Explore New Ground – Enameling on Steel Forms with Alisa Looney
Tuesdays, May 9, 2023 – May 30, 2023; 2:00PM – 5:30PM PT (Pacific Time)
Online
Have a desire to enamel on steel forms? Learn to design, cut, and form various gauges into three dimensional shapes. Clean and prepare the steel for a ground coat formulated to adhere for a strong yet leightweight structure. In this class with Alisa Looney, not only will you learn how to work with the steel to prepare it for enameling, but also learn the granular spray technique she uses with sgraffito to get those delicate lines with no chipping! The course covers professional as well as budget concious options. Experience enamel like never before with incredible control on your steel forms. Create work in a variety of styles- from detailed drawing to abstract patterns, loose and expressive or realistic and precise. Graisalle techniques will also be covered, building up shades of black and white to achieve depth and detail. This course is available as a live online class.
Granular Spray, Sgraffito, and Watercolor Enamel with Alisa Looney (online)
June 19 – June 27, 2021
$375
Expand your artistic tool kit by learning to sgraffito with ease in liquid enamel, and no more chipping! We will work on pre-enameled steel, adding layers of glass with granular spray, sgraffito and watercolor techniques to create colorful, custom surface treatments.
Join Alisa Looney as she shows us how to use spray application to achieve a buttery smooth surface and create extremely detailed sgraffito designs. Alisa will show you how to add color with watercolor enamels on top of your sgraffito for a rich, layered, and colorful effect!
Design, cut and prepare pre-enameled steel for enameling. Copper shapes can also be used. Learn to apply white liquid enamel with the granular spray technique, resulting in a powdered finish that allows you to sgraffito (scratch) clean lines with ease and control when making marks, textures and/or drawings into the surface. Experiment with several sgraffito tools to create varied line qualities and thicknesses in mark making such as cross hatching, stippling, brushing and combing.
This technique opens avenues for the freedom to work in any virtually any style: loose and expressive or detailed and precise. After firing the white layer, you will add depth and color by painting with Watercolor Enamels. Appropriate kiln-firing temps and techniques for each layer will be covered. You can expect to complete a series of small panels and jewelry elements during this workshop. Live demos and instruction in four separate three-hour zoom sessions will allow plenty of time to practice between sessions.
ALL LEVELS WELCOME! Prior enameling experience is recommended. Kilns are required for this workshop.
Below is a fun video of Alisa demonstration her sgraffito process, drawing into the granular spray layer, using a sharp pin-pen tool, ending with close up (before firing in the kiln).
We have truly been honored to share our studio with you, our talented and hard-working students. Thank you for choosing to learn and/or deepen your skills, and to bring your enthusiasm and creative joy into our studio! We have had such a wonderful time teaching and celebrating art with each of you. We are grateful for your inspiration, your creativity and incredible pieces!
We look forward to working with you in our studio when we re-open in the future. In the mean time, please keep an eye open for our online workshops, soon to be launched!
Here are a few fun photos from some of our recent workshops at riverARTadventures:
Above: Intro to Enameling, 1-day workshop, Pendant and Earrings
Above: Birthday Party 1-Day Workshop Combo, Block printing and Enamel Pendants
Above: Enamel on Steel 4-Day Workshop: Sculpture, Jewelry and test Panels
Above: 5-Day Enamel on Steel Intensive, Sculpture, Masks, Jewelry, test Panels
Above: Intro to Enameling, 1-day workshop, Pendant and Earrings
Above: Custom 5-Day Workshop designed for Chicago painting group, Nature Sketching, Block Printing and Enameling
We look forward to working with you and witnessing you become inspired by what you create! Check out our workshop offerings, or call to create a custom workshop for your group!
Set yourself free by combining granular spray, multiple layers of liquid enamel, sgraffito and painting techniques!
Achieve the fine detail you have dreamed of, with ease and control when drawing images, textures and patterns into the glass. Learn to apply liquid enamel using the granular and multi-layer spray methods resulting in a powdered finish that allows the grains to be dislodged individually and promotes freedom to work with virtually any drawing style. Experiment with several sgraffito tools to create varied line qualities and thicknesses, cross hatching, stippling, brushing and combing. This spray application of liquid enamel can handle multiple firings and can be used on both flat and 3 dimensional objects. Painting techniques with both Liquid and watercolor enamels will also be explored.
Dancing with Fire Wade and Alisa’s Newest Collaboration will be atOregon Winter Fest in Bend
at the Les Schwabb Ampetheatre in Bend’s Mill District
Celebrate with us Feb 16, 17 & 18
Hours: Fri, Feb 16 – 5-10 pm Sat, Feb 17 – 11-10 Sun, Feb 18 – 11-6 General Admission $10 Tickets
Just completed and ready to light!
Designed to be a Total Art experience, “Dancing with Fire” will engage multiple senses: visual, experiential and time based. Fire creates warmth and causes mobile to dance, while colored glass reflects light, and fire through spiraling shapes of bowl create dynamic shadows in motion.
Collaborative Design by Alisa Looney and Wade Womack
Stay tuned for photos with fire soon to come to your inbox!
