Workshops

Vessel Chasing Workshop

March 12-14, 2025
at
Urban Metal Studio
in
Mesa, AZ

Using pre-made spun copper vessels this 3-day workshop will explore how to embellish the form with designs and textures created using the technique known as chasing, including an approach variation I’ve been calling “hammer chasing”. In place of traditional pitch we will be using a microcrystalline wax, one commonly used in bronze casting. During the course of the workshop we will also cover the basics of making ones own chasing tools, and participants will have the opportunity to make some if they wish to. We will also cover how to finish a vessel edge by soldering on a wire rim.

This workshop will be technique and information oriented rather than project oriented, meaning very few participants actually finish a piece during the time we have. However, everyone should get lots of information about the processes. Considerable time will be spent practicing the techniques while working on our pieces, but due to the labor intensive nature of chasing you shouldn’t expect to complete a piece in class.

The workshop will be held at Urban Metal Studio in Mesa, AZ. For those who don’t know, this is the Phoenix area which means it has a major airport hub making it easier to travel to.

This class will be open to all skill levels. Whether you are completely new to working with metal or advanced in your metalsmithing skills you are welcome to sign up. This is the pre-requisite class for the the intermediate/advanced vessel chasing class which will be happening right after this one, meaning if you wanted you could sign up for both and get 6 days of vessel chasing fun!

For more details or to sign up here is a link to the class directly on Urban Metal Studio’s website.

Intermediate/Advanced Vessel Chasing Workshop

March 15-17, 2025
at
Urban Metal Studio
in

Mesa, AZ

This 3-day workshop is open to students who have already taken my initial vessel chasing workshop at any time in the past. Like the initial workshop we will be working with microcrystalline wax in place of traditional pitch. Students will have the option to explore hammer chasing and/or traditional chasing on their vessels. Material will be on hand for students to make some chasing tools as needed.

This class will NOT have all the long, extremely detailed demos that the initial vessel chasing workshop has. Instead we will have much shorter cursory refresher demos in order to allow most of the time to be spent working on individual pieces with more one on one guidance as the works develop.

The class is still technique oriented rather than project oriented. Students are still not likely to finish a piece during class. (Fully chasing a vessel just takes a long time!) Pre-made spun copper vessels will again be available for students to work on.

The workshop will be held at Urban Metal Studio in Mesa, AZ. For those who don’t know, this is the Phoenix area which means it has a major airport hub making it easier to travel to.

I’ve only done this workshop a couple times now, but it has been a blast each time. Because everyone in the class has at least a base knowledge we tend to go faster with the demos. Usually there are some mini demos focused on specific issues that come up in the various designs students are working on. Basically we explore things a little farther, deeper, and get more refined.

This workshop is happening immediately after one of my normal 3-day vessel chasing workshops that is open to anyone at any skill level. What this means is that if you wanted to immerse yourself in vessel chasing for 6 days straight you could sign up for both!

For more details or to sign up for this intermediate/advanced vessel chasing class here is a direct link to it on Urban Metal Studio’s website.