Metal clay allows jewelers to set themselves apart from traditional, mass-produced products. By its very nature, this pliant material fosters personal creativity, filling a customer’s need for unique art jewelry pieces. Working with metal clay requires a mindset that is different from conventional metalworking. In this paper I will explore the workflow of this revolutionary material and demonstrate how it is used in a small-scale art studio. Because it requires no specific tooling, metal clay is a great way to test ideas. When a collection is well established, the metal clay originals provide excellent masters for mass-production casting.

Strategies for working with metal clay that will be covered include design of one-of-a-kind pieces, working in a series, and prototyping for large-scale production. Through my practical experience in the handcraft retail market and the art jewelry market, I can shine a new light on using metal clay and respond to a variety of audiences.

Author: Helga van Leipsig