Classes

Cabin Fever Clay Festival, Laurel, Maryland

(The Tuesday class is full ... sign up for the Wednesday class before it fills up too)
(Cabin Fever Clay Festival immediately precedes Synergy 2, the International Polymer Clay Conference to be held in Baltimore. Come for both!)

Learn how to make organic, durable, and gorgeous polymer clay art jewelry rings in this four-hour workshop. Techniques covered will include texturing, marbling, layering to add strength, durable connections and design considerations for designing rings ranging from sublime and controlled to over-the-top (suitable for divas).

This week-long workshop will help you find your unique artistic voice through polymer clay and wire. We will experiment, play, laugh, create and transform as we explore and expand ideas about art as adornment. Rounding out the experience will be twice-daily optional (but free) guided exercise by Janis Levine, open studio at night, forays into Puerto Vallarta, and gourmet spa food for breakfast and lunch.

Mostly it’s about making art. A particular focus on creating art-quality organic jewelry will include using and exploring polymer clay, copper, sterling and fine silver wire, and the myriad materials that are used to texture, color and adorn polymer clay and wire. We will also explore taking newly-acquired techniques to basketry, journals, and small sculpture for those students who wish venture into non-jewelry art. Concepts and techniques will include the principles of jewelry design, working with polymer clay, wire and metal, attaching metal and polymer clay to each other, color principles, jewelry findings and hardware, and exploring the enigma of achieving sophistication and whimsy in primitive design. You can expect to finish the week with at least several finished pieces and/or lots of elements to work with in the future. In each of these endeavors, we will take art seriously without taking ourselves seriously.

A complete tool and supply list will be sent to each participant.

The Week : $1,600 (excluding air fare)

6 nights lodging in double-occupancy room

Sunday cocktail reception
Breakfast and lunch included daily (served poolside!)
Daily workshop Monday to Friday
Free optional Yoga/Pilates/guided walking exercise sessions twice daily
Open Studio each evening
Guided visit to several Puerto Vallarta Galleries (Wednesday night Art Walk
Saturday departure brunch

About Hacienda Mosaico:
Hacienda Mosaico is an expansive, tropical and artful retreat in the beautiful beach resort of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
http://www.haciendamosaico.com

By the way … I’ve discovered the most reliable source for good places to stay when I travel is www.tripadvisor.com Hacienda Mosaico got the highest ratings I’ve ever seen on the site. Check it out …

About fitness instructor Janis Levine:
Janis’s teaching style is influenced by her curiosity about movement, dance, yoga, and swimming. She has been teaching fitness for over 25 year. Janis has been a guest fitness instructor at well-known spas, including Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico, The Palms in Palm Springs, California, The Oaks in Ojai, California, and Canyon Ranch Spa in Tuscon, Arizona. Her expertise includes Pilates, Yoga, and water aerobics. She is also active in coordinating education programs in the fitness industry, as well as teaching and coordinating senior exercise programs.

Polymer Clay and Wire Jewelry Techniques
April 9 – 11, 2010
The Bead House Bristol, Rhode Island

Friday April 9th
Introduction to Wire Work
Level: Beginner
Students will emerge knowing how to make their own clasps, along with some other basic wire skills
Introduction to Polymer Clay
Level: Beginner
Learn the basics of Polymer Clay; Tools, Materials, Shaping, Texturing and Curing.
Saturday April 10th
Polymer Clay Bracelets
Level: Intermediate - Prior Polymer Experience or the Friday Class is necessary
Make enough beads to put together this bracelet
Sunday April 11th
Rings
Level: Intermediate - Prior Polymer Experience or the Friday Class is necessary
Explore several different styles of rings with either wire or a polymer shank.

Other artists teaching: Loretta Lam, Lisa Pavelka, Laurie Mika and Denise Peck

Ancient & Modern: Beads, Disks and Embellishments

Learn techniques for designing “ancient modern” elements for necklaces, bracelets, brooches and earrings. This fast-paced 4-1/2 hour class will cover construction, marbling, texturing, surface effects and also design considerations for achieving primitive sophistication in jewelry design.

This week-long workshop will help you find your unique artistic voice through polymer clay and wire. We will experiment, play, laugh, create and transform as we explore and expand ideas about art as adornment. Rounding out the experience will be a studio open all day and all night, forays into local villages and markets, and gourmet food prepared by our own chef.

A particular focus on creating art-quality organic art jewelry will include using and exploring polymer clay, copper, sterling and fine silver wire, and the myriad materials that are used to texture, color and adorn polymer clay and wire. Concepts and techniques will include the principles of jewelry design, working with polymer clay, wire and metal, attaching metal and polymer clay to each other, color principles, jewelry findings and hardware, and exploring the enigma of achieving sophistication and whimsy in primitive design. In each of these endeavors, we will take art seriously without taking ourselves seriously.

Price: $1900
Contact Ronna for more information.

Ronna's willingness to share ALL her knowledge is amazing. I have attended many workshops over the years, but until I attended Ronna's workshop, I had never seen a group of students who were willing to watch and listen and absorb knowledge, without being disappointed to not finish a project. Ronna continues to guide us all with her wonderful posts on Facebook. She keeps us yearning to learn more and helps each of her students use their creativity to become better artists, long after the the workshop is over. Annie Hooten

Ronna, it was awesome! I think I told you at the end of the workshop that creatively, you broke me open. You do things with polymer clay that I would never have dreamed to do and the resulting pieces are truly works of art. Your teaching style is easy and casual, but always with an ear to your audience, listening to what they want to learn. Your book rarely leaves my craft table-it is now one of my favorite references as I explore and try to expand on what I have learned from you. With thanks and appreciation, Elizabeth Schydlower

After having taken many classes over the years I finally found a style and 'way' of doing clay that suits me. It is the Ronna-way-imagination , creativity, no measuring or weighing, no precision, no rules, and mostly- the permission to DO. I have never been able to grasp color- hues, tints, what goes together-always felt like I had to hide my color book in my lap as I struggled to find my palette for whatever project was being taught- but not anymore- Ronna has a book too! Now that color is out of the way- I enjoy creating much more. Thanks Ronna. Cynde Tagg

Ronna, Thank you for your workshp here in Albuquerque. You gave us so much useful information on all aspects of design, techiques and finishing that I have been having a ball expanding what I learned. See you in Balitmore to show you. You’re the best. Kathy Elrick

Hi Ronna. I so enjoyed the class in Albuquerque last fall. I had your book but you brought it to life with your demonstrations. I have worked with your techniques several times since and find your methods very useful. Thanks again for such a great couple of days! Marty Woosley

I've been dabbling in polymer on and off for a few years, but never got too serious. After being blown away by Ronna's "Ancient, Modern" book, I Googled her and saw that she was offering a workshop in Albuquerque so I signed up. It was a positive experience from start to finish. There were clayers of all levels and I learned a lot from fellow participants and especially Ronna whose generosity, talent and teaching skills added up to a great workshop and inspiration to continue with the medium on its own as well as in combination with my Digital Art projects. Mary Ann Rolfe www.digitalstretch.com