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SNAG x Touchstone: Early Career Artist Talks

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SNAG x Touchstone: Keynote Speaker Erica Moody

This content is for SNAG members only Become a Member Get full access to all full library, plus lots of other valuable benefits. Join SNAG Already a Member? Username or E-mail Password Remember Me     Forgot Password

Celia O'Kelley, enamel on copper, sterling silver.

SNAG Slide Archive

In 2004, SNAG donated a slide archive to The Metal Museum. It contained the portfolios of over 330 metalsmiths of national and international significance. The Metal Museum then partnered with the American Craft Council Library to make the collection available…

Linking Our Lineage

This is a series of three instructional eBooks featuring tutorials by the 2015-2017 SNAG Links artists, edited by Victoria Lansford. Available in the iBooks Store on your iPad or Mac for $12.99 each. All proceeds from the books benefit SNAG….

Warren Wilson College’s New MA in Critical and Historical Craft Studies

Metalsmith Tech Vol 2 No 2 features an excerpt of a round-table discussion with students from the new MA in Critical and Historical Craft Studies at Warren Wilson College. The full text of the conversation between Director Namita G. Wiggers…

Things to Try With Arc Welding

Metalsmith Tech Vol 1 No 2 (Fall 2018) features Jeff Georgantes’ great article Precision Pulse Arc Welding and Traditional Torch Soldering: A Complementary Relationship. Click here to see a PDF that includes images illustrating the “Things to Try with Arc…

Cuttlefish Casting

In the first issue of Metalsmith Tech (Spring 2018), you’ll find Jim Bové’s fantastic guide to teaching cuttlefish casting in schools. While Jim’s article talks about the whole process, you can click here to get additional images and notes in…

Buried Treasure: The Staffordshire Hoard

Metalsmith Vol 36 No 3 includes the article, “Buried Treasure: The Staffordshire Hoard” by Marin Ellis which brings you up close to the seventh-century Anglo Saxon trove of sumptuous warrior bling.

Technical Article: “Mary Lee Hu’s Cookie Project, Made by Wei Zeng”

Welcome to SNAG’s new Collaborative Technical Articles Program. This inaugural article features a forming and soldering project made by Wei Zeng, following Mary Lee Hu’s “Cookie Project.” Learn and enjoy!

Rosette Series, Linda Threadgill

Metalsmith Vol 36 No 3 takes you inside the studio of celebrated metalsmith Linda Threadgill, whose “Rosette” series is featured in this film.  

Technical Article: “Art, History, and Processes of Guilloché Engraving, part 2″ by G. Phil Poirier

SNAG has a strong commitment to preserving and sharing technical information such as this article by G. Phil Poirier of Bonny Doon Engineering. Guilloche, also known as engine turning, is an exquisitely beautiful, highly technical, historical process that has unlimited applications in contemporary metalwork.

Technical Article: “Art, History, and Processes of Guilloché Engraving, part 1” by G. Phil Poirier

SNAG has a strong commitment to preserving and sharing technical information such as this article by G. Phil Poirier of Bonny Doon Engineering. Guilloche, also known as engine turning, is an exquisitely beautiful, highly technical, historical process that has unlimited applications in contemporary metalwork.

Technical Article: “Electrolytic Etching Copper and Silver Using Copper Nitrate” by Ben Dory

The term ‘salt-etching’ or ‘salt water etching’ is often synonymous with ‘electrolytic etching’ (e-etching). This has led to the use of sodium chloride as the salt, which can be problematic and counterproductive. With this article, copper nitrate will be presented as a replacement for sodium chloride.

Technical Article: “Digital Fabrication 101” by Dani Manning

What is Digital Fabrication? Simply speaking, Digital Fabrication is the use of technology to create. Using computers, software, and strange machines may seem intimidating at first, but it does get easier the more you practice.

Technical Article: “Metal Millefiori” by James Thurman

James Thurman has served as Editor for SNAG’s Technical Articles for the past five years, and has been an occasional author. In this article he shares some experiments that he has been doing for the past several years, inspired by the unique and innovative work of Ken Cory.

Technical Article: “Micro TIG: Art Welding” by Sessin Durgham

This article serves as just the tip of the iceberg of the enormous possibilities created by the newest micro welding machines. Lower and lower price points are definitely making this technology available to the individual as well as educational programs.

Technical Article: “Laser Engraved Enamel” by Erin Turner

Erin Turner, a current metalsmithing & jewelry graduate student at the University of North Texas, has been using laser cutting and etching in a variety of ways in her studio work. When she noticed significant variations in the quality of the etching on different enamels, she began an in-depth testing of them to determine why.

Technical Article: “Small-Scale Metal Spinning” by James Thurman

James Thurman first became aware of metal spinning almost twenty years ago, and has been transfixed by its rapid demonstration of the plasticity of metal. This article is based on small-scale metal spinning pieces that Thurman created for the Pin Swap at the 2010 SNAG Conference in Houston, Texas.

Technical Article: “Small Scale Carving” by Janel Jacobson

Tools! They are very essential partners on my carving journey. With them I can change flat surfaces into dimensional imagery, carving to bring the light and shadow of the form and detail to a point where the piece begins to sing visually.

Technical Article: “A Laser in your Studio” by Ross Kowalski

Digital fabrication techniques are increasingly becoming a part of educational and individuals’ studio practices. Although it can be daunting to incorporate new technologies into our established ways of working, Ross has written an article that is accessible and inspirational.

Technical Article: “Embossing Photographs onto Leather” by Andrew Kuebeck

With just a little patience and a lot of pressure it is possible to get incredible results embossing etched imagery and text onto chamois leather for use in any project. Begin by selecting a sealed etched plate whose imagery or text you would like to have embossed onto a sheet of chamois leather.

Technical Article: “Kitchensmithing” by Rachel Shimpock

Get your groceries together, put on your apron, and prepare yourself for some great times Kitchensmithing with these fun and dynamic handouts from Rachel Shimpock. Try your hand at Condiment Patina and Toaster Powder Coat!

Technical Article: “Alternative One- Sided Molds for Pewter Casting” by Deanna Ooley

Recently, I was asked to conduct a workshop for 8-10 year olds. In order to illustrate the process of casting, I felt pewter was a good choice for simple pendants. I thought about what other materials could be used that were kid friendly, inexpensive, easily obtained, and quickly formed.

Technical Article: “Ice Cream Series” by Alison Pack

In this article, I would like to share with you the creation of my Ice Cream series…. It was an exciting and at times an arduous two year journey that posed many technical questions. This is due to the fact that I combined medium scale castings with fabrication after solely using raising, forming and fabrication techniques in my work for the past 13 years.

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