Sign up for Studio McManus email and get free shipping on your first order* Sign Up Now

Search

Organically Inspired. . .

Monthly Archives: May 2009

Going Back to School

…and I’m so very excited!  I’ll be attending a week-long “Introduction to ArtClay Silver” class at the John C. Campbell Folk School.  This amazing school, located in far-western North Carolina was founded in 1925.  It offers classes in all sorts of arts and crafts, including metalsmithing, blacksmithing, painting, photography, quilting, glasswork and much more.  Students live on campus, mostly in dormitory-style rooms.  As part of my adventure, I’ll be staying in my tent at the on-campus campgroud.  There’s nothing like sleeping in a tent!

[singlepic id=79 w=320 h=240 float=right]The class will teach me the basics of working with metal clay, which is a medium I’ve been researching for nearly a year.  I’ve had to hold myself back from diving into metal clay work, so I could maintain my focus on polymer clay production.  But, the time is right – I can feel it in my bones.  My instructor for the week will be Pam East, a master instructor for ArtClay Silver, one of the two companies that produce metal clay.  I’m honored to be learning from such a well-respected artist.  This gorgeous bamboo pendent is an example of Pam’s work.

I’ll be back in a future post with more information about metal clay.  I’m sure you’re all wondering how metal can be clay or clay can be metal.  Stay tuned for the answers to those and many other questions!