"Live" Workshops with Ricky Frank

Enamel lessons for all levels of experience
Intermediate Cloisonne´:
Explore Design, Creativity, and Expression
 My Intermediate workshops are for students with some enamel experience who want to learn  more advanced techniques and develop their ability to "use what they already know" to make meaningful enamel artwork. This is a workshop for students who already understand basic enameling concepts and principles and have had at least some experience creating with the cloisonne´technique.  If you are not sure whether you meet the criteria for this level of workshop, please check with Ricky via email or phone.
I often combine beginning students with intermediate students in a workshop as we all end up learning from each other.
  • review all beginning principles and skills
  • combine transparent, opaque, and opalescent enamels to create contrast and depth within your enamel layers
  • advanced wire work design and creative use of different types of wires
  • combine enamel techniques to create your own unique enameling style and imagery
  • work on a series to develop your personal enamel imagery
  • learn to translate visual images into enamel vocabulary
  • develop your critical eye as you work towards your artistic vision
 Take your skills and designto a new level as you explore advanced techniques and stretch outside of your "artistic comfort zones".

You probably know more than you think you do;
But what are you doing with what you know?

The challenge is figuring out what you want to do with what you know. Thinking like an artist may be new and different for many students, and may push you out of your comfort zone. This workshop will gently nudge you to explore new ways to think and create.
Learn to....
  • Choose subject, colors, composition, emphasis, techniques
  • Sketch (with pencil and enamel) to try out possible answers to your design questions
  • De-construct to discover smaller, more manageable pieces of your design puzzle
  • Begin in spite of your fears
  • Critique to eliminate the unnecessary and focus on your intention

Here are some of the wonderful pieces made by my students who are more experienced and are able to explore more advanced enamel layering techniques to make their enamels more "personal".