her artistic journey on her website and we’ve shared her story here in a four-part series. Today you can read the final chapter, about how she put the details and finishing touches on her award-winning piece and then celebrated by attending the awards ceremony. Read Annie’s wonderful story and then challenge yourself by entering the 2015 Saul Bell Design Award competition!
Focusing on Facets: A Photography Primer for Jewelry Artists with Jim Lawson
Jim Lawson was at Rio Grande last week to teach a photography class during our Summer Workshop Series. He sat down with us to talk about the difficulties of photographing jewelry and to share 10 easy tips from his class to help novice photographers start taking beautiful shots of their work.
Enameling 104: Choosing, Preparing, and Applying Enamels
Today, on the The Studio, MariaElena Baca brings us the final chapter of her enameling series. In Enameling 104 you’ll learn the differences between lead-free and lead-bearing enamels, you’ll get step-by-step instructions for how to wash your enamels, and you’ll watch a video featuring expert enamelist, Ricky Frank. Get inspired by today’s post and the entire series, then dive into this fun and colorful technique!
Annie Koenig’s Saul Bell Design Journey Chapter Three: Walking Through the Challenges of Surrender
Annie (also known as Andrea) Koenig won second place in the gold/platinum category of the 2014 Saul Bell Design Award competition. She documented her artistic journey, from the first spark of the idea to enter the contest, through completing the piece and attending the awards dinner, on her website. Today, on The Studio, we share the third in a four-chapter series. Check back in the coming weeks to see more of Annie’s journey!
Annie Koenig’s Saul Bell Design Journey Chapter Two: Surrender is a Finalist!
Annie (also known as Andrea) Koenig won second place in the gold/platinum category of the 2014 Saul Bell Design Award competition. She documented her artistic journey, from the first spark of the idea to enter the contest, through completing the piece and attending the awards dinner, on her website. Today, on The Studio, we share the second in a four-chapter series. Check back in the coming weeks to see more of Annie’s journey!
Annie Koenig’s Saul Bell Design Journey Chapter One: The Design
Annie (also known as Andrea) Koenig won second place in the gold/platinum category of the 2014 Saul Bell Design Award competition. She documented her artistic journey, from the first spark of the idea to enter the contest, through completing the piece and attending the awards dinner, on her website. Today, on The Studio, see the first in a four-chapter series. Check back in the coming weeks to see more of Annie’s journey!
Examining and Challenging Rules in Art Making with Jeweler Ricky Frank
Today’s post, by master enamelist and jeweler Ricky Frank, is a thought-provoking examination of the “rules” we impose on ourselves in our creative process. Ricky asks you to remember that a rule is just one way in which to do something. It is not the only way. Ask yourself if the rules you adhere to are helping you or creating obstacles.
The Studio Team Gets Their Hands Dirty: Enter Rio’s Incredible WHITE COPPRclay Contest and Join Them!
It’s not too late to join our Incredible WHITE COPPRclay Pinterest Contest! Check out The Studio today to see the what happened when Rio’s blog team got the WHITE COPPRclay bug and had a workshop to create some treasures. Then you can join the Incredible WHITE COPPRclay Contest yourself for a chance to win a fabulous blog spotlight of your jewelry!
In the Spotlight: The Magical Colors of Hsu Studios
Carol and Jean-Pierre Hsu of Hsu Studios are in the spotlight at The Studio today. See how they create pieces with lively movement and vibrant color by turning anodized aluminum into contemporary jewelry, wall art, and mobiles.
Non-Traditional Engagement Rings: Are Diamonds Still Forever?
Wedding season is almost upon us. And while diamonds are usually the darlings of the jeweler’s bench during this time of year, more and more couples are requesting sapphires, rubies, topaz, and other colored stones for their engagement rings. Will your work reflect this colorful trend? Check out The Studio today to get inspired!
Jewelry Design Options: Mixing COPPRclay and New WHITE COPPRclay
Rio recently introduced new WHITE COPPRclay to its line of base metal clays, and every clay artist in the building could hardly wait to work with it. After giving him some time to experiment, we cornered Rio Grande metal clay artist and Tech Team member Thomas Flores and asked him what he’s discovered about this exciting new color of COPPRclay. Read about his experiences today at The Studio.