22-2019 – Luca Tripaldi – Porcelain, metalsmithing and resin techiques

In this course, you will learn basic metal techniques in combination with resins and silicones and clay. We will make jewels joining brass, silver, epoxy resins and ceramic components.
People not particularly interested in jewellery making may, once learned the techniques, apply those to create bigger objects or sculpture. The possibility to integrate metal structures and elements in resin with ceramics is increasingly appreciated and explored by ceramists. Colour and transparency are peculiar to resins to an extent that is not found in ceramics while metal adds strength and can embellish, protect and support a ceramic shape.
Most of the exercises will focus on the basic processing techniques of the two mixed media materials; others are specifically aimed to investigate the possibilities offered by their combination.
Regarding jewellery, we will tackle brazing in its various applications, making rings, closures, chains, bases for pins and cage structures starting with brass and silver wires and plates, the metals used in the course. We will experiment with the use of silicone for making molds in which to cast resin. We will learn how to modify the resin in its density, color, transparency, hardness and surface structure and how to include various materials. We will make both solid shapes or just delicate shells.
The equipment furnished during the course is easy to find at a reasonable cost, once back home. Students will discover that to set up a well-equipped workstation at home, an investment of approximately 300-500 euros is sufficient.

Luca Tripaldi was born in Turin, Italy, where he currently lives and has his studio. After training in graphic design, he worked for ten years in Mario Audello Studios as a sculptor, making masks and special effects for many opera houses like “Scala di Milano” and “Arena di Verona”. In 1998 he opened his own ceramics studio in Turin. He uses porcelain, preferring unglazed surfaces or only glazed in some parts with crystalline glazes and dry glazes, in order to get strong contrasts. The most part of his jewels are in black or white porcelain, decorated with ceramic transfers. He conducts an intensive teaching activitie, holding workshops throughout Europe and the United States. He writes a technical ceramic column for the Italian ceramic magazin ”La Ceramica in Italia e nel Mondo”.
www.lucatripaldi.com