All Links will open in a separate browser window
Winter Enamel Workshops
To be held on the premises of the Thompson Enamel Co.,
650 Colfax Avenue Bellevue, Ky.  41073, from 9.30am to 4.30pm on the following dates:
February 23rd   March 2nd   March 9th   March 16th   March 23rd

Cost:
$40 per person per workshop, plus a $3 to $10 material fee may apply.  $10 discount for students 18 and under, or 21 and under with valid college ID.  If you have your own copper or silver, please bring. If not, these may be purchased at Thompson.  Bring your own tools.  Enamels will be provided by Thompson.
 

Note:
A minimum of 5 people are required to hold a workshop.  Please call with your name and address to hold your space.  A $10 non refundable deposit is payable at time of registration to secure your space.  If the minimum number of students is not met 5 days prior to the workshop, you will be informed of its cancellation and your deposit will be refunded.  Class space is limited, so please sign up as soon as possible.  Please call (859) 291-3800 (8:00 am - 4:30 pm weekdays) to reserve your space. Balance of payment can be made when reserving your space, or can be paid at the workshop. Payments are accepted with Visa, Mastercard, Discover, cash or check.  Make checks payable to Thompson Enamel.
 
Phone:  (859) 291-3800     Fax:  (859) 291-1849
E-Mail:  Sales@ThompsonEnamel.com

 
March 2nd, 2002   
 
Stenciling on Steel Tiles
Instructor: Jaime Frechette
 
About the Instructor: 
Jaime Frechette has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with majors in Enameling and Metalsmithing from Kent State University, where she studied with Mel Someroski, Deanna Robb, Kathy Taylor and Bruce Metcalf.  Jaime has also studied with other well-known enamelists such as Valeri Timofeev, Galena Selezneva and Josiane Trageser.  She currently works in her studio, selling her work at arts and craft shows and galleries.  Visit Jaime's web site.
 
Stenciling on Steel Tiles - This workshop will explore the use of stencils on pre-enameled steel tiles.  We will be cutting our own stencils and learning different ways the enamels can be applied (sifted on, brushed, overlapping, etc.)  This technique is appropriate for pictures, tiles, jewelry and production pieces.

Students should bring:  razor knife, brushes, and small, pre-cut stencils.  Additional materials will be available for purchase at Thompson.

 

March 9th, 2002 
 
Liquid Enamels - Acid Etch
Instructor: Tom Ellis
 
About the Instructor:
 Tom Ellis began his enameling career in 1975 at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina.  He was resident enamelist there from 1976 to 1981.  Since 1985, he has been employed with Thompson Enamel Inc. as technical consultant.  Visit Tom's web site.
 
Liquid Enamels - Acid Etch - Liquid clear or white enamel can be painted on, dipped, sprayed or rolled around over clean copper to create imagery.  Once the liquid enamel has dried, sgraffito can be used to further develop the imagery.  The enamel is fired until glossy or clear.  Next the piece is soaked in nitric acid to actually etch the bare copper areas, creating a second deeper level for enamel to be placed into.  Various transparent enamels can be fired over the fired liquid enamel and the exposed bare copper etched areas.  Where the enamel has coated the depressions, the colors will be darker.  Where the transparent enamels are over the liquid enamel, the colors will be lighter.  This technique is good for jewelry shapes, bowl and tray forms and wall pieces.

 

March 16th, 2002  
 
Champlevé-cloisonné II
Instructor:  Jaime Frechette
 
This workshop will further extend the possibilities shown in the previous champlevé-cloisonné workshop in November, 2001.  Works will incorporate a 'coin edge' (self-bezel), various widths of cloisonné wire; thick-thin, square and round.  Etching textures and line work into the base metal will also be explored.  Items to be made would include jewelry-size pieces to small panels.

 

March 23rd, 2002 
 
Copper Tooling Foil made into Small Dish or Tray Form
Instructor: Tom Ellis
 
Thin gauge copper tooling foil can be placed on a thick telephone book for cushion, and then tooled in relief.  The relief can be thought of as sculpting or creating a 3-dimensional surface.  This action burnishes the copper surface, and when transparents are fired directly on the copper surface, the most beautiful, vibrant color results.  A good exercise to discover lead free transparents direct on copper without flux.

By cutting a circle out of copper tooling foil, a design is embossed into the flat copper tooling foil.  The piece is then "raised" with your hands into a small bowl or tray form.  Many transparent enamels direct on copper make these unusually delicate and beautiful pieces.
 
Students should bring:  
 Wooden scriber (old wooden artist's brush handle - sharpened.) 

 

February 23, 2002

Painting Materials and Techniques
Instructor:  Tom Ellis

Thompson has many new painting products available.  This topic will introduce Thompson's new Acrylic Enamels, Watercolor Enamels and Enamel Marking Crayons.  Each product line has unique painting characteristics.  The acrylic enamels can be used thickly or thinned with water for washes.  The acrylic enamels are also unique in that by applying and firing one layer of color and then applying a second or third layer of color over the first and second layers, they will create almost any color.  By covering the acrylics with clear transparent enamel, they achieve a visual depth of color.  They also create very vivid brush strokes.  Water colors can be used to shade other 80 mesh enamel colors.  Painting techniques and firing procedures will be discussed.  Most works will be on pre-coated white steel panels and Thompson's new Enameled Steel Plates.

Students should bring:
Assortment of artist's brushes.

 

Please call (859) 291-3800 (weekdays 8:00 am to 4:30 pm) or (859) 581-6277 (evenings and weekends, leave a message) to register. Space is limited, so call early to reserve you place.