Instructor: Donna Penoyer
Monday - Friday
August 26 - 30
9am - 12pm
5 sessions

Some jewelry pieces LOOK complicated but are actually within the reach of any maker. The keys are simple components, friendly materials, and easy joins. A flexible plan also helps, with room for slow, careful steps all the way to full-blown, improvisational fun. This class will start by showing how to sculpt and mold tiny flowers, vines, leaves, seashells, fish, abstract shapes, and more, in fine silver metal clay (a clay-like form of metal that is, after firing, pure silver). Next, the instructor will offer suggested design guideposts to help students get started developing their unique compositions; teach best practices for setting cubic zirconia gems before firing; give students an overview of firing (sintering) processes; and demystify how to design and layer a scrumptious, treasure-encrusted, bejeweled silver pendant. A crescent moon will be demonstrated, but students may choose to make other shapes.

Most students will complete at least one main project and possibly additional small pieces. For those who need the entire workshop to finish constructing a piece but don’t have enough time to fire it, arrangements can be made for the instructor to fire and mail pieces within three weeks

Donna Penoyer is an enthusiastic expert in silver metal clay, a form of metal that sculpts like a clay but fires to a pure silver object with a kiln or torch. Her whistle amulets and other jewelry pieces have appeared in multiple books, magazines, online sources, and exhibits. Donna has studied with many teachers and holds multiple metal clay certifications. She has enjoyed recording several video tutorials through CRAFTCAST with Alison Lee, which are available on the CRAFTCAST website. Donna has taught at Hadar Jacobson’s studio in Berkeley, CA, Tracey Spurgin’s Craftworx in East Yorkshire, England, and Inge Verbruggen’s studio in Temse, Belgium. Other teaching credits include Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill, Touchstone Center for Crafts, Contemporary Craft, Metal Clay Mojo, SINTER, and Metal Clay Artists’ Symposium. A big believer in the art of play, Donna has earned the nickname “The Whistle Lady,” and before metal clay entered her life, she developed a spirited, over-the-top, 21-year career as a professional stiltwalker. Donna is an upbeat and welcoming teacher who believes there is a gleeful maker in everyone.