METAL ENAMELING WORKSHOP BY VIVEK DAS

Photographs from the workshop: 

We are conducting a ‘Metal Enameling Workshop‘ by Vivek Das on Saturday 30th August, 2014 from 11-6pm at Space118, 118, Wadi Bunder Road, Mazagaon, Near Wallace Flour Mill , St. Mary’s School or Fazlani School, Mumbai-400010. For directions kindly see our website – https://space118.com/contact.html.

Vivek Das graduated from Sir. J.J. School of Art, Mumbai and joined as a faculty in the same institute teaching metal enameling and various other processes for 25 years now. He has worked with the Jewelry Training Institute and Indian Institute of Jewelry. A free lance artist now, he has participated in many solo and group shows allover India. He mainly works on copper and steel.

WHAT WILL BE TAUGHT:
Enameling is an old and widely adopted technology, for most of its history mainly used in jewelry and decorative art. Enameling is the fusion of a special powdered glass to metals. The glass can be applied using different techniques, but all methods use heat to melt the powder. Enamel is glass which fuses onto metal at temperatures of between 780 – 830°C. It is a combination of silica and soda ash with the addition of small amounts of metal oxides to give the glass its colour.

. There are three principal kinds of enamels: the “cloisonné and champlevé,” the “plique à jour,” and the “painted.” Some enameled objects have a combination of two or more methods. Through transparent enamels light can pass readily. Opaque enamels contain sufficient pigment so that light cannot pass through them.

1. Champlevé is a technique in which the surface of the metal is recessed to form cells into which enamel may be placed.

2. Cloisonné is the art of enameling within cells produced by attaching metal wires to a metal base. This is the most popular and most practiced techniques.

3. Plique-à-jour is a development of cloisonné. Cells are pierced from sheet metal or constructed from filigree, light passes through the transparent enamel framework, creating an appearance similar to stained glass.

In India, Enameling has been practiced for over 400 years, after the Moguls. Although its history is over 2 000 years old. Apart from the above mentioned traditional technique there are many more modern techniques practiced today. Almost every enamelist has developed his own method.

All the participants will get the opportunity to paint in miniature format; similar to acrylic painting. We will be using colors which are in the form of glass powder which is fired between layers to fix them on the copper sheet. The powder colours are mixed with water in proper consistency to paint with brush. One can fire it as many times between layers, each firing will be for 2/3 minutes. This technique is waterproof, weather proof and will not fade.

Since we have limited seats we would now confirm your spot only after receiving the payment for the workshop by the 18th August, 2014.

WHAT YOU NEED TO GET FROM HOME:
– Nothing but yourself!

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Anyone above the age of 10 can join the workshop. There is no prerequisite knowledge required for this workshop.

WHAT YOU WILL BE PROVIDED
1. 1 no. 4″ X 4″ precoated copper sheet.
2. Colours
3. Brushes
4. Other required materials.