About The Class
Instructor: Maia Leppo
Medium: Steel
Workshop Title: Taking Your Work to the Next Level
Explore the use of steel as an affordable, lightweight alternative material for a variety of jewelry. Learn, experiment with, and apply different soldering, micro-welding and riveting methods with 20g-10g steel wires. Personalize your jewelry with handy, non-toxic finishing techniques and added accents of your choice. The course will also cover riveting and soldering with other metals (silver, brass, copper, tin) as well as basic hydraulic press use. Simple mechanisms for pin backs, clasps, and earring wires will be covered to help make your piece complete. All levels are welcome but a background in metalsmithing will be helpful.
An optional part of the workshop is to join the instructor via Zoom a month before class to learn about and discuss the capabilities and limitations of laser cutting. Those who opt into this session will be able to work with Maia to create designs to be laser cut prior to class. Participants will receive individual instruction to make their ideas come to life. No computer skills are required and the course is ideal for anyone looking to grasp the basics of steel working on a jewelry scale. Open to all skill levels.
Benefits of Working with Steel
Some of the numerous advantages of working with steel are:
Affordable
Lightweight
Non-toxic
Recyclable
Easily integrated with other materials
Click here for a list of supplies that you will need to bring for this workshop.
About The Instructor
Maia Leppo is a Tufts graduate with a degree in Biology and Community Health. She trained in jewelry/metals from craft schools on the east coast and earned her MFA from SUNY New Paltz. She was a resident artist at Arrowmont and Fallingwater and continues teaching at numerous craft schools. She works out of her studio on the south side of Pittsburgh.
Cost
Application Fee: $60.00
Residents: $1,555.00
(Tuition, Fees, Room & Board Tuesday dinner through Sunday lunch)Commuters: $1,255.00
(Tuition, Fees, Lunch and Dinner Tuesday dinner through Sunday lunch)
Curious for a Sneak Peek?
Check out these helpful demos from instructor Maia Leppo
Flower Ring Demonstration with Maia Leppo
Blackening Chain Demonstration with Maia Leppo
Maia Leppo
These photos are representative of the instructor’s work, not necessarily of work that will be produced during the workshop.
