You have an idea and a sheet of silver, copper, or bronze, but how do you begin transforming that sheet into something wearable, functional, or decorative? Often one of the first tools you will reach for is the jeweler’s saw! Sawing is a foundational skill in metalsmithing. In this class you will learn how to select a blade for your materials, how to set-up and tension your saw frame, and how to position your body for good mechanics. You will practice sawing a variety of lines and shapes in sheet copper and learn how to pierce (cutting a shape on the inside of the sheet) while creating a small decorative bird. In this class you will learn how to use hand files and sandpaper to refine sawn edges. Additionally, you will practice sawing wire and be introduced to sawing small, round copper or brass tube.
Please note: This class is the first in a new series of classes teaching foundational metalsmithing skills. While each class is designed to be taken independently, completing the entire series will introduce you to a core set of knowledge that will serve as a solid foundation for independent work.
Please read our Class Attendee Policy, which includes our cancellation policy, prior to registering.
Location: Downstairs Metalsmithing and Jewelry Shop
Class Size: 3 - 6
Age Group: Adults and Youth 16+
Registration Fee: Non-members $75 Members $67
Non-members will need to sign our General Waiver at the beginning of class if they do not already have one on file.
Materials Fee: $10 payable by cash or check to instructor at time of class.
In addition to materials provided in class, students are asked to bring:
- Sketchbook (optional)
- Hair clips or ties, if necessary, to safely pull back longer hair
Instructor: Kristin OhlmannKristin learned the foundations of metalsmithing in courses at RIT’s School for American Craft and the Memorial Art Gallery Creative Workshop, both in Rochester, New York. After a move to New Hampshire, she earned a Post‑Baccalaureate Certificate in Studio Art from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. And, a two week summer session at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts was an especially transformative experience. While at SMFA, Kristin was introduced to enameling and is excited about the recent addition of a kiln at the Makers Mill.
Before pursuing craft, Kristin served as a college physics teaching assistant, practicing instructional skills that now inform her studio teaching. She particularly enjoys thinking about design, the process of handwork, and problem solving - including learning from her mistakes! Her favorite metalsmithing activity, which she finds to be extremely contemplative and relaxing, is using a jeweler’s saw to cut sheet metal. She believes that objects made by hand are special, a conviction she hopes to pass on to her students as they design, iterate, and embrace the challenges along the way.
