I love Metal Clay! I love its properties and pliability and adaptability to shape and texture and even, sometimes, its unpredictability. Fabricating in Metal Clay is endlessly inspiring and I share my enthusiasm with those who may want to explore this medium through my workshops….more about that below.
Liz Reynolds Studio jewelry weaves together textures, techniques and influences spanning distance and time. Patterns and textures derived from nature combine with those from woodblock carving and traditional metalwork, as well as original design. I work primarily in silver and bronze Metal Clay embellished occasionally with gemstones. My background includes ceramics and textile arts.
If you’re interested in workshops on various aspects of learning Metal Clay, from a beginner introduction class to more advanced project-focused work, please contact me. I teach in-person workshops in the Toronto, Canada area, or anywhere online.
I am accredited through Hadar’s Clay instructor program (2013). My repertoire includes a wide variety of silver and base metal clays and I am a member of the Alliance for Metal Clay Arts Worldwide (AMCAW).
I have been teaching jewelry workshops in the Toronto area since 2010.
You can reach me at LizReynoldsStudio@gmail.com
Virtual Metal Clay Classes
All classes are delivered live on Zoom, with printed materials (as PDFs) sent prior to the workshop start,
and are categorized as follows:
Beginner – all the basics and then some; understanding metal clay properties; what it can and cannot do; creating with strength & proportion; embellishing & refining; how firing works.
Beginner Plus – beyond the basics, but not too far; creating dimension on flat and curved surfaces; texturing all around;
layering; metal clay bezels.
Intermediate – closed hollow forms (spheres, boxes, etc.), open hollow forms (cylinders, barrels, etc.),
mokume gane in metal clay.
Additionally, private classes for any aspect of working with metal clay are available upon request.
All of my classes are kept small for lots of individual attention. Additionally, private classes for any aspect of working with
metal clay are available upon request. A tools list will be sent prior to the class. Finishing methods will be demonstrated
and written instructions provided.
Class formats
Short version – 3 hours comprised of information, instruction and demonstrations, Q & A, and a half hour follow-up session
for questions & concerns that arise after class.
Long version – 6 hours, usually over 2 days, a project-focused class with participant work-along during and after the class.
If a second day is required, any finishing and refinement will be completed, explorations of student’s work and remedies
provided for problems encountered during class or private work time.
Intro to Metal Clay
The hows and whys of Metal Clay will be explained, giving you a working knowledge of how to work with this wonderful medium. Metal Clay takes texture very well and we’ll experiment with a wide range of texturing methods. You’ll learn how to mix powdered clay or condition packaged lump clay, including how to re-condition stored clay that has dried out. As well, I’ll show a simple technique for determining when your clay is just right and ready for use. Bails and finishing methods will be demonstrated.
Leaves, Tendrils & Granulation
This class explores using templates and textures to create realistic, decorative or symbolic leaf shapes in the creation of earrings and pendants, even wind chimes. Techniques include the creation and application of tendrils, granulations and framing.
Create your own Texture Template
This is a fun and inspiring workshop, whether you have drawing ability or not, will show you how to create your own designs and patterns for metal clay. Whether freeform or repeating patterns, you will learn a variety of methods for creating a texture tile. We will explore various methods of creating patterns, then transfer to scratch foam board, and stabilized so that it can be used again and again to transfer pattern and texture onto metal clay. Alterna-tive methods for creating more permanent tiles will also be discussed or demonstrated.
Create a Metal Clay Quilt
This class explores mixing metal clays and textures to create a quilt-like form, both framed and unframed. We’ll explore how patina can deepen the contrast between clays and darken the recesses, and highlighting textured areas.
Bracelets in Metal Clay
We will focus on a variety of methods for constructing metal clay tubes and tiles and methods of connecting them to form bracelets. A variety of bracelet options and connection methods, from simple to more complex, will be explored. Bracelets can be constructed to accommodate elastic, toggles or magnetic closure.
Spool & Barrel Beads
This class explores the creation of overlapping and butt-joined, hollow tubes. Various end treatments will be demonstrated. Textures, surface, bails and dangles will be demonstrated.
Adjustable Rings
We will explore two methods of ring construction in sterling silver metal clay, formed in the wet state, and the other designed, textured and fired flat and formed around a mandrel after firing. You will learn appropriate ring textures and embellishments, as well as adjusting for clay shrinkage rates. This size-adjustable ring is a good introduction to the process of ring making.
Hollow Forms in Metal Clay
The strongest form in nature is the sphere and in this workshop you’ll learn why, and how to make non-sphere forms just as strong. You’ll learn how to construct an internal architecture that prevents any shape from sagging, and two methods for constructing ‘walls.’
Pendulum Pendants
Three methods of creating pendulum-shaped pendants will be demonstrated. We will also explore a variety of bail attachments/openings and decorative finishes, granulation, and the use of snakes both functionally and decoratively.
Wearable Essential Oil Diffuser
In this class we will create a decorative, lidded container for a wick onto which essential oils can be dropped, providing personal aromatherapy throughout the day. Various design approaches and methods of attaching lids and chain will be explored, wick included in class fee.
Mendhi-patterned stacked star, in silver bronze, on a snake chain.
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Small swirl-patterned, hollow box on a snake chain.
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Silver Bodhi leaf on a snake chain.
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Openwork hollow box in paisley shape and pattern, on a snake chain.
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Three hollow, patterned silver bronze spheres, on snake chain.
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Small silver bronze rose on a snake chain.
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Openwork, hollow, square box with Celtic pattern, in silver bronze, on snake chain.
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Choker necklace of textured gray-blue glass with a patterned silver bronze focal bead.
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Statement necklace of graduated, patterned, hollow lentil beads and smaller lentil spacers, in silver bronze, on snake chain.
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