In-Person Summer 2025 Workshops at Pocosin Arts School of Fine Craft

Session 1: Bang & Bend: Small Scale Forging for Metalsmiths
Dates: June 2 - June 6, 2025
Price: €746
Hammering metal is one of the fundamental joys of metalsmithing and a key process in the craft. Forging allows you to create objects that are sculptural, expressive, and full of movement. While the focus of this class is on ring making, students are encouraged to explore forging on a smaller scale with various projects. Starting with base metals, students will progress to working with sterling silver, including the option to recycle old sterling scrap. Topics covered will include basic model making, tapering, finishing, and alternative techniques.
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Session 2: Dimensional Layering with Clasp Combinations
Dates:  June 9 - June 13, 2025
Price: €746
Students will explore three unique methods of layering sterling silver sheet to create 3-dimensional constructions, with a focus on applying these techniques to design clasps. The workshop will begin by creating samples of the three layering methods, followed by using those same techniques to craft 1-2 functional clasps. By the end of the class, students will aim to complete up to five samples, with the option to further refine their pieces as time allows.
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Session 3: Approaches to Gold Fusing
Dates:  June 16 - June 20, 2025
Price: €746
Explore different techniques for fusing gold in this class, whether you’re aiming to add a subtle touch of color or create rich textures. You’ll experiment with commercially available gold leaf and foil and learn how to mill your own gold. We’ll cover essential topics such as surface preparation, heat control, and efficient workflow practices.
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Session 4: Drawing with Depth in Enamel
Dates: June 23 - June 27, 2025
Price: €746
Using your own sketches or images as inspiration, this class teaches you how to incorporate drawing techniques into vitreous enamel. You’ll explore metal as a dimensional canvas, pushing the boundaries of enamel to achieve depth and intricate surfaces. Demonstrations will cover metal preparation, enamel sifting, stencils, underglazes, overglazes, lusters, and glass beads. By the end, students will create a collection of working samples that can serve as a reference for future projects or be used in jewelry designs.
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Session 5: Extended Residency
Dates: June 28 - July 3, 2025
Price: €238
Imagine unwinding from workshops, diving deep into your creative process, and bringing fresh ideas to life in our Ceramics, Metals, or Wood Studios. Artists at any stage in their career are welcome but must be capable of using studio equipment independently.
The residency environment is conducive to individual and collaborative work. Each studio will be staffed with a coordinator to help with any equipment or studio-related questions during the workday. Participants must be 21 or older and are responsible for providing their own materials and meals. They will have 24-hour access to a fully equipped communal kitchen and gas grill, a communal lounge area, and plenty of outdoor space to relax and enjoy river and town views.
Residents are responsible for supplying their own materials and may ship items to Pocosin Arts before the residency. Residents may also purchase materials from Pocosin Arts.
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Session 6: Cold Connections: Textile Techniques in Wire
Dates:  July 7 - July 11, 2025
Price: €746
Explore the artistic and practical uses of wire and create three-dimensional forms. Using your hands, pliers, and cold connections you will discover the wonderful immediacy of wire working. Basic tinkering and fiber construction techniques, including coiling, sewing, lashing, wrapping, shaping and twining will be covered. Wire is a very versatile material and can be incorporated or combined with other materials. We will begin by making small studies and then explore larger forms.
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Session 7: Metal Forming and Enameling with 3D-Printed Dies
Dates: July 7 - July 11, 2025
Price: €746
In this workshop, students will learn to create 3-dimensional metal forms using 3D-printed dies and a hydraulic press, followed by layering vitreous enamel on the forms with sifting and wet packing techniques. Participants will work with premade 3D-printed dies in various designs to shape 20/22 gauge copper. The instructor will also introduce CAD/CAM concepts and provide insights into the process of designing and producing two-part forming dies.
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Session 8: Spinning and Swinging
Dates:  July 14 - July 18, 2025
Price: €746
In this class, students will learn how to integrate ball bearings into a spinning ring with hinged elements that rise and fall using centrifugal force. Additionally, we’ll explore ways to maximize the visual impact of small amounts of gold. By the end of the class, each student will have crafted a one-of-a-kind ring and gained new techniques to incorporate into their future work.
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Session 9: Bangin'Bangles
Dates: July 21 - July 25, 2025
Price: €746
Discover the art of bracelet making! In this class, you’ll learn how to size bracelets for the perfect fit while exploring a variety of fabrication techniques, including working with sheet and wire, soldering, synclastic and anticlastic forming, texturing, metal carving, forging, scoring, and bending. We’ll also cover mechanisms and clasps. Students will use simple tools like hammers and mandrels, as well as specialized equipment such as bangle bending dies, shot plates, and a hydraulic press.
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Session 10: Waxing Poetic: Soft Wax Construction Methods
Dates:  July 28 - August 1, 2025
Price: €746
This intensive class offers an exciting introduction to the magical process of lost wax casting. Working with soft wax and gemstones, students will create unique models for jewelry and small objects. We’ll explore various construction techniques and experiment with basic mold-making methods. While we’ll cast several times during the class, the primary focus will be on honing hand skills, mastering wax-working techniques, and preparing models for successful casting.
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Fall Special Session: Enamel Surfaces: Technique Combo
Dates:  September 26 - September 28, 2025
Price: €428
In this workshop you will combine various techniques in unexpected ways that will create a rich and complex surface. Layers will be developed with stencils and or silk screens. The surface will be further developed with dried enamel paint sgraffito. The sgraffito design can be enhanced or altered with quill pen drawing and painting techniques using enamel paints and calligraphy inks. You will be able to create pieces suitable for jewelry, small wall pieces or samples to inform future work.
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