The Enamel Channel Bronze Plan

Learning How to Learn with the Enamel Channel

Information to help you get the most from your Enamel Channel experience.

Experiential Learning with a Torch

Using a torch, Ricky demonstrates the variable of "heat and your torch" when firing an opaque orange enamel layer onto a copper disc.

Visual Brainstorming for Cloisonne´

Creativity is often described as the ability to ask and imagine possible "What If?" questions. I've created an exercise, Name it and Change it, that helps students improve their ability to ask more and different "What If?" questions

Creativity and Layer Combinations

Do you want to create unique enamel layers that move beyond a simple gradation of transparent color? Ricky shows you how he has taught himself how to "think in enamel layers" to develop his personal enamel vocabulary

Heat Variables in the Kiln

When you are using a kiln to fire your enamels, there are more things to consider than the temperature and the time. Explore the variable of "proximity" to the heart source to develop more control over your firings.

Kiln Firing Basics

Fifteen lessons to help you develop confidence with your kiln. Ricky considers the many questions one might ask themselves while learning to use a kiln.

One Wire Cloisonne´ Explorations

Beginner level cloisonne´ lessons that focus on the color instead of the wires. You do not always need to use lots of wires in your pieces. I enjoy making "one-wire" pieces because I get to play but see my results within a "cloisonne´" format.

Enamel Science 101

Ricky examines some of the basic enamel principles and variables that need to be considered with most enameling projects.

The "Spiral" Intro to Cloisonne" Project

One of Ricky's first teaching projects. Learn a basic cloisonne´process using both fine silver and copper as the base metals. Explore foils and gradations.

Enamel Color and the Color Wheel

Making your color samples is only the first step in developing a personal enamel vocabulary. Don't stop there; use your samples for more than just picking out the colors that you like.

Introduction to Foil Layers of Light

Create "layers of reflected light" by combining silver and gold foil within your enamel color layers.

Tools and Materials

Here are the tools that I use when making my enamels.

Foil Patterns, Transparent Green, and Negative Space

Ricky explores questions about transparent enamel, foil, and negative space.

Five Foil Color Samples Part 1

Ricky makes 5 different color samples showing a variety of approaches to developing personal vocabulary using transparent color and foils.

The Science of Copper & Heat: Opaque White and Flux

Explore some of the science, techniques, and myths about enameling on copper. This is a recording from a "live class" to help students see and understand some enamel basics.

Drawing with Cloisonne´Wires Part 1 & 2

Part 1 & 2 are the first 20 lessons in this 82 lesson series. Ricky shows you how he prepares, bends, applies, and fires his cloisonne´ wires. Explore many "what if" questions about design, planning, practicing, and planning.

Create an "Enamel Canvas"

You can enamel with a torch instead of a kiln. Because the gas discolors the enamel, a few extra steps are often used. Watch as Ricky shows you how he does it.

The Sgraffito Heart Exercise

An introductory level set of lessons that encourage you to play with the "sgraffito" technique of scratching through an unfired layer of enamel color.

Problem-Solving: What does it depend on?

What do you do when you don't understand why you got the result that you did? This happens a lot when you are learning to enamel and even after decades of experience. Watch Ricky problem-solve an unexpected result.

Experiment with Confidence

Learn to design experiments to answer your questions. If you understand the different principles that affect how your enamel and metal changes, and you can discover the variables, you can solve your problems!

Sifting and Mindfulness

Learn some basic sifting techniques and begin to Pay Attention to your process. Ricky explores some of the many types of questions you might ask yourself as you apply and move enamel around on your piece.

Flash Your Fine Silver

Ricky shares techniques and tips for "flashing" his fine silver shapes and handmade foil. He uses either a firebrick and a hotplate kiln for this step. The purpose is to keep the silver highly reflective during the enameling process.

Introduction to Sifting and Firing

In this lesson, Ricky explores how enamel changes when it is heated. Do NOT try to make art or something "that you like"; instead, let your direct experience and observations to teach you about how copper, enamel, and heat interacts.

Prepare Copper & Fine Silver for Transparent Enamel

I like to enamel on copper and fine silver. Ricky demonstrates how different metals may require different approaches to PREPARING your metal before adding the first layer of enamel onto the front.

Prepare Enamel

Ricky demonstrates how he prepares his 80 mesh transparent enamel and his lump form transparent enamel (mortar and pestle).

Experimenting with Copper Preparation and Flux

Ricky explores different ways to prepare copper before firing a layer of flux onto the metal surface.

How I use my JoolTool

I use my JoolTool for grinding and polishing hundreds of enamels each year. It has changed this tedious part of my process into a fast, consistent, efficient, and even enjoyable step in my cloisonne´ process. I also use it in my bezel-making process!

How I Use My Micro-Motor

I use a micromotor as an alternative to a flexible shaft. Most of the time I'm using a diamond burr (to carve enamel) or a diamond pad (to grind enamel).

Play and Experiment with Sgraffito

Ricky explores the technique of Sgraffito.

Introduction to cloisonne wire bends

Ricky demonstrates some of the different approaches he uses to practice his wire-bending skills.

Ricky's Design Vocabulary

Ricky uses some of his finished enamels to demonstrate some of the different types of design questions that he asks himself while making his cloisonne´ jewelry. A 10 part series

Learn with Baby Steps

Use a baby-step approach to stepping outside of your comfort zone.

The Bronze Plan: Can You imagine ALL of this for only $8/month? 32 classes for $120 That's $3.75 per class! + Monthly Live Zoom with Ricky Try it FREE for 3 Days!

$12

$10

The "Spiral" Intro to Cloisonne" Project

Introduction to Foil Layers of Light

Visual Brainstorming for Cloisonne´

The Science of Copper & Heat: Opaque White and Flux

Creative Color Layers 1: Beginners

Drawing with Cloisonne´Wires Part 1 & 2

Choose the Bronze Plan and learn...

The Bronze Plan: For $10 per month, you get all of this!

Learn, Improve, & Master the Basics

Learning How to Learn with the Enamel Channel

Experiential Learning with a Torch

Visual Brainstorming for Cloisonne´

Creativity and Layer Combinations

Heat Variables in the Kiln

Kiln Firing Basics

One Wire Cloisonne´ Explorations

Enamel Science 101

The "Spiral" Intro to Cloisonne" Project

Enamel Color and the Color Wheel

Introduction to Foil Layers of Light

Tools and Materials

Foil Patterns, Transparent Green, and Negative Space

Five Foil Color Samples Part 1

The Science of Copper & Heat: Opaque White and Flux

Drawing with Cloisonne´Wires Part 1 & 2

Create an "Enamel Canvas"

The Sgraffito Heart Exercise

Problem-Solving: What does it depend on?

Experiment with Confidence

Sifting and Mindfulness

Flash Your Fine Silver

Introduction to Sifting and Firing

Prepare Copper & Fine Silver for Transparent Enamel

Prepare Enamel

Experimenting with Copper Preparation and Flux

How I use my JoolTool

How I Use My Micro-Motor

Play and Experiment with Sgraffito

Introduction to cloisonne wire bends

Ricky's Design Vocabulary

Learn with Baby Steps

The Bronze Plan:
Can You imagine ALL of this for only $8/month?

32 classes for $120
That's $3.75 per class!
+
Monthly Live Zoom with Ricky

Try it FREE for 3 Days!