This workshop meets Friday and Saturday, August 22 & 23, 2025, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm each day with a lunch break
 
In this amazing 2-day silver clay workshop you will create a miniature silver automata. A magical kinetic objet d’art. When you turn the handle it will spin around and bob up and down.
 
You will learn how to make a wood clay former and how to use silver clay with the former to create a 3D hollow form. This will form the main character of your automata.
 
The base will also be carefully constructed from silver clay. You will have the opportunity to add embellishments using tiny moulds or stamps or add additional layers of clay to make the design your own.
 
The mechanism will mainly be made using silver wire. Some elements will be soldered and others glued in place.
 
Finally you will polish and patina your magical creation to highlight detail and make your designs pop!
 
In this particular workshop you will have the choice of  making a chicken, jelly fish or a love heart automata.
 
The kit fee for this workshop is $20 which includes silver wire for the mechanisim, wood clay, and plastic former. The fee will be collected by the instructor during the workshop.
 
Each student will require a basic metal clay tool kit and 35g of Art Clay fine silver.
 
This workshop is part of the Metal Clay Artists Symposium and requires the purchase of the General Registration.
 
About Grainne:
Grainne has been a metal clay artist and tutor for 10 years. She is passionate about metal clay and loves nothing more than sharing her skills and teaching others. Grainne originally trained as a psychiatric nurse but felt the need to improve her work life balance and follow a more creative path. Grainne has a diploma in Silver Clay which has enabled her to teach a wide variety of silver clay workshops. Working from a little studio in her garden she plans and creates new jewellery collections and develops new workshops. She specializes in silver clay and offers a wide variety of classes in this wonderful medium. Grainne teaches at various venues throughout the UK and Europe. This includes teaching at the Arts university Bournemouth and also at silver clay retreat in rural hills of Andalusia in Spain. Grainne has also taught at several metal clay conferences such as ‘You can Make It’ and ‘Sinter’ Teaching style: Grainne teaching style is clear and concise. Information and processes are broken down into simple easy to understand steps. Each stage is demonstrated before students are encouraged to give it a go themselves. Inspiration Grainne’s work is often influenced by the wildlife, countryside and coastline where she lives in beautiful Dorset on the south coast of the UK. Social Media https://www.facebook.com/TimestoTreasure.co.uk Instagram @timetotreasure