Mokume Gane with Eric Burris

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Mokume gane is a Japanese technique to laminate different metals together to create beautiful patterns reminiscent of wood-grain. It can be used to fabricate rings, pendants and more to enhance your designs. Mokume can be made of alternating layers of silver, sterling, copper, different karats and colors of gold and more. The patterns of contrasting metals possible with this technique are amazing! 

Eric Burris, a nationally recognized teacher from Maryland, will guide students through this thorough 3 day workshop in how to make mokume in a small studio with low tech, low cost, and efficient methods. Eric will demonstrate how to make a refractory kiln brick furnace with soldering torches for the heat source. Students will make a 16 layer billet using copper and sterling silver. The metals will be diffusion bonded - no solder! Then he well demonstrate how to make a seamless, forged ring band. The left over material can be made into patterned mokume sheet for more projects! This class also includes demonstrations of how to use a rolling mill and a hydraulic press.

 

Why take this workshop?
Mokume is a popular technique that has been around for hundreds of years, but only a few western jewelers have mastered it. Jewelers in the west have adopted this technique and adapted it to the kinds of tools and techniques we have available here. Mokume is not an easy process to learn on your own, and recognizing the stages of diffusion bonding takes lots of trial and error. Some sources on the technique require heavy duty equipment that would be more at home in a blacksmith’s studio, or high tech machinery that would be too expensive. Eric has perfected a method for successfully making mokume in a small studio. The opportunity to work side-by-side with a master is a great way to learn how to make quality mokume the right way, the first time. Eric helps each student with all of the critical stages of fabricating the billet, creating pattern and making jewelry using mokume. We’re excited to bring Eric back again from the east coast for this workshop.

Sign up today before it fills up!


TECHNIQUES DEMONSTRATED:
• Diffusion bonding of copper and silver
• Refractory kiln brick furnace fabrication 
• Seamless washer ring fabrication
• Mokume Gane patterning
• Various metalsmithing techniques as applied to making mokume (including sawing, forging, and soldering)

 

Materials Fee: $40 due to instructor first day of class.
 

Kit of materials and use of tools included. 

 

 

 

Prerequisites:

Students should have completed 1 or 2 of our basic jewelry courses, like Basic Jewelry 1 & 2, or Basic Jewelry 1 and Jewelry 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6,  or have similar proficiency and recent practice in basic jewelry fabrication skills, including soldering, sawing, filing, polishiing, etc. 

 

Instructor:

Eric Burris (Guest)

If a class is online, or is a combination online and in-person session, all students receive a link to a recording of the class demonstrations. In-person only workshops are not recorded. For staff instructor classes, students have access to the recordings for one year. For guest instructors, access is 30 days. 

If a kit is included with the class, online students will have them mailed to them. Kits for in-person students are delivered at the beginning of the first class. More information about the kit is included with the supplies list which is emailed after registration.

International students may be charged an additional amount for shipping, because of the increased cost to ship abroad. Also, shipments to other countries may incur a tariff payable by the student. International students are welcome to contact us re: these costs and options for their materials. Please be sure that the address with your payment is the correct one for shipping.

If this class is offered online, it uses the Zoom app/website. Through Zoom, you’ll be able to see demos and follow instructions, ask questions and interact with your instructor. Zoom is easy to use and free for students to use for class, and works on most devices, like phones (iPhone, Android, etc), tablets (iPads, etc), and computers (Mac or PC).

Your instructor is also available during free Zoom office hours for questions and help.

For classes that include work time, online students work at home or in their studio. All of our recommended tools and the kit materials are chosen to be home studio friendly. Links to preferred vendors are provided in the supplies list sent after registration. Some classes, like our short demo only classes, don't require tools or materials to attend. 

We remain committed to keeping everyone as safe as possible while continuing to move forward and adapt to the current circumstances for our in person classes and open studios.

We recommend that in person students be vaccinated, but it's not required. 

Face masks are encouraged while at the school, but no longer required. Students must bring a particulate face mask (N95, KN95, KF94 or similar) to protect against dust and particles when needed and required during class work time.

If you have tested positive for COVID, have symptoms that could be COVID, or feel ill, please don't come to class. Contact us for more information. 

And now the fine print. Payment in full for class fees is due at the time of registration to reserve your place. We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and PayPal. Checks and cash are accepted only if you register at school. If you mail a check, your registration is not processed until it clears and the class may fill during the wait. 

If the workshop is canceled by our school for any reason, all class fees will be refunded, or you can transfer to another class, or you can keep a credit on account with us for future classes or purchases, 

Students can cancel, receive a credit or refund, or transfer to another class up to 21 days before a workshop, whether it is online or in person. No cancellations are accepted after the 21-day deadline, however, we will do what we can to try and sell your place to a qualified student. If we can sell your place, you can receive a refund less a $50 cancellation fee, keep a credit on account with us, or apply your fees towards a transfer to another class. 

If you can’t make it to class, you may send a participant who has the necessary prerequisites in your place. Please call or email us immediately with any changes in the student participant information. If a class includes an online section, your class will be recorded and you can watch later to make up a class you miss. 

Students must be at least 15 years old to attend a class, and students under 18 must have a legal guardian sign our liability waiver form. We have had younger students attend classes, on a case by case basis. If you’re interested in enrolling your child, please call or email us. 

If you sign up for a class and fail to have the required prerequisites as listed in the class description, you are still subject to the 21-day cancellation policy, listed above.

Lodging and meals are not included for in person classes.

If you don't come to class, there are no refunds, credits or transfers.