Best beginner guide to enameling

Dear All,

I’m interested in learning enameling. I am proficient in
fabrication, so that should not be a hurdle for me. I need a good
beginners book for the actual enamel work itself. I know classes
would probably be the best, but I don’t need to rearrange work or get
a babysitter to read a book and experiment on my own!

I have books showing beautiful enamel work, but I need a good, step
by step guide for materials and the actual process. What would you
proficient or recently studied enamelers recommend?

Thanks.

Brenda
Nesheim Fuller Design
http://www.sunrisejewelryoriginals.com

You want either of the following books:

Cohen, K. L. (2002). The Art of Fine Enameling. New York, Sterling
Publishing.

Darty, L. (2004). The Art of Enameling: Techniques, Projects,
Inspiration. New York, Lark Books.

Mary Ellin D’Agostino, PhD
www.medacreations.com

Jeanne Werge-Hartley’s Enamelling on Precious Metals

and Oppi Untracht’s Enameling on Metal Are excellent “how To”
references as well as providing some outstanding examples from some
of the foremost practioners.

Kind regards
Don Iorns

Hi David,

Try Glenice Lesley Matthews book, Enamels, Enameling, Enamelists -
it’s not a new publication, and doesn’t have a lot of full colour
pictures, but it is very clear, concise and easy to follow.
Available from Amazon - and second hand copies available from less
than $5 - you have nothing to lose!!

Glenice is a master craftsman and my good friend and mentor. Check
out some of her work www.glenicelesleymatthews.com.au

Jane Walker

First Steps in Enameling by Jinks McGrath

Gregg

Hi Brenda

I would highly recommend “Enamelling on Precious Metals” by Jeanne
Werge-Hartley for the depth & scope of it’s the one I
refer to most often. Also, for complete beginners “New Crafts:
Enamelling” by Denise Palmer has very clear instructions - 25
projects, step-by-step with photos.

Kind Regards

Deborah Miller
www.djm-jewellery.co.uk

My recommendation is always Glenice Matthews “Enamels, Enameling, Enamelists” published in 1984. It is comprehensive and easy to
follow. Also because newer materials and techniques might not be
found there, another book I really enjoy is Linda Darty’s “The Art of Enameling” which features instructions in the front of the book, and
then sections on particular techniques developed by various enamel
artists. Glenice Matthews was Director, and taught at Wichita Center
for the Arts for several years before returning to Australia. I
taught enameling there for eight years following her. The Center has
had enameling classes since the 1930’s, starting with Margaret
Craver.

Linda Gebert

I would also like to add the best place to go for a list of
enemaling books that are out is the
http://www.enamelistsociety.org/Resources/Publications.html

There are many good books out there. Also Thompson Enamel has a book
of their own for beginners. That website is thompsonenamel.com

Also a good book Beginner’s Guide to Enamelling by Dorothey Crockrell
you can get it at Thomson Enamel or Amazon.

Good luck. Also have Thompson Emamel has a conference every other
year where you can go and get first hand knowledge. On the the
alternativing year the Enamelist Society has their conference also
worth going to to learn first hand. You can get info about this
years conference that was in August.

Brenda,

I am sure you will get a lot of input on your request for
For what it is worth here are my recommendations:

The best all-round book to come out so far is Linda Darty’s The Art
of Enameling: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration

If you go to the publications section of the Enamelist Society
website
(The Enamelist Society Inc.). You
can access Amazon.com. If you order anything from Amazon (not just
books) through the Society website the Society makes a tiny
percentage on the sale.

Another publication which is a must have for scientific info is the
Thompson workbook available from Thompson Enamel.

There have been several books that have come out in English over the
past 6 years, after a long drought of no books. The Cohen book and
the Bachrach book contain “how-to” projects in a step-by-step format.
Once you have the basics you might want to go a little deeper into
specific techniques.

The Enamelist Society lending library is another possibility for
enameling books, videos, and magazines.
http://www.enamelistsociety.org/Activities/Library.html

Happy learning,
Judy Stone