One of the chief joys I get out of jewelry making is the sheer number of techniques out there to explore. There is no reason to be jaded! One I hanker to get into is metal clay work. So when Margaret, the senior editor of a new magazine publication called Metal Clay Artist contacted me through Jewelrygeeks (a former social media site for jewelry artisans) and asked if I would review issue 2, I naturally agreed!
Metal clay is the material where precious metals like silver are mixed with a special binder. You work with it as you would clay. Once formed and dried, the pieces can then be fired to remove the binder leaving behind just the metal. The design flexibility is what wows me most.
I buy various jewelry making magazines so I was pleased to see the magazine's high quality - the standard I have come to expect from good magazines. Drop dead gorgeous photos of inspirational pieces, several how to projects, all kinds of tips and a Q&A page with an expert entitled "Ask Dr Metal Clay"!
The projects were all either intermediate or advanced levels which makes sense as readers are most likely those who have started on metal clay and are likely looking for more challenging projects. There are also artist profiles. I was delighted with their feature article on Gordon Uyehara - one of the top metal clay artisans and instructors out there who I featured before. You just have to visit his website to see his awesome metal clay designs. Mahalo, Gordon for the inspirations! Shown here are a few of his designs.
You can either subscribe to the print edition or for a significant reduction in price, the digital one. Print subscribers have free access to the digital version. Check out a limited digital preview of Issue 2. Please note the price there is 2.87 British pounds. The US price per issue is actually $4.50 or $14.99 per annum. The magazine is issued 4 times a year so naturally they are calling them, Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter issues.
Intrigued? For the utter newbies like me, there are some excellent free resource sites including the Metal Clay Academy to learn more.
Remember you don't have to have a kiln for firing for smaller pieces. The Art Jewelry video shows how to remove the binder using a hand held butane torch. There are other ways too. If anyone has had direct experience with microwave kilns, please share!
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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips
Metal clay is the material where precious metals like silver are mixed with a special binder. You work with it as you would clay. Once formed and dried, the pieces can then be fired to remove the binder leaving behind just the metal. The design flexibility is what wows me most.
I buy various jewelry making magazines so I was pleased to see the magazine's high quality - the standard I have come to expect from good magazines. Drop dead gorgeous photos of inspirational pieces, several how to projects, all kinds of tips and a Q&A page with an expert entitled "Ask Dr Metal Clay"!
The projects were all either intermediate or advanced levels which makes sense as readers are most likely those who have started on metal clay and are likely looking for more challenging projects. There are also artist profiles. I was delighted with their feature article on Gordon Uyehara - one of the top metal clay artisans and instructors out there who I featured before. You just have to visit his website to see his awesome metal clay designs. Mahalo, Gordon for the inspirations! Shown here are a few of his designs.
You can either subscribe to the print edition or for a significant reduction in price, the digital one. Print subscribers have free access to the digital version. Check out a limited digital preview of Issue 2. Please note the price there is 2.87 British pounds. The US price per issue is actually $4.50 or $14.99 per annum. The magazine is issued 4 times a year so naturally they are calling them, Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter issues.
Intrigued? For the utter newbies like me, there are some excellent free resource sites including the Metal Clay Academy to learn more.
Remember you don't have to have a kiln for firing for smaller pieces. The Art Jewelry video shows how to remove the binder using a hand held butane torch. There are other ways too. If anyone has had direct experience with microwave kilns, please share!
______________________________
Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips
Great review Pearl...I've a subscription to this magazine, I love it!
ReplyDeleteI've just begun working with Art Clay and find it very challenging...my very first pieces were two blobs of fine silver...:0)
I didn't care for the torch method of firing so I've since found a Bunsen burner type of heat source which works very well to fire the clay...I didn't want to invest in a kiln until I knew if this was something I would continue with.
I managed to make a pair of earrings, and a simple oval connector I've used in a bracelet ...right now I'm waiting on a shipment of Art Clay to continue. It really is a great deal of fun!
The possibilities for this product fascinate me and this magazine is a great read/tool!!!
Cheers
Thanks for telling us you love the magazine too. Like you I don't want to invest in a kiln just yet so your tip about the Bunsen burner type is appreciated!
ReplyDeletePearl, thanks so much for the wonderful review! Jeannette LeBlanc (Publisher and Editor-in-Chief) has done an amazing job with the magazine and I'm really proud to be a part of it.
ReplyDeleteI also wanted to let your readers know that the print edition has an $8.99 cover price or $24.99 for a 1-year subscription (4 big issues).
Thanks again for the great review!
P.S. Those are USA prices. See our site for subscription prices in other countries.
ReplyDelete