So Enamelling?

[Tabby66]

Will do Les

Les, the document is on another laptop, please remind me if I haven't sent it you by Friday!!

[caroleallen]

arghhhhhhh all was going so well layer on layer all looking good this last firing has turned my little masterpiece into a Jackson Pollock waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

What happened Kwant? Did you over-fire it?

[Lindy]

I am an enamel artist. I first started 25 years ago and yes, it does take over your life and it's great! Check out Guild Of Enamellers website. Well worth joining them as have a quarterly journal with lots of great articles (and we have quite a few members all over th world). happy to advise on specific problems. It is a huge subject but it is possible to teach yourself if you have the time and don't mind learning through your mistakes. Mind you when I started the price of silver was a lot less!

[Di Sandland]

Hi Lindy - Joining the Guild of Enamellers is on my to do list. I've been hesitant because, as a complete novice, I have nothing at all to offer the community. I also noticed that most of the get-togethers - be they study days or whatever - are way out of my geographical area. Do you know how active the South West area is? I live in Devon

[Lindy]

Dear Di,
There are quite a lot of other members in Region 6 an they do meet up sometimes. For instance I know that earlier this year they had a drawing day at Bradley Manor which led to a small exhibition there. I would encourage you to join because it is great value just for the journals which are full of technical information and advice, especially for beginners. We welcome complete beginners as everyone has to start somewhere. You will also be able to be in touch with other Enamellers in your region. If you can possibly make it to our annual conference you will have a brilliant time and learn a huge amount.

[caroleallen]

I keep meaning to join too. I think most of the get-togethers in the south west are in Bristol which is a long way for me. I really should do it though. If we both join Di, maybe we could persuade them to come further west.

[Di Sandland]

Good thinking Carole. I'll get me finger out and fill in the forms and stuff this week then xxx

[caroleallen]

Done it - just like that!

I see they do meet in Devon sometimes Di. I met someone at Hatfield who was encouraging me to join. They do seem like a friendly lot.

[Di Sandland]

In one of the enamelling threads we were discussing good books - well, I've just discovered one that has gone right to the top of my list. New to me but probably not to the market. Never seen it on Amazon.

It's Contemporary Enamelling: Art and Techniques

There's the usual brief overview of basic enamelling. This is followed by thirty experienced enamellists sharing their particular specialism and telling you exactly how they get their signature effects. The first article, for instance, is about enamelling silver beads - and the old hands here know about my love of silver beads and lentils! There are articles on all the major techniques - plus some. Lots of pics - over 350 the blurb says with a brilliant gallery.

Downside - it's American but I can forgive that for such a superb tool - which is exactly what this book will turn out to be for me.

It's not cheap - £25. But, once I got my sweaty little hands on it, I was happy to have paid that amount. I got mine from The Book Depository. http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Cont.../9780764323553

[Di Sandland]

Dunnit too! Don't know why I hung around for so long. Thanks Lindy for the boot up the bum!