As when learning anything, learning chasing and repoussé, has a progression of skills such as the basics of getting the design on the metal; learning how to create volume and definition; adding details; and then saying you are done "LEARNING" - and now you just DO IT.
As time and your experience progress, you will either strive to advance your skills OR be content where you are, with your skills.
l knew there was more to learn... I always feel there is more to learn.
For me, I have spent this year working to push my skill set to a new level. One might not consider it a skill but adding those fine details that make a piece POP and how to do it was what I was hoping to accomplish. It is one thing to make practice pieces and struggle with choosing the right tool to make hair look real or pushing up, down, left and over with the curl of a leaf only to have it crack. It can be frustrating knowing what you want to do but never quite getting it.
I decided to short cut the frustration and take some lessons to teach me HOW TO SEE what I wanted to do. The instructors were teaching me flowers and details and textures but I was learning to see how to get there. And with so many of the classes I take it is not the project but a process and technique I can walk away with.
Earlier in the year I went to Davide Bigazzi (my Dogwood Flower cuff) and this past week I was with Liza Nechamkin who does some amazing low-relief chasing & repousse and fine detail work.
But Friday I went back to the MET to look at the details of pieces and what it was that added that realistic touch. This is the 4th time I have been to the MET 3 years and like advancing my skills as a Silversmith; each time I have gone and seen what I needed to learn at that time.
Here are two movies - what I saw and what I went to see.
As time and your experience progress, you will either strive to advance your skills OR be content where you are, with your skills.
l knew there was more to learn... I always feel there is more to learn.
For me, I have spent this year working to push my skill set to a new level. One might not consider it a skill but adding those fine details that make a piece POP and how to do it was what I was hoping to accomplish. It is one thing to make practice pieces and struggle with choosing the right tool to make hair look real or pushing up, down, left and over with the curl of a leaf only to have it crack. It can be frustrating knowing what you want to do but never quite getting it.
I decided to short cut the frustration and take some lessons to teach me HOW TO SEE what I wanted to do. The instructors were teaching me flowers and details and textures but I was learning to see how to get there. And with so many of the classes I take it is not the project but a process and technique I can walk away with.
Earlier in the year I went to Davide Bigazzi (my Dogwood Flower cuff) and this past week I was with Liza Nechamkin who does some amazing low-relief chasing & repousse and fine detail work.
But Friday I went back to the MET to look at the details of pieces and what it was that added that realistic touch. This is the 4th time I have been to the MET 3 years and like advancing my skills as a Silversmith; each time I have gone and seen what I needed to learn at that time.
Here are two movies - what I saw and what I went to see.
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