Best Silversmithing Classes Online
Silversmithing is the craft of using silver to fabricate items by hand such as jewelry, utensils, cups, vases, trophies, and other artistic pieces. Jewelry-making is a common type of silversmithing in which artisans apply their creative and technical skills to crafting beautiful handmade, wearable silver or metal pieces. An ancient craft that has been used for centuries, silversmithing was at its height as a trade in the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe and the American colonies. By the mid-1800s, silversmithing had made its way to the American Southwest where the Navajo were using the art of metalworking to create exquisite jewelry and useful everyday items.
In the basic silversmithing process, silversmiths begin with a silver metal sheet or wire and then cut, shape, solder, and polish it into a beautiful piece of jewelry. The tools used in silversmithing vary depending on what you are creating, but standard supplies include files, pliers, hammers, polishing tools, vices, and a heat source such as a torch to melt the silver or metal and make it malleable.
Why You Should Learn Silversmithing Online
With dedication and patience, you can learn the unique skill of silversmithing. While not a particularly easy skill to master, silversmithing can be a fun hobby once you acquire the necessary knowledge and tools. Also, making your own jewelry and other metal or silver objects will give you a sense of accomplishment and is a great way to create unique handmade gifts for others. If you are looking for a creative outlet to relieve some stress, the design and technical aspects of silversmithing can be extremely meditative and stress-reducing.
Learning silversmithing will also benefit you by connecting you to a larger community of silversmiths and metalworkers who share ideas, tips, and industry knowledge with each other. The Society of American Silversmiths (SAS) was founded in 1989 as the country's only organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of silversmithing. Its members consist of skilled silversmiths with exceptional technical and design skills, as well as students who are just beginning to pave their way in the art of silversmithing. SAS provides silversmith experts and students with support such as networking opportunities and better access to the silversmithing market, including a unique referral service that commissions silver items. Hobbyists and artisans may also be able to find local silversmith groups that gather in-person and online through social media, for example, the Metalsmith Society on Instagram, a jewelry-making community founded in 2018 where jewelers of all levels connect and share information.
Many silversmiths are able to turn their hobby into a profitable side hustle or full-time job. Silversmiths can sell their unique handmade jewelry on websites like Etsy and Amazon Handmade where you will find a large customer base for one-of-a-kind jewelry. You can also find job opportunities at various businesses, from small local jewelry stores to larger jewelry and kitchenware companies. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jewelers or precious stone metal workers had a median average wage of 46,640 in 2021.
Virtual Silversmithing Classes
While in-person silversmithing classes consist of learning from a silversmith and instructor in a studio, workshop, or art center, online silversmithing classes can be taken from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. Live online silversmithing classes allow you the freedom to work from the comfort of your own home, while still being able to ask questions and receive feedback in real time.
If there are no silversmithing classes in your area, you may be able to find an online course to fit your needs. An added bonus is that you will eliminate the stressful commute to class and can practice silversmithing right in your own workspace. The downside for some, particularly those who have not yet purchased silversmithing tools, is that you will generally have to provide your own materials and equipment for virtual courses.
Besides silversmithing, there are numerous other types of online classes you can take to inspire your creative side. For instance, the Los Angeles Center of Photography offers Travel Photography: Your Story of Place, an online class for all skill levels to learn more about travel photography. In this 1.5-hour class, participants will learn how to go beyond social media posts and capture the moment in a more unique way that tells a story of their adventures. The instructor will provide strategies and tools for portraying your travels in a way that captures how a place looks, feels, smells, tastes, and sounds.
If you've always wanted to learn how to draw, The Art Studio NY's Fear-Free Beginner's Drawing 101 will show you how. In this four-session course, students with absolutely no prior knowledge will learn how to draw in a judgment-free environment. A professional artist and instructor will guide students in every step as they learn techniques such as charcoal and pencil use, shading, expressive line, mark-making, composition, contour drawing, and dimension. Students will also learn how to draw a variety of subject matter including still life, realism, abstraction, landscape, and portraiture. See the course description for a list of materials to purchase before class.
The Chicago Botanic Garden offers the online class A Starry Night in Glass Mosaics for all skill levels ages 18 and older. In this two-session class, participants will glue broken and cut glass to an acrylic panel to create a realistic or abstract version of the iconic Starry Night painting by Vincent Van Gogh. All materials are included and will be shipped to each person in advance.
For another way to express your creativity, the 92nd Street Y offers Hand Lettering Basics, a beginner-friendly virtual class for ages 18 and older. In this six-session course, students will how to learn how to produce handwriting that will add uniqueness to their illustrations, cartoons, posters, t-shirts, and anything else you can write on. Participants will learn different lettering styles, compositions, patterns, and illustrative uses of lettering and will walk away with a collaborative zine to which they have contributed. Students should provide their own supplies including a pencil, eraser, markers, a felt-tip pen, a pocket brush pen, graph paper, drawing paper, and a triangle ruler.
The Contemporary Figure Painting virtual class offered by the New York School of the Arts will teach you how to create paintings from a live model. This four-session course for individuals of all skill levels teaches students about the technical and theoretical aspects of creating art, with a focus on portraiture and nude figure painting. Students will learn how to express themselves in their paintings through composition, color, representational space, historical reference, and context. The class consists of slideshow presentations as well as individual hands-on instruction at the easel. See the course description for a full list of materials.
If landscapes are more your style, you can book Watercolor Painting: Focus on Landscapes offered by the 92nd Street Y. In this six-session online class, students of all skill levels will learn advanced watercolor techniques to add layering and depth as they paint water reflections, forests, and skies. A list of supplies needed to participate can be found in the course description.
Private Online Group Silversmithing Classes
If you are looking for a fun team-building event for your business or organization, CourseHorse has silversmithing classes for private groups online that they can deliver to you. CourseHorse's virtual group classes are a creative and enjoyable way to encourage camaraderie in your group. Even if CourseHorse does not have a silversmithing class currently listed publicly, it may be something they can deliver to you. Reach out through the contact form on their website to learn more about the available options.
Groups that are interested in jewelry-making can book CourseHorse's Virtual Polymer Clay Jewelry class. In this 90-minute class for groups of up to 500 people, participants will learn how to create their own one-of-a-kind clay jewelry that can be as simple or as intricate as they choose. A professional artist and instructor will teach your group basic techniques such as rolling out slabs and creating beautiful flowers. All materials will be shipped to each participant including 42 bars of oven-bake molding clay in various colors, five sculpting tools, and accessories for earrings and keychains.
CourseHorse also offers the Virtual Wood Burning Workshop, a unique team-building class for groups of up to 500 people. In this 90-minute class, groups will use a wood-burning tool to create unique designs on a piece of wood. An expert instructor will guide participants as they prepare their wood, transfer their designs, and work with the different nibs for their wood-burning tools to create their masterpieces. They will also learn how to add lettering and use watercolor paints or colored pencils to enhance their designs. All materials are shipped to each participant including the wood (practice piece included), gloss, and various paint colors. Participants can choose from natural tree slices, a carving block in which you can insert pictures or natural wood coasters.
Groups can make a beautiful pair of marbled vases or candle holders in CourseHorse's Virtual Workshop: Marbled Vases. In this one-hour class for groups of up to 200 people, a professional instructor will guide your group as they use mortar and silicone molds to create unique pieces for their home or as a unique gift. A kit with everything you need will be shipped to each participant that includes mortar, candles, tubes, sandpaper, gloves, a mixing stick, a measuring cup, carbon black color paste, and vase molds.
Booking private online group classes with CourseHorse has several benefits, including not having to pay booking fees and receiving confirmation within 24 hours of booking. If you are unsure of how many people will be attending the class, CourseHorse provides the flexibility you need by allowing you to change your group size after booking. In addition, while their default platform is Zoom, they can accommodate other video conferencing software such as Webex, Google Meets, and Microsoft Teams.
Online vs. In-Person Silversmithing Classes
While taking in-person silversmithing classes often consists of attending a workshop, studio, or community center, virtual classes are conducted online and can therefore be taken from any location with an Internet connection. Just as with in-person classes, virtual live online classes allow you to ask questions and receive feedback in real time.
However, if taking an online class, you will not have access to the silversmithing tools and equipment provided in the studio or workshop as you would with in-person classes. This can be particularly challenging for silversmiths who are just starting out since they may not have acquired all of the many tools and materials needed for metalworking. On the other hand, if you have prior experience or knowledge and have the necessary tools, you may prefer to take an online class so that you can work in your own studio and with your own tools.
Can I Learn Silversmithing for Free Online?
A useful way for beginners to learn basic silversmithing knowledge is through free online tutorials and videos. There are a plethora of videos on YouTube that will teach you the basics of silversmithing, particularly beneficial for those just starting out in their silversmithing journey. However, if you want to learn step-by-step how to complete a silversmithing project from start to finish, learning from an expert silversmith and instructor online or in person is the faster and recommended option. Learning in a more formal class environment will allow you to ask questions and get personalized assistance that you cannot receive from watching online tutorials. Taking an in-person or online class will give you the knowledge to become a master silversmith that only hands-on, personalized instruction can provide.
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