Whether you are here for the atmosphere, hooked on making, passionate about jewellery or in the process of growing your own brand, this course will introduce and instruct you in the fields of design development, traditional techniques, production jewellery manufacture and designing for exhibitions.

When: Thursday 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Duration: Last term 2024 drop in and full term will be held on Tuesday evenings.
Class size: Maximum 8 people
Cost: $450

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As part of Joynton & 107 Projects, The Bench will provide subsidised courses to residents in the Zetland, Sydney area. For further information please email us at jewellery@thebench.sydney

ABOUT THE COURSE

Prerequisite

You must have completed a minimum of two Stage 2 classes or equivalent to enroll in this course. This course is for intermediate / advanced students.

Course Objectives

In this course you will increase your understanding of how to make jewellery and how to develop an individual design vocabulary as you gain confidence in your ideas and learn new techniques relevant to your projects. Refining the skills learnt in Beginner’s Stage 1 and 2 this course introduces you to advanced jewellery making techniques that will allow you to design and create well-made pieces with confidence.

As well as basic fabrication techniques and decorative processes you are encouraged to think about incorporating other non-precious materials such as wood, glass, acrylic and found materials. You will look at different sorts of cold connections to enable these materials to be combined with precious metal to make individual and exciting pieces.

Working within a modern, light-filled workshop, our jewellery teachers have advanced knowledge in both traditional and contemporary design techniques. Each course begins with a short, structured design exercise and then fabricating, decorating and joining will be demonstrated. You will be guided through the following techniques:

Advanced soldering
Complex joins
Integrated design development
A comprehensive technical understanding of machinery and tools for a more refined approach to jewellery making.

Course Outcomes

By the end of the course, you will have increased knowledge of how to design jewellery and the processes needed to execute these designs. This course will also be of value to those wishing to increase industry confidence, small business set-up and exhibition preparation.

Skills will be taught according to individual needs, as well as techniques demonstrated where they are relevant to the group.

What’s Included

Tools and tuition as well as a consumables kit. A selection of materials and consumables will be available to buy from your tutor at cost price. (Please bring cash for any purchases).

The Tutor: Erin Keys

Erin Keys has over 20 years experience as a jeweller, designer and educator with a diverse range of achievements in various facets of craft and design. Participating in nearly 100 exhibitions in Australia and overseas since 1999, her practice spans one-off exhibition pieces, bespoke commissions and a limited edition laser cut production range available through several stockists.

Erin has taught beginner to advanced jewellery courses at Sturt Summer School, JamFactory, SquarePeg Studios and is currently a sessional teacher at UNSW Art & Design.

For the past 10 years Erin has had extensive involvement with design and education, working as a Jewellery Design Developer for over 5 years at one of Australia's leading design companies Dinosaur Designs and for Louise Olsen X ALEX AND TRAHANAS.

The Workshop

The Bench is a modern, light filled, industry standard workshop focusing on education and training. It is a relaxed and friendly place to learn traditional and contemporary jewellery techniques, a space to develop ideas and projects such as ring making, silver jewellery and stone setting gems. We provide concept based jewellery classes to the absolute beginner, the aspiring maker and to the professional jeweller.

The Bench is a safe working and learning environment, complete with a wide inventory of tools and equipment, such as Vaniman polishing extraction, enamelling kiln, fume cabinets, micromotors, soldering torches, rolling mill, tumbler, ultrasonic and more.

Location

The Bench acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians of our land – Australia. The Bench acknowledges the Gadigal of the Eora Nation as the traditional custodians of this place we now call Sydney.

The Bench is located at the exquisite historic site, Joynton Avenue Creative Centre in Green Square, and is easily accessed by bus, train (Green Square Station), ride or walk.

The Bench cultivates inclusive, creative and accessible spaces for everyone to have the opportunity to feel safe and welcomed.

The building has full wheelchair accessibility, ramp access from street and park entrances, internal lift for access to upper levels and a unisex accessible toilet on each level.

THE BENCH, Joynton Avenue Creative Centre
3A Joynton Ave, Zetland NSW 2017

Additional notes

All the tools you need for the course will be available at the venue; including an apron. Please bring materials and ideas for your individual project in the first week. You may want to buy further materials from our metal suppliers – your tutor will provide you with supplier information.

For health and safety reasons, please bring along with you the following

Hair tie: If you have long hair, please bring along something to tie it back with
Closed in shoes: We will be working with hot, sharp and heavy tools, so please wear shoes, which will protect your feet. Avoid wearing loose flowing garments.
Sketch book/note book/ pen and/or pencil: Please bring along a notebook for your own notes and design ideas. Notes will be provided to complement the techniques you will be learning but you may wish to make your own notes.
Remember: If you use glasses for reading and /or close up work please remember to bring them along.

Book your course

Questions?

Email us at: jewellery@thebench.sydney
or call us on: 0406 794 112