See this hat? Seeing it sitting right there in the back of the class room on Monday morning signified that great things were going to happen. Richard Salley walked in to the class room wearing it, and taking it off meant the Fabulous Found Objects Pendant workshop would be underway soon. Right off the bat I have to say that YES, all of the wonderful things you’ve heard about Richard are true! He really is that nice and that talented. I admired his talent as I helped set up and placed the class samples on the table. Found object pins, cuffs, necklaces and bolos. As students trickled in to the classroom, they joined me to ooh and aah over the work of this found objects master.
We began the workshop by preparing the base of our pendant. Do you have a Starbucks Frappucino or baby food jar lid laying around? That’s all you need to get started. We torched the back of the lid to remove the plastic seal on the inside. Then we hammered away to create a distressed look (and one student admitted she ran over hers with her car). What I like about this type of pendant is that anything goes…the more distressed and imperfect the components, the better!
I really enjoyed Richard’s teaching style – very casual, but organized and packed full of demonstrations and information. And Richard definitely gave each of his students quality one-on-one time, as he made his way across the room checking in with students to see what they were creating. We were shown more techniques than you could dream of in one day, then let loose to just have at it and create. I’ll admit I can be slow to start as I need time to formulate my design. It always amazes me how others can jump right in and are busy hammering from the get go.
You’ll never believe how many amazing technques were covered in this workshop! Etching, Soldering, Enameling, and working with Faux Bone. What I love is how Richard taught each of these potentially intimidating techniques and expected us to go to it without hesitation. I had seen tutorials for etching, and my, they seemed to have so many steps, precautions and chemicals, that I never bothered to learn. And now etching has to be one of my favorite new techniques.
Here’s a shot of the {ArtBliss}partners in crime –
Now for some shots taken from around the room-
Gathering together some components and figuring out which direction to take....
Mike working on his pendant
Linda's finished pendant
A lampwork artist uses her own heart bead for the pendant focal.
My pendant was an exercise in layering. Faux Bone was used as the base layer for the pendant. Then came the etched metal window and the vintage button. Annealed Steel wire was used throught out the pendant.
My finished pendant
What a Fabulous day it was. We’re already looking forward to Richard’s next visit!!
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{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
very interesting results!!
Wow, that day seems to be a great one in fact. How much i would like to take a class with this man, he is so inventive. Lucky girl Cindy ! And your pendant is gorgeous too.
I am really jealous I can’t be there – this sounds like too much fun. If you ladies ever decide to go on an ArtBliss World Tour, let me know and we’ll be happy to welcome you here in Germany. I blogged about the event and hope it will be a great success. I am also so looking forward to your Bead Soup Party piece ;-). Have a happy day.
Wow Cindy, sounds a workshop packed full of great instruction! Your pendant is fabulous! Can’t wait to see it in a finished piece. Wish I could have attended…maybe next time.
Girl, I have no idea what you were talking about on the phone yesterday. Telling me your pendant wasn’t that great. IT IS FANTASTIC!! I L.O.V.E. IT!! I would wear it in a heartbeat. I wish I could have been there 🙂 Do I really have to teach art ArtBliss, can’t I just take all the workshops? Kidding.
ps… you should crop the pic of you and Jeanette to just Jeanette and use it on ArtBliss. That is a fabulous photo of her!!
what a wonderful workshop! all of that info handed over to play with – so glad you took on a technique that was outside of your comfort zone… your pendant is gorgeous! it is so you – and so great…
You don’t know how I’ve been waiting for this post! I’ve been checking, checking, checking because I knew you’d do one. This is great! Richard’s website has a great tutorial for those … like me 🙁 … who weren’t able to be there. I’m glad you’ll be having him back. Your pendant, btw, is gorgeous!
Sounds like a fabulous class! I would love to attend something like that, it sounds so wonderfully creative, and how fun to learn so many new and cool techniques in one day! Love your pendant !
Those pendants are so neat. The heart bead is lovely. The button you used on yours I wish I had 100 of, very pretty!
Debbie
Lordy, I look like a weigh 300lbs in that last photo!!! Oh well..
Cindy, what an amazing day for you and your friends! How fun to be able to experience the magic!
Woe is me! What wouldn’t I give to have been there!!! You lucky girls!!!!!!!!
It sounds like it was a magnificent success – congratulations to both you and Jeanette for such a wonderful new learning opportunity!
Amazing works by very talented people. Oh how I wish I could be there. I love the pendant that you made Cindy.
Oh, Cindy, that pendant of yours is great! ALL the pendants are great, and I wish I could have been there, too! It sounds like it was super fun!
Oh my goodness – what an amazing class! I have been in awe of Ricard Salley’s talent forever, and I SO wish I lived closer (yet again!) so I could have participated with you all! I love the techniques you learned, and I can’s wait to see all the wonderful pieces you make using them (I just know you’ll be using etching all the time now – it is so addicting!).
I’m glad you had fun & that your class was such a success. Kep sharing pictures, so the rest of us can live vicariously through you!
🙂 Molly
Oh do I love a man with a cowboy hat! I would just love to take a class with Richard, I only wish one was closer to wear I live. The pendant with the lampwork heart was amazing and Cindy yours was just beautiful!
I N C R E D I B L E !!!! I love this Cindy!! It is over the top FANTASTIC!! My favorite!
OMG, your pendant was gorgeous! I love it. I saw Richard and his wife at an Art Unraveled event in Houston a couple of months ago. After seeing his work, I wished I had taken his class. Maybe next time. I want to learn etching also, yours is awesome, great job!
Marcy
Cindy! You did that ALL in one day! Incredible. Your pendant turned out so beautiful. What a great job my friend =))
Cindy! I love your pendant! That looks like it was so very fun…I am so jealous that I couldn’t do that one…when Jeanette sent the email saying there was a cancellation, it was all I could do to keep myself from jumping on in and calling in sick for work! 🙂 I agree with Kerri…love the pic of you and Jeanette! No, Jeanette, you don’t look 300 lbs!!
Your finished pendant is beyond fabulous!
Your pendant is lovely!
I had no doubt you would adore Richard…who wouldn’t?!
Those pendants are so interesting! And it sounds like you came out of that class a metalsmith. Looking forward to the classes at ArtBliss!
Hi Cindy, great job on the class! I can see you really enjoyed having Richard there, who wouldn’t! The pieces are all wonderful, its so cool to learn a new method. Thanks so much for stopping by, really appreciate it. Glad you like the newest addition to the box collection!! Hugs, Riki
Wow.. your pendant loks so very pretty!! I really like the layering you did here, and really enjoy the look of the steel wire there.
Just out of curiousity, where do youget your steel wire from? What gauge were you working with?
Love your pendant! It’s just gorgeous!! So beautiful!
Cindy, thanks for the comprehensive report on this fabulous workshop! I almost feel as though I had been there! Your pendant is gorgeous and your wirework is perfect! I love the shot of the two pastel entrepreneurs, you and Jeanette. What a team! Next time Richard comes to the East, I am definitely going to be there, no matter what.
Cindy, I’m jealous! I’ve been wanting to go to one of his seminars… It’s nice that it was all you expected and more. Your pendant is BEAUTIFUL! Never would have thought it started with a baby food jar lid! -Michelle
I’m SO completely jealous over here, you can’t even imagine. LOL
Hopefully one day, I’ll be able to take a class like you guys took 🙂
BTW, your pendant is so beautiful!!