Syllabus and Schedule

JE 1200: Introduction to Jewelry I

Spring 3013

JE1200/ Section B

Wednesdays 9:45am- 1:00pm

Instructor: Jenn Parnell

Office Hours: Tuesdays 5:30-6pm, Wednesdays 1-1:30pm; by appointment

Phone: 512-589-6431 (cell)

Email: jenn_parnell@corcoran.edu

Homepage: http://ccadjewelry1.blogspot.com/

Required Text: none

Supplemental Text (not required): The Complete Metalsmith - An Illustrated Handbook

Tim McCreight, Davis Publications, Inc. Worchester, Mass

Course Description

This course will provide students with the basic skills needed to design and fabricate their own jewelry. Students will become familiar with the safety, use, and maintenance of studio equipment and hand tools. This course will cover piercing, filing, finishing, soldering, forming, and basic embellishment techniques as well as simple clasps. Designed for beginning students or those seeking to sharpen technical skills. Students must purchase a tool kit for this class. See the materials list for further information. It is highly recommended that CE students take this class for credit as it is a prerequisite for all subsequent credit-bearing jewelry courses.

Class Overview

This class is the basic stepping stone for students entering the Jewelry program. It is important that students receive a solid technical foundation upon which to build from this class. Jewelry has a wide variety of techniques and directions to explore, this class should get students thinking about their voice and how they can use materials to express that.

Course Objectives

At the end of this course students will:

1. Have an introductory understanding of jewelry fabrication and design skills.

2. Understand the basic safety protocols for working in the Corcoran Jewelry studio

3. Be able to demonstrate the following technical skills:

• Soldering- butt seams, wire to sheet, torch operation and studio safety
• Basic Hollow Construction
• Piercing, Drilling, Filing, and Sanding
• Polished, Heat patina, Liver of Sulfer, and Depletion Gilding finishes
• Roll Printed, Hammer and Stamp textures
• Dapping and use of the disc cutter
• Jump Rings
• Rivets
• S hook and hook and eye clasps
• Simple pin back

Course Expectations

Projects and Homework Assignments: You are expected to complete the class projects as well as the homework assignments on time. You are expected to keep a sketchbook for your designs and notes.

Technical Proficiency: I look for effort in completing assignments to the highest level of skill you can. I expect that as the course progresses that you will push your technical knowledge and continue to pursue perfection in the skills you learn.

Creativity: I expect that in your projects, you will express yourself as an artist and attempt to integrate your artistic vision and interests into each piece.

Attendance/Participation: Attendance is extremely important. You are expected to be on time. If you miss class, you are expected to talk with your classmates to get the notes for that day. You are expected to participate actively in class, ask questions, and comment in critiques.

Course Requirements (Assignments, Projects, Exams, etc.)

Students will create 3 completed projects: a pierced pendant or brooch, a hollow constructed ring, and a linked bracelet or necklace with clasp. In addition to the projects, students will also complete design homework, maquettes and samples of techniques.

Each project will be critiqued- the first 2 as a group, the last one individually as part of final critique which encompasses all work from the semester.

Grading Criteria

See the Corcoran Student Handbook for Undergraduate and Graduate Grade descriptions.

Grades are determined based upon the following:

1. Timely completion of all class projects with effort for creativity and technical skill.

2. Attendance and participation in class discussions and critiques

3. Timely completion of homework and samples/exercises.

Attendance Policy (see Student Handbook- http://www.corcoran.edu/student-handbook )

Students are expected to attend all class sessions and course-related activities for each course in which they register. Students may not attend any class for which they have not officially registered. Three absences (two during the summer term) within a given class, or 20 percent of the semester, are grounds for automatic failure of the course. In exceptional circumstances, the Director of Student Affairs, in coordination with Director of Continuing Education, may approve emergency absences for medical or other legitimate reasons. In such cases, students are required to provide medical or other supporting documentation. Absences due to religious holidays must be pre-approved by the instructor one week in advance of the absence.

Although students may miss up to two class sessions, they are not relieved of the obligation to fulfill all course assignments, including those that can only be fulfilled in class. Of special note to all students: instructors may modify the standard attendance policy (stated in this handbook) according to how they weigh various components of the curriculum throughout the semester. If there are any changes to the standard policy, they will be written into the course syllabi that are reviewed on the first day of classes.

Honor Code (see Student Handbook)

Faculty members are responsible, to the best of their ability, for maintaining the integrity of the learning and testing process, both in the classroom and outside of it, and for fostering conditions of academic integrity. To alleviate misunderstandings, all instructors are required to delineate at the beginning of each semester what constitutes a violation of the Honor Code in their classes. This should include an explanation of:

1. The extent to which collaboration or group participation is permissible in preparing term papers, studio work, reports of any kind, tests, quizzes, examinations, homework, or any other work.
2. The extent to which the use of study aids, memorandum, books, data, or other information is permissible to fulfill course requirements.
3. Guidelines on what constitutes plagiarism, including requirements for citing sources.

Course Outline

Week 1- January 30

• Introductions
• Studio Tour- introduction to the equipment, basic safety for the machinery, shop protocol
• Open up tool kits and go over tool usage as well as maintenance for hand tools
• Lesson 1: Piercing/ Filing

• Lesson 2: Drilling- Press and Flexshaft
• Introduce and Discuss Project 1: Brooch or Pendant
• Homework: Piercing and Filing exercises, design homework for Project 1

Week 2- February 6

• Designs for Project 1
• Lesson 3: Sanding and Polishing
• Work on Project 1

Week 3- February 13

• Lesson 4: Soldering

• Lesson 5: Simple Pin Stem
• Work on Project 1
• Homework: Soldering samples, sample pin stem

Week 4- February 27

• Lesson 6: Forming with mandrels

• Lesson 7: Hollow Construction

• Introduce and discuss Project 2: Hollow Constructed Ring
• Homework: Designs and maquettes for Project 2

Week 5- March 6

• Lesson 8: Scoring and Bending
• Discuss cords and chains for project 1

• Discuss designs for project 2
• Make final maquette for Project 2
• Homework: Scoring and bending sample

Week 6- March 13

• Project 1 due
• Lesson 9: Textures
• Work on Project 2
• Homework: Texture samples

Week 7- March 27

• Work on Project 2

Week 8- April 3

• Work on Project 2
• Lesson 10: Patinas
• Homework: Patina Samples

Week 9- April 10

• Work on Project 2
• Introduce and discuss project 3:  Linked bracelet or necklace
• Lesson 11: Rivets
• Homework: Riveting samples, design exercise for Project 3

Week 10- April 17

• Discuss designs for Project 3
• Lesson 12: Dapping
• Work on Project 2
• Homework: Dapping sample

Week 11- April 24

• Lesson 13: Jump Rings
• Work on Project 2
• Work on Project 3

Week 12- May 1

• Project 2 due
• Lesson 14: Clasps
• Work on Project 3
• Homework: Clasp sample if not included in Project 3

Week 13- May 8

• Work on Project 3

Week 14- May 15

• Project 3 due
• Final Critiques