Fleming College

A piece of jewellery is evidence of the creative process. It embodies the technology, the medium, and the artist's message in a work that can be pinpointed in time and place. In this course, students will be exposed to and analyze jewellery from different eras and cultures. As part of this exploration, they will develop criteria that will be used to compare the design and aesthetics of works from different cultures. Students will integrate this knowledge in their studio work. By the end of the course each student will be able to research, select from and adapt a past style or technique to their own work; write a critique of an artwork, and prepare a collection of visual material from a specific culture.

This course explores the fundamental techniques of chain making. Students will learn how to anneal and draw wire, which they will fabricate into links and elements to be connected and / or soldered in order to form traditional and experimental chain styles. Proportion, materials, flexibility and shape will be explored in the development of students' own designs. They will also learn the mechanics of fasteners, drawing on historical design and techniques to develop functional and pleasing forms.

This studio-based course promotes exploration in, and understanding of, the basic design process as applied to jewellery. Line, texture, colour, symmetry, balance and proportion will be explored in relation to the form and function, wearability of a piece, construction processes and material limitations. Through research and presentation, examples of different jewellers and their work will be related to styles and technology from a design point of view. Students will be challenged to rationalize and express their personal stylistic preferences through a series of in class exercises and critiques.

This course is an introduction to the fundamental techniques of drawing and rendering for jewellery applications. Through technical and exploratory exercises and project work, students will develop understanding of the different types of images, their applications, and the tools, materials, techniques and processes necessary to produce accurate shop drawings and presentation renderings for a range of contexts. A variety of media will be explored that are appropriate to communicating design concepts in the jewellery arts. The results will be discussed through in-class review. An introduction to CAD software will be covered in preparation for expectations in the `Design - Jewellery' course later in the semester.

This course is an introduction to the fundamental techniques of model making and lost wax casting. Students will learn to make wax models through the processes of carving and model making. Technical and exploratory exercises and projects will help to develop student understanding of the materials, tools, historic and contemporary techniques and processes necessary to wax model making and lost wax casting. There is a special emphasis on the competent use of equipment, as well as maintaining a healthy and safe working environment.

This course introduces the fundamental fabrication techniques used with nonferrous metals. Students will learn to use hand tools competently in order to design and construct basic jewellery forms. Through technical and exploratory exercises and practice students will develop skills in the use of the polishing machine, flex shaft, drill press and oxygen / propane torch system with which they will anneal, solder, decorate and finish their forms. There will be a special emphasis on the appropriate use of shop equipment and the health and safety procedures essential to work practices in the jewellery studio.

This course builds on, and refines techniques explored in Jewellery Fabrication I. Students will design and execute more complex forms which may be hinged, riveted, or fabricated using multiple, soldered joints. Examples of complex designs could be layered or hollow constructed rings, brooches, pendants, earrings, clips, and/or findings. This course examines different types of mechanism fabrication including bending, scoring, and riveting. Students will design and problem-solve through a range of exercises and practice pieces while developing their repertoire of jewellery fabrication techniques. Development of skill, technique, personal style, and expression will be facilitated through group and individual work.

This course will further develop and strengthen techniques used in Jewellery Fabrication I & II as well as introduce advanced techniques requiring greater skill and accuracy. Specifically, these include the use and function of hinges and skill in making tubing from sheet metal. Students will develop further understanding of metal and its working properties to apply to assignments and or projects.

This course is an introduction to the basic processes exploiting the malleability of metals used in jewellery arts. Students will have the opportunity to explore the wealth of options available in creating objects with volume and form. Through technical exercises and personal exploration, students will be able to form metal through a series of different techniques. Design principles will be integrated into course activity in order to help students explore the problems of form and function. Starting with sheet or square stock, they will use the techniques introduced in the course to build on and enhance objects of their own design.

This course is a continuation of the skills acquired in the Jewellery Forming I course; building on the basic techniques used in forming for jewellery arts. Through lectures, demonstrations and practice exercises, students will explore more techniques to form metal including synclastic and anticlastic forming, forging, fold forming, bending and chasing and repousee. There will be a continued emphasis on design principles and their application as students work though the various techniques that are applied to jewellery.

This course is an introduction to the basic fabrication techniques used for stone settings including materials, design, fabrication, and finishing. Through technical and exploratory exercises and projects students will produce a variety of different types of settings for different functions. The properties of gem stones will be assessed in relation to their appropriateness for a given setting as well as techniques for setting them in the finished design. The competent use of equipment and safety procedures in the jewellery studios will be emphasized.

Surface Decoration I introduces students to an inventory of surface treatments for metal, including a variety of finishes, polishes, textures, decoration and pattern. Working with sterling silver, copper and brass, the emphasis will be on consistency, attention to detail and concepts such as pattern, contrast and personal expression. Students will explore a variety of options for finishes including high polish, brush finish and matte finishes. The chemistry of metals will be addressed while learning about depletion gilding and students will use various resist methods and sandblasting techniques. Using tools, hammers, files, burrs and stamps, students will explore texture and patterning and will be introduced to tool making by fabricating one decorative steel stamp. Sterling silver will be fused to create richly textured surfaces. Students will research and experiment with various methods of patina applications and metal leafs to add colour. Special attention will be paid to health and safety in the studio and the appropriate use, handling, storage and disposal of chemicals. Development of technique, personal style and expression will be facilitated by individual and group critiques and keeping a studio journal.

Students will continue to build on and refine their repertoire of surface treatments for jewellery. The focus will be on texture, imagery, pattern and colour through the exploration of filigree, married metal and etching, with an emphasis on consistency, and attention to detail. Students will roller-print designs and patterns using found objects, paper and pierced and textured metal patterns and will learn the correct use and care of the rolling mill. Concepts of mirror image, positive and negative space and repeat pattern will be added to their design repertoire. Using married metal techniques such as inlay, multi-metal lamination and twisted wire lamination, graphic imagery and pattern with different coloured metals will be created. In addition, students will experiment with heat-colouring married metal designs and copper as well as etching and resists and the combination of finishes. As this course is image and pattern based, drawing and design will be integrated into the studio work. Through assignments, maintaining a studio journal and personal exploration, students will discover both the technical and expressive natures of surface decoration techniques. Health and safety in the studio will be emphasized with a focus on the proper and safe use of chemicals.

Practicing artists can choose from many different paths to advance their personal and artistic goals in artistic practice, education, presentation skills and promotion and marketing as entrepreneurs. Each student will establish their own specific focus for continuing their artist's practice. In class sessions will involve online research, writing, digital photography, presentation and critical discussion. Pre-course assignment work will provide the data for artist documents and digital images of their work for the development of a portfolio. Students will show their work in an established campus venue as a culmination to their certificate program experience. Certificate students who have already completed the first two semesters of the Visual and Creative Arts Diploma Program will complete this course mainly as independent review and revision of their portfolio and artists documents in collaboration with faculty.

A piece of jewellery is evidence of the creative process. It embodies the technology, the medium, and the artist's message in a work that can be pinpointed in time and place. In this course, students will be exposed to and analyze jewellery from different eras and cultures. As part of this exploration, they will develop criteria that will be used to compare the design and aesthetics of works from different cultures. Students will integrate this knowledge in their studio work. By the end of the course each student will be able to research, select from and adapt a past style or technique to their own work; write a critique of an artwork, and prepare a collection of visual material from a specific culture.

This course explores the fundamental techniques of chain making. Students will learn how to anneal and draw wire, which they will fabricate into links and elements to be connected and / or soldered in order to form traditional and experimental chain styles. Proportion, materials, flexibility and shape will be explored in the development of students' own designs. They will also learn the mechanics of fasteners, drawing on historical design and techniques to develop functional and pleasing forms.

This studio-based course promotes exploration in, and understanding of, the basic design process as applied to jewellery. Line, texture, colour, symmetry, balance and proportion will be explored in relation to the form and function, wearability of a piece, construction processes and material limitations. Through research and presentation, examples of different jewellers and their work will be related to styles and technology from a design point of view. Students will be challenged to rationalize and express their personal stylistic preferences through a series of in class exercises and critiques.

This course is an introduction to the fundamental techniques of drawing and rendering for jewellery applications. Through technical and exploratory exercises and project work, students will develop understanding of the different types of images, their applications, and the tools, materials, techniques and processes necessary to produce accurate shop drawings and presentation renderings for a range of contexts. A variety of media will be explored that are appropriate to communicating design concepts in the jewellery arts. The results will be discussed through in-class review. An introduction to CAD software will be covered in preparation for expectations in the `Design - Jewellery' course later in the semester.

This course is an introduction to the fundamental techniques of model making and lost wax casting. Students will learn to make wax models through the processes of carving and model making. Technical and exploratory exercises and projects will help to develop student understanding of the materials, tools, historic and contemporary techniques and processes necessary to wax model making and lost wax casting. There is a special emphasis on the competent use of equipment, as well as maintaining a healthy and safe working environment.

This course introduces the fundamental fabrication techniques used with nonferrous metals. Students will learn to use hand tools competently in order to design and construct basic jewellery forms. Through technical and exploratory exercises and practice students will develop skills in the use of the polishing machine, flex shaft, drill press and oxygen / propane torch system with which they will anneal, solder, decorate and finish their forms. There will be a special emphasis on the appropriate use of shop equipment and the health and safety procedures essential to work practices in the jewellery studio.

This course builds on, and refines techniques explored in Jewellery Fabrication I. Students will design and execute more complex forms which may be hinged, riveted, or fabricated using multiple, soldered joints. Examples of complex designs could be layered or hollow constructed rings, brooches, pendants, earrings, clips, and/or findings. This course examines different types of mechanism fabrication including bending, scoring, and riveting. Students will design and problem-solve through a range of exercises and practice pieces while developing their repertoire of jewellery fabrication techniques. Development of skill, technique, personal style, and expression will be facilitated through group and individual work.

This course will further develop and strengthen techniques used in Jewellery Fabrication I & II as well as introduce advanced techniques requiring greater skill and accuracy. Specifically, these include the use and function of hinges and skill in making tubing from sheet metal. Students will develop further understanding of metal and its working properties to apply to assignments and or projects.

This course is an introduction to the basic processes exploiting the malleability of metals used in jewellery arts. Students will have the opportunity to explore the wealth of options available in creating objects with volume and form. Through technical exercises and personal exploration, students will be able to form metal through a series of different techniques. Design principles will be integrated into course activity in order to help students explore the problems of form and function. Starting with sheet or square stock, they will use the techniques introduced in the course to build on and enhance objects of their own design.

This course is a continuation of the skills acquired in the Jewellery Forming I course; building on the basic techniques used in forming for jewellery arts. Through lectures, demonstrations and practice exercises, students will explore more techniques to form metal including synclastic and anticlastic forming, forging, fold forming, bending and chasing and repousee. There will be a continued emphasis on design principles and their application as students work though the various techniques that are applied to jewellery.

This course is an introduction to the basic fabrication techniques used for stone settings including materials, design, fabrication, and finishing. Through technical and exploratory exercises and projects students will produce a variety of different types of settings for different functions. The properties of gem stones will be assessed in relation to their appropriateness for a given setting as well as techniques for setting them in the finished design. The competent use of equipment and safety procedures in the jewellery studios will be emphasized.

Surface Decoration I introduces students to an inventory of surface treatments for metal, including a variety of finishes, polishes, textures, decoration and pattern. Working with sterling silver, copper and brass, the emphasis will be on consistency, attention to detail and concepts such as pattern, contrast and personal expression. Students will explore a variety of options for finishes including high polish, brush finish and matte finishes. The chemistry of metals will be addressed while learning about depletion gilding and students will use various resist methods and sandblasting techniques. Using tools, hammers, files, burrs and stamps, students will explore texture and patterning and will be introduced to tool making by fabricating one decorative steel stamp. Sterling silver will be fused to create richly textured surfaces. Students will research and experiment with various methods of patina applications and metal leafs to add colour. Special attention will be paid to health and safety in the studio and the appropriate use, handling, storage and disposal of chemicals. Development of technique, personal style and expression will be facilitated by individual and group critiques and keeping a studio journal.

Students will continue to build on and refine their repertoire of surface treatments for jewellery. The focus will be on texture, imagery, pattern and colour through the exploration of filigree, married metal and etching, with an emphasis on consistency, and attention to detail. Students will roller-print designs and patterns using found objects, paper and pierced and textured metal patterns and will learn the correct use and care of the rolling mill. Concepts of mirror image, positive and negative space and repeat pattern will be added to their design repertoire. Using married metal techniques such as inlay, multi-metal lamination and twisted wire lamination, graphic imagery and pattern with different coloured metals will be created. In addition, students will experiment with heat-colouring married metal designs and copper as well as etching and resists and the combination of finishes. As this course is image and pattern based, drawing and design will be integrated into the studio work. Through assignments, maintaining a studio journal and personal exploration, students will discover both the technical and expressive natures of surface decoration techniques. Health and safety in the studio will be emphasized with a focus on the proper and safe use of chemicals.

Practicing artists can choose from many different paths to advance their personal and artistic goals in artistic practice, education, presentation skills and promotion and marketing as entrepreneurs. Each student will establish their own specific focus for continuing their artist's practice. In class sessions will involve online research, writing, digital photography, presentation and critical discussion. Pre-course assignment work will provide the data for artist documents and digital images of their work for the development of a portfolio. Students will show their work in an established campus venue as a culmination to their certificate program experience. Certificate students who have already completed the first two semesters of the Visual and Creative Arts Diploma Program will complete this course mainly as independent review and revision of their portfolio and artists documents in collaboration with faculty.