Bill Dawson returns to Pouncing Rain in July

We are excited that Bill Dawson is returning in July for 3 full days of fun workshops. Since we missed the newsletter, I wanted to send a special email with all the details! Here are descriptions of the 3 different workshops and links for pictures and sign up. All of these workshops are limited to 6 students, so be sure to sign up early to avoid being disappointed.



Forging
July 22nd – Friday 10:00-5:00 Cost: $130.00
Instructor: Bill Dawson
Prerequisites: NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED!
All materials are included.
Learn to express yourself in metal while letting the metal express its nature through your work. This is the true art of the smith, working with the fundamental plasticity of metal, shaping it under the hammer without grinding or other stock removal. This one day workshop is your chance to begin to explore the possibilities of the hammer. We will also cover the basics of twist and roll wire, chisel piercing, and swedge work.




Fold Forming
July 23rd – Saturday 10:00-5:00 Cost: $120.00
Instructor: Bill Dawson
Prerequisites: NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED!
All materials are included.
Fold forming is an exciting method for shaping metal quickly, and without the need for many repeated annealing. The metal is worked near to the limit of its malleability making it possible to create forged forms from remarkably thin sheet metal. The natural properties of the metal come through in this process to give these forms an almost organic look; quite different from traditional hammered forms.
In this workshop we will use copper sheet to create a variety of sample fold forms, which may be adapted for use in jewelry designs. We will also have an experimentation, "play with the metal," session in which we can develop new variations of the standard fold forms.



Hollow Fold Forms and Decking
July 24th – Sunday 10:00 – 5:00 Cost: $130.00
Instructor: Bill Dawson
Prerequisites: Fold Forming Workshop or Equivalent
All materials are included.
Expand on your basic knowledge of fold forming with more complex patterns including wire scoring and hollow fold-forms. Fold forming can create incredibly beautiful shapes but hollow folded forms can be too flexible for practical purposes. Learn to "deck" your forms to create rigidity, turning these fantastic organic shapes into more functional vessels. Like the deck of a large ship deck, "decking" makes open forms stronger and can be used to fortify any hollow metal shape making it a very transferable skill. Some advanced soldering techniques will be demonstrated as soldering a deck onto a hollow form is no easy task. Basic fold forming and soldering skills required.