Fundamentals of Metal Fabrication for Jewelry with Beth Carter Gautsch

Build a rock-solid foundation in classic metalsmithing during this intensive 3-day hands-on workshop with jewelry artist Beth Carter Gautsch. Part of Tryon Arts & Crafts School’s August Concentration Weeks, this course introduces essential metal fabrication techniques to help students confidently transform sheet metal and wire into finished, custom-designed jewelry pieces.
Through step-by-step demonstrations and individual instruction, students will explore foundational jewelry-making skills, including:
Cutting & Piercing: Mastering the jeweler’s saw for clean, precise lines and interior cutouts.
Forming & Joining: Bending, hammering, and forming wire and sheet metal into classic elements like jump rings and handmade chain links.
Soldering: Torch safety, understanding solder flow, heat control, and sweat-soldering seams cleanly.
Surface Design & Finishing: Adding texture through roller-printing and texturing hammers, followed by filing, sanding, and polishing for gallery-ready finishes.
Students will complete multiple foundational projects—including custom wire chain links and fabricated metal elements—leaving with a comprehensive toolkit of metalsmithing techniques.

Level: Beginner to Intermediate