I had to struggle with this teaching thing early on as I began the studio. If you’ll remember one of my first posts on here I was going to set it aside, but as James Bond would have said, never say never. So, I took it all back to the drawing board and came up with more flexible, systematic, educational approach that better suits my demographic and my style.
The hardest part for me is separating the craft from the art; craft being the technique and the art being the idea or aesthetic behind what is made. As an art teacher of almost 15 years, I had written a ton of project based lesson plans that taught a series of art concepts many days spent on the same project, but in a public and college setting, I have a captive audience that comes in and stays on a regular schedule. In the studio with a variety of student types, this was just not feasible. So,I was trying to teach too much in one metalsmithing class. So, now I have developed two sorts of classes that I will teach, short 2-4 hour technique classes, and longer, more project oriented classes.
Technique Classes
The Technique classes are where I demonstrate a technique, and then the students will get one or more opportunities to do the technique with my supervision and assistance. Then, we discuss ways in which everyone can incorporate the technique into their own work.
It is impossible to master a skill in one or three tries in one class, and I let everyone know this. It is like algebra. I can teach you how to do a formula, but you haven’t mastered it till you’ve practiced it on your own successfully and built up your confidence. And, because of the limited nature of the class I can keep the prices for these classes very low, so that some can opt to retake the class to further master the skill in a more supervised setting. This bothered me at first. I asked myself, “Why would someone retake the class?” I thought that maybe I hadn’t done a very good job, but after talking to the students, I felt more at ease, and was better able to assist them in mastering the skill. Some people just feel more confident practicing with a teacher supervising.
Really, no one can just do just one technique and start making jewelry, or at least interesting jewelry. But, each class is set up so that we are concentrating only on one skill. So, they don’t exactly go home with something that they can wear. This class is set up for those who are about to or have already set up a work area at home, and they want to seriously concentrate on building their set of skills. At first this was a hard sell to my student base that were used to bead classes, where they would see a finished product before signing up. But, after a few classes, a buzz began and now classes fill up within hours of posting a schedule for the month. I believe that this builds a better student base for something such as metalsmithing, but I had to keep my fingers crossed in the beginning.
Here is a list of a few classes that I have prepared in this style:
Introduction to soldering
Cold-connections
Fusing
Keum boo
Introduction to the jeweler’s saw
Beginning forging
Etching
Patinas
Ring making
chain making
Project Classes
Project based classes are very different. In this type of class, the students will do a series of techniques to make something that they can wear home, such as a cuff with a stone, a ring with a tube-set gemstone, or a pendant with a cab. In my experience, it is harder for a student to fully grasp any of the multiple techniques that they are being taught if their mind is focused on the end product. They are constantly trying to envision what it’s going to look like, why they’re doing this specific thing, or pensive about the next step. But, it’s great for different reasons. New students get to sample what the whole craft of metalsmithing is like, and more experienced students get to take the skills that they have started learning to a new level. It is also an excellent opportunity to discuss things that we wouldn’t cover in a technique class, like proportions, functionality, color, stone selections, or aesthetic in general.
Project based classes attract several different types of students. Some are people wondering if metalsmithing would be something that they would enjoy, and they want to try it. Some are more social and just like taking classes to do something new and meet new people, and they may go on later that day to take a book binding class at the library. But, then this is also an opportunity for the students who have had my technique courses to discuss and study the art of what we are doing.
Usually, these types of classes are longer and more expensive. I also have a lot more preparation to get more tools ready and more supplies. It also just takes longer to guide the students through several techniques, and they can last from 6 hours to 2 days. But, all in all, it is the best way to incorporate student needs. Using both the technique classes and the projects, they can get the most from the learning experience.
Why This Works for Us
There are no metalsmithing or jewelry schools nearby us here in Alabama, no college courses, and no other means for people in our area to learn this craft and art form. And, by combining technique classes and projects, the students get a more flexible learning schedule, without having to commit to an out-of-state program that will take a huge chunk out of their pocketbook and time. There are not many people who can commit or afford a whole week or month to a program in our area, so this is why I had to eat my “never more.” :o)
Plus, A very BIG plus, is that we can remain flexible to allow artists from out-of-state to come in and teach project based classes. For example we have Jessica Dow of Wisconsin coming in next month to teach a two-day, stone-set pierced pendant. And, while we had to somewhat coordinate our schedules, not being a school type of setting, it didn’t interfere with anything to open the class to everyone in the community.
I am not teaching future bench jewelers to go out and do repairs, but I may be inspiring some to do so. Some have gone on to further their education to do this with one of the out-of-state schools. Most want to start a small business and build it into a full working studio of their own. And, some just want to start a serious hobby.
Next
The next phase is to establish a local society for my students, where we can critique our work, discuss aesthetic development, and discuss business and promotional ideas. I’m not a huge fan of clubs, so I am trying to have this set up by some of my students instead of just me. Plus, I need an opportunity to learn as well. Maybe, it can be set-up so that my students can teach me a few things :o)
Thanks for reading, and I would love some feedback from some of the other teachers here on Ganoksin.
Also, if there are any metalsmiths, lapidaries, or jewelers who would be interested in teaching in a knowledge hungry location, please let us know. michaeljohnson@cosmicfolklore.com
Latest posts by michaeljohnson (see all)
- On Cosmic Success… - July 28, 2013
- Why Flowers? - February 28, 2013
- Comet and Cosmic Dust - January 28, 2013
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you,
I do love teaching. I may grumble from time to time, but I know that teaching helps me keep my processes structured, which keeps my own workmanship better also.
Yeh, my dad also took me through small steps. I slowly went from sweeping the floors of the shop, to cleaning castings, to cleaning jewelry for customers, to etc…
However, teaching high school was like being thrown into a pool. I knew what to do, but going from talking about teaching and educational theory to having 175 students pass through my room on that first day was a “keeping my head above water” day.
There’s always more to learn, and unlearn in everything. Keep looking for questions, and question the answers :o)
so we made them anyway…….. he told me he kept waiting for me to give up……..That’s a great way to learn, trial and error! I think that Michale’s is too and has a lot less frustration to it. Little well taught steps. I learned the other way, just kind of thrown in the pool and here you go learn to swim (I never did learn to swim though, just to be afraid of the water in reality) but there are some things that need to be unlearned by the trial and error method of your professor. I may have turned out to be a better jeweler with a better foundation of the techniques before I started the big projects but then again maybe not. I think you providing a great service to jewelry community by doing the classes.
Great story and experience!!
Unfortunately, our location and demographic prevents us from having many multiple day classes. Some of our students come from the neighboring states, or they’re working day jobs during the week. I had thought about doing a workshop on brainstorming and sketching. I’m not sure how that would bode with the majority of students, but I’d love to offer it.
With technique classes offered separately from project classes, they really get options on how they want to approach learning. But, they don’t really ever get walked through the creative process as in depth as one would with the flexibility of being able to take a more intensive course of study than we offer. I always suggest to students that are flexible to go to Penland or Holland schools. But, most of our students have 9-5’s or kids or have a very limited budget, so they can’t attend schools.
I don’t feel that we are in competition with the larger schools. We are a different critter all together. Some use our classes as a test strip to see if jewelry or metalsmithing is really something that they’d like to pursue further. Then they go on to the schools.
But, great story. It makes me really wish and want to incorporate more structured student initiated creativity into what we do. Hmmmm, maybe we can make it happen :o)
:o)
Thanks!!!
In college, my professor would go over a technique, and have us bring a number of sketches that would incorporate it to the next class, where he would help us decide what was do-able. While it made his job a LOT harder, the kinds of things first time metalsmith students produced were absolutely astonishing, in part because it was motivating to be able to work on something WE wanted to make, and partly because we didn’t have enough experience to know something would be too difficult to make, and so we made them anyway. At my first critique, he told me he kept waiting for me to give up (I made a copper hollowform neckpiece with double compound curves and about four miles of continuous solder joint. The project’s requirement was to combine forming and soldering) I just looked at him blankly – I had no idea that was even an option 🙂
there are some great videos on Ganoksin’s Benchtube http://www.userblogs.ganoksin.com/benchtube/videos
And, youtube has tons of videos on these techniques. But, I have given it some thought. My only obstacle is video quality. I am less than mediocre at editing video. But, I might give it a shot at some point.
Most of the students who come to me have watched videos, but want feedback and coaching, and I’m not sure how I could best do this electronically. There are things like sound and feel that come into play when working with metals and stones.
I have blogged on here a bit on the difference in craft and art. As an art educator, I had to think quite a bit about the topics. The area that I am always thirsty is the art and aesthetic. I love a great critique. I thirst for feedback on my ideas and compositions, but I’m out here in the woods alone :o) There isn’t even a bench jeweler in my area. The jewelry stores here have started shipping repairs, but I do get the occasional painter or poet in the shop. And I tend to attract social media friends who are too kind to really kick my teeth out if I make something ridiculous, ha ha. So, when I do find the rare truthful critic, I treasure them. Hmmmm, maybe a good idea for a future blog.
So, maybe I have I do classes to build my own peanut gallery :o)
Thanks for the comment and suggestion. You’ve started a gear to spinning for me.
I love how you have constructed both types of classes and the fact that you are sensitive to the distinction between art and craft. I need craft classes, period. I would take everything you have to offer, but live too far away. Stephanie Lee has a wonderful format for her e-courses, incorporating short videos and pdf’s. I learned so much and would in fact take it again. I would love if you considered this type of format for those of us that live too far away to take classes in person.
As a teacher myself (albeit in a completely different field – massage therapy), I have found that everyone always wants to jump to the art without spending time on the craft. I try to teach the craft and allow small amounts of time/encouragement to incorporate that into the art little by little. The majority of time is spent on craft, however. I think the format and two types of courses is even better though. As an adult student, I like being able to choose what it is I am needing at any given time. Sometimes it’s art and sometimes it’s craft.