Keeping it Simple with Base Metal Clay
I posted on Metal Clay Gallery about a year ago that it was like the wild west right now, with everyone experimenting with different clays and firing times and methods.
I wouldn’t have imagined that things would have gotten wild west-ier, but they have!
In addition to the first base metal clay, BronzClay from Metal Adventures, we know have CopprClay from the same, Copper Clay from Art Clay, Hadar’s Powders (sold in powdered form) from Hadar Jacobson, and now Prometheus Clay from Turkey. Oh, and did I mention another company sells silver powder for mixing up your own silver metal clay?
For a while, I was swept up in the excitement and tried many different brands. By the time Prometheus clay came out, I wasn’t even tempted to try it. (nothing against them personally, it does seem to work well for people.)
With the base matal clays, the firing is a little tricky, and it takes some time to figure out how to have consistent success with them.
For me, I’m happy to limit myself to just a few brands and types of clay, learn how to use them, and use my precious jewelry making time to be creative, not to do endless experiments with every possible brand and type of clay.
To achieve mastery of a media, one needs to focus and place limits. I believe limits actually encourage creativity, not hamper it.
So for me, I’m keeping it simple and limiting myself to only some of the many choices of metal clays. I recently took a class on the new Art Clay Copper. I wanted to try it since it’s a quick fire clay that can be torch fired or fired in a kiln in only 30 minutes. I think it definitely opens up possibilities for teaching copper clay in weekend workshops, which would be nearly impossible with the brands with the longer firing schedules.
The short firing schedule isn’t going to work well for enameling though, so if you’re working with copper so that you can enamel it, you’ll need to stick with Pam East’s firing schedule, which she thoroughly tested for CopprClay. (I wonder if it works with Art Clay Copper too? I’ll ask her.)
There are so many variables when working with the base metal clays, that I think individual artists should choose a brand and stick with it. I have no opinion on which brand – just pick whichever one you like, master that firing schedule, take notes on it, and stick with it.
I just fired some awesome stuff in BronzClay, and against my previous experience, I put too much in the firing container, and most of it came out un-sintered, just dust. I knew better, but I was impatient.
Here’s a question – why work in base metal clays at all? What’s your motivation?
I like making stuff in bronze because it’s really hard and allows me to make keychains and inexpensive jewelry for kids. And it’s what statues are made of. I like that. It’s fancy, it’s different from silver, there are some nice patina options and I just like it.
I’m less excited, personally, about the copper. For me, I find the required firing schedule a (for enameling) bit too much of a pain. I think I’d rather etch conventional copper and enamel that.
Lastly, it’s okay not to try everything. It’s okay to limit yourself creatively, in fact, it’s a great idea. Too many options can lead to doing nothing. Many creativity experts, including my buddy, Professor Marvin Bartel, advocate limiting options in order to increase creativity. I don’t know Prof. Bartel, of Gosehn College, but he’s teaching me to draw through his website for art educators.
I’m letting go of copper clay and focusing on bronze and silver clays. Faced with limited time, I’m choosing to limit my choice of materials in order to keep it simple and encourage creativity.
What’s your take? Which base metal clay(s) do you use? or do you not use them at all? Tell us all in the comments!
Update: Be sure to check out all the awesome comments!
Thanks for the advice about sticking to one or so brands of metal clay. To little prior testing by the sellers of clay, to much burden on the buyer to deal with all the brand variability has taken the fun out of it! I think the rush for the buck in the whole metal clay world has turned off a lot of folks who were initially very enthused by the products potential.
This is a great article! Upon reading it, I felt a sense of new freedom … freedom to be me, to pursue my own interests, freedom NOT to try products and processes just because they exist and someone somewhere thought they were a good idea. I have only worked in fine silver clays, but I am an artist and work in a number of other mediums. I find that there are simply not enough hours in a day to do everything I need and want to get accomplished. With life clicking by at warp speed, I am inspired to regularly refine and streamline my “bucket list.” I feel my artistic jewelry time is better spent working in fine silver clays rather than in base metals.
“Too many options can lead to doing nothing”. Don’t I know that! I get overwhelmed before I even start. The other thing that really turns me off is the certification process. There are 3 classes for Art Clay and 3 for PMC. Each costs $350-$400. Then there is a “crossover” certification. Only certain organizations like Rio & PMC Connection are considered “legitimate” programs. I would like to teach PMC or Art Clay classes eventually so this is a quandary for me. Maybe I’ll go “rogue” as one person called my current PMC instructor, who’s fabulous, by the way.
Absolutely perfect post — I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed myself. And I also have limited time. To experiment and create, then have it turn to dust is so disheartening. I really appreciate that I’m not alone. that’s for speaking up — I’m a bit of the same — staying with what I know — silver and select BronzClay.
Thanks for the post!
Great article, I totally agree. Two years ago when BronzClay was introduced, I felt unhip, old fashioned and stuck in my ways as I didn’t really get into it. I tried it twice, fired it once and I was over it. All the hip people seemed very excited about it. They shared all of the nuances and lessons learned while I watched on the sidelines, with my silver clay. Over the last year, I have kept an eye on the other clays as they were introduced. I even I ventured out and tried Art Clay Copper to prepare for a demo. So far, it hasn’t changed my mind. I will probably only use it for demos when I need a cheaper alternative. Otherwise, I am sticking with silver clay. It is the medium that makes me want to make beautiful things. It keeps my thoughts lingering in a creative space when I am in a boring meeting or on a long drive. Base metal clays don’t inspire me. Maybe, without realizing it, I was following your advice all along – keep it simple.
I love that you took such a stand! I love trying new things so when Bronze and Copper clays arrived my immediate response was “oooh I have to try that”. But once I read more about them I realized that I got into using Silver Clay because I like the Silver. I like the shiny! So I chose not to try all the new ones coming out. I can’t possibly make all the designs I come up with as it is so you are absolutely right. Setting limits or parameters is actually freeing. But I did feel like I was somehow being left behind. Thanks for helping me realize I made the right choice for me and I can feel good about it!
It was thrilling to read this article because it is along the lines of my thinking regarding base metal clay along with some other good information.
I have been working in silver metal clay for years, and there are many, many techniques to try and to conquer with just that. The adding of the 24kt gold and even gold leaf is a great addition.
While taking a bronze clay class, I decided right then that the firing times were not desirable for me as well as the iffy results after firing.
I ended up with a couple of really great pieces and then a few strange things that did not lend themselves well to repair at leather hard as does silver. Too much hulabaloo for me but I have seen some people that work primarily in bronze clay and make some really beautiful pieces.
I have used bronze wire fired in my silver clay and have gotten some interesting effects that are keeping me happy with bronze right now!
Wow! Thanks everyone for the wonderful responses!
Thanks for taking the time to post a comment. I’m so happy to have struck a cord with all of you!
I am totally intrigued by Hadar’s work and after trying her clay, I just love it.
The only tough part is that I will have to get a kiln eventually. In the meantime I can use a friend’s.
I love all her colors and ideas…very organic. I started out with Art Clay Silver and I liked it very much. Turned out to be very expensive!
Nice to meet you; congrats on the cover and your work is just beautiful.
Professor Bartel, referenced above, has a book out now:
http://www.bartelart.com/arted/book/Drawingbookorder.html
on learning to draw. I don’t have a copy yet, but I’m sure it’s wonderful!
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Am having a hell of a time with Prometheus – am new to it, having learned to use silver clay, which has a much simpler firing schedule. Had two episodes where sinering did not occur, a third where the piece was brittle and a fourth where it seemed fine, and then fell apart in the tumbler – am fed up. Am going to try with the activated charcoal – what a palaver – as I said, extremely fed up and wish I hadn’t bothered.
I know! It can be so frustrating! You know who does extremely well with Prometheus Clay is Sabine Alienor
http://alienorbijoux.canalblog.com
Her blog is in English and French.
Do any of the Bronze PMC products work well with enamels?
No, but CopprClay works well. You do need to work with the CopprClay in a specific way, I recommend the book by Pam East as the best guide on this.
Thanx for writing this! I found this article as I was searching for reviews on Prometheus Bronze Clay, and thanks to you I’m going to hold off and stay with my PMC3 and Art Clay Copper. I only just started working with precious metal clay about a month ago, so I’m a total noob still. Silver is my passion, and I wouldn’t have strayed far except for the price. I need to stick with what I’ve got and really master it. Thank you for the mental slap.