How does one train to be a silversmith?
Asked by
Dog (
25152
)
November 7th, 2009
There is a job opening in the paper that caught my eye. It was for an experienced silversmith.
The description said: “Must be able to design, wax, mold, cast and finish product, ready for delivery. Additional requirements are to able to do a variety of designs and subject matter.”
I used to be a sculptor and would fire large works and made molds before switching to paint. So I was wondering how different silversmith work was.
Most importantly where can a person train? Is this something a person could do from their home?
Any information on the subject would be of great interest to me.
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6 Answers
A friend of mine is a silversmith, he went to Sheffield University to learn the trade then set up his own business, he now spends most of his time teaching the craft at York College as he makes more money teaching than doing, I believe he is head of department now. He’s made wedding rings for some of our friends which is nice.
He did a full time University course to do it but I’m sure there are other ways just google ‘silversmith course (your location)’ as a start
Art schools typically offer such courses. If you are in the bay, I would recommend CCA (formerly CCAC), which still teaches ‘crafts.’
Check Craigslist too, even put the word out.
When I used to work at an industrial arts school (with blacksmithing and jewelry-making classes), I was interested in this same question. I’d ask most of the instructors how they got into their line of work/craft. All of their answers were quite varied. Some finished specific art programs while others only took some courses and continued on their own. And of course there were others who fell into it out of mere happenstance.
There are a lot of ways to get where you want to be. It’d be easy enough to find a class offered locally. Though I’d try showing your portfolio to someone who was looking for a less experienced silversmith. Be open to unpaid apprenticeships.
Good luck!
In our town, you would go to the local community college. They offer a two-year degree in silversmithing. Otherwise I have known folks that have essentially served as apprentices. They worked for a manufacturing jeweler who was kind enough to show them how to do various techniques.
There is a pretty active art guild in Darwin and they frequently offer silversmithing workshops. Also TAFE, I have no idea what stands for but it is like a technical school in USA well and a community college. So check out the local art guilds.
With your artistic background the design would probably come naturally you would just have to get a grasp of the technical application.
Most Jr. colleges offer some sort of metal sculpture classes, that’s where my ex husband and I met, studied and went on to create our own jewelry making business.
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