METAL CLAY ARTISTS’ LIBRARY By Pat Evans Mixed Metal
Jewelry |
A new book from Hadar
Jacobson is always eagerly anticipated by the metal clay community.
Her latest work, Mixed
Metal jewelry from Metal Clay, more
than lives up to expectations. Reading it made me want to go straight
to my studio and try out her techniques.
Hadar has
experimented extensively with bronze, copper and silver clays, even
creating bronze and copper clays for her own use years before retail
versions were available. In this, her third self-published book, she
walks the reader through all the different ways she has found to
combine copper, bronze and silver. A new technique is introduced with
each of the 41 projects. These are not just boring, learn-a-technique
projects, however. Each of the designs is intriguing in its own
right, and photos of variations by Hadar and her students give a
taste of the way projects can be used as springboards for innovation.
Extras, such as tips on ways to create interesting textures and
creative mold ideas, add to the creative energy of the book.
The
book is written in a clear, straightforward style that is the next
best thing to taking one of Hadar’s classes. Photos clearly
illustrate each essential step. Abundant sidebars give additional
insight into what does and doesn’t work with mixing metals, answers
to common questions, and handy tips for working with clay. I was
happy to see that Hadar shared many of her tips (including one I
learned in her class – using a rice bag to make soft folds in
clay). Although Hadar sells her own formula of bronze and copper
clay, Mixed Metal
Jewelry from Metal Clay is
brand neutral, with projects developed so that whichever clay a
reader uses, the firing schedules apply. (It does not include either
Hadar’s newer copper clay formula or Art Clay™
Copper,
which were developed after the book was written.)
Hadar gears
the book to advanced beginners and above, expecting the reader to be
aware of safety issues as well as basic metal clay techniques such as
rolling, coiling and extruding clay. Use of rotary tools and simple
metalworking techniques such as balling wire are also assumed, and
instructions for these techniques simply refer the reader to the
author’s earlier books. It’s nice to see the space so often used
for rehashing common concepts being devoted to innovative projects
instead. Hadar also suggests that her blog, www.artinsilver.com/blog,
should
be regarded as a companion to the book. Given the rapidly changing
nature of our understanding of the newer metal clays, this is sound
advice.
If you are interested in making jewelry using a
mixture of clays, Mixed
Metal Jewelry from Metal Clay is
an essential addition to your bookshelf. Even if you are firmly
committed to using only one type of clay, you could pick up quite a
few useful ideas from this inspirational book.
Metalclay, Vol. 1, Issue 2