Sharpening the Saw

I've made no secret of my love for both metal and enamels, and I am especially enamored of what happens when the two come together. I recently came across some work that exemplifies the potential of these two mediums, and they've inspired me to pursue additional training to beef up my ability to translate what I sometimes see in my head to reality in metal and glass.

Annie Grimes Williams

Ed Lay

Katie Schutte

Kim Lucci Elbualy

Sarah Perkins

The level of skill and expertise evident in these works just blows my mind - sometimes, I'll be doing something mundane (dishes, laundry, etc.) and realize that I've been attempting to take these works apart in my head and decipher the processes. I'm starting to plan for 2015 (it's unreal that 2014 has gone so quickly - wow) and trying to set aside time to take part in a few in-depth workshops. Some of the folks I'd love to study with include Linda Darty, who wrote the definitive book on the art of enameling; Ruth Ball, a British enamelist and one of my first enameling "loves" who recently branched out into larger scale enameling installations; and Charles Lewton-Brain, the "father" of fold forming. I'm going to have the opportunity to host a workshop with the amazing Barbara Minor this December, which I am eagerly looking forward to, and I am stalking the Arrowmont, Center for Metal Arts, Campbell Folk School, and Thompson Enamel websites for workshops I'd like to take. I'm even daydreaming about a trip to the UK to study with Ruth - wouldn't that be a kick??

So what about you? As you're planning for 2015, how will you build in time to "sharpen the saw" in your skill set?

Until next time -
Francesca