Introduction

Lately many ceramic artists have become fascinated with electroforming. This technique allows coating or adding metallic texture to fired ceramic objects, without further use of heat. Mostly the material used for this is copper.

Technique

Electroforming is a galvanic process, which does not produce any toxic odours or vapours; therefore, it can also be applied in safety and autonomy back home. Furthermore, it does not require much investment in equipment nor materials. The ideal clay for electroforming is porcelain or stoneware as low temperature or refractory clays are not suitable for this technique. The course is aimed at anyone approaching this technique for the first time; however, it is necessary to have some knowledge in making with clay. Students must be able to create autonomously small shapes in porcelain, the clay used in this course.

The programme

First we start making objects and or jewellery in porcelain, with specific attention to detail so to make them suitable for electroforming. Due to the timing of the course, the size may not exceed 5x5x5 cm. or 2 x 2 x 2 inches.  (The electroforming of a piece of this size takes 8 to 24 hours)  While back home, you will be able to electroform objects of any size.

Second you will learn to prepare the copper plating bath and the conductive paint, then starting to coat the objects, deciding how much and which areas to cover with layers and encrustations in copper. In addition to coating with copper, we will test further materials like leaves, seeds or other small objects.

Finally, the last day will be dedicated to treatment and patination techniques of electroformed copper: polishing, protection from oxidation and creating the distinctive green-blue patina.

Logistics

There are 5 full working days in the studio. The workshop is open and teaching ocurrs  9 am to 5 pm. On every classday, a delicious midday meal will be served. Lodging is included as well.

The artist

Luca Tripaldi was born in Turin, Italy. Currently he lives in Florence where he 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