Workshop Topics

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Russian Filigree Workshop

Learn the secret of Russian filigree, the technique of tension fitted, open back filigree. Through extensive demonstrations and hands-on exploration, you will learn how to make delicate scalloped wire, create a pendant and a finger ring, and begin a bead. Discover the necessary steps and tricks to ensure success and fun through this exquisite technique.

Also included in the workshop will be discussions and demonstrations of Victoria’s contemporary sculptural jewelry and functional objects and other three-dimensional possibilities with the process. Those familiar with the technique through Victoria’s Russian Filigree DVD will have the opportunity to work on more advanced projects.

Russian Filigree is taught as a 2, 3, 4, or 5 day workshop. The above description is for a 2-day workshop. The 3-day workshop includes a large hollow Russian filigree bead project. The 5-day workshop includes the bead and a second type of ring.

Level: Basic metalsmithing skills, students must know how to solder with a torch. Experience bending wire is helpful, but no filigree experience is required.

Studio requirements: sturdy tables or benches, at least 4 air acetylene torches, at least one flat or combo rolling mill, 4 flex shafts.

High Relief Eastern Repoussé Workshop

Learn the secret of hammering metal into any shape or design of high or low relief with the technique of Eastern repoussé and chasing. This is the type of repousse used by the ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Scythian metalsmiths to achieve works of unsurpassed beauty. Make 2 pieces suitable as pendants or brooches and 1 finger ring.* Through the process you will learn how to achieve exquisite detail, unsurpassed depth, and multiple levels of relief that are exclusive to this type of repousse, yet applicable to any type of design you can imagine.

By working on a jewelry scale, you will gain a working knowledge of the process that can be used on metalwork of any scale whether wearable, functional, or sculptural. Through the ring project (3, 4, or 5-day workshops) you will learn Victoria’s method of creating cuff bracelets in a fraction of the time. Participants will also be introduced to the possibilities of using this process with alternative materials, such as mokume gane and bi-metal.

No tool making required! Victoria will provide sets of tools for use during the workshop that were expertly milled to guarantee your success. You will have the option to buy these sets at the end of class if you wish. (Sets are $215./ea.) Included in the extensive color handout is information on tool making, but class time will be devoted to doing repoussé.

Students familiar with the technique through Victoria’s video will have the option to work on more advanced projects in class.

*The ring project is not available in the 2-day workshop.

High Relief Eastern Repousse is taught as a 2, 3, 4, or 5 day workshop. The 2-day workshop includes the first 2 pendant/brooch projects only. The 3-day workshop includes a repousse ring. The 4-day and 5-day workshop includes a ring plus one extra optional project.

Level: Basic metalsmithing skills, students must know how to solder with a torch. No previous experience with repoussse or forging is necessary.

Studio requirements: sturdy tables or benches, 3-4 air acetylene torches for annealing

*Tools are available for purchase for $215./set at the end of class. There is no charge for their use during class.

All Chained Up Workshop

Through demonstrations and individual coaching, participants will learn one of Victoria’s original fused chain patterns, the Vertebrate or the Side Weave Mesh, appropriate for bracelets and necklaces for both men and women.

All Chained up is taught as a 1-day and 1 chain pattern workshop in conjunction with another topic or as a 2-day workshop with 2 chain patterns taught or 1 chain pattern and a wire granulation clasp.

Level: Basic metalsmithing skills, students must know how to solder with a torch. No previous experience with chain making is necessary.

Studio requirements: sturdy tables or benches, air acetylene torches with a ratio of 1 torch for each 3 students.

Granulation Ring Workshop

In this intensive two-day workshop, learn to fuse wire and granules of sterling and 18K in the manner of the ancient Etruscans, Egyptians, and Greeks to create patterns traditional or contemporary while making a small pendant and a ring. This easy method gives great immediate gratification with very little clean up! Extend your design possibilities for many other projects. Victoria has been featured on Home and Garden Television’s show, That’s Clever, demonstrating her unique approach to this technique.

The Granulation Ring Workshop is taught as a 2-day workshop.

Level: Basic metalsmithing skills, students must know how to solder with a torch.

Studio requirements: sturdy tables or benches, at least 4 air acetylene torches.

Embellished Rings Workshop

The desire to encircle the fingers with symbols of loyalty, wealth, and power is an ancient tradition dating back thousands of years. They are the most personal and most coveted of adornments. Through extensive demonstrations and hands on exploration students will learn the techniques, and most importantly the many many tricks, for making exquisite ancient style rings. Projects can include reversible rings with rotating bezels, intaglio style seal rings, drusy rings, dinner rings, and hidden compartment “poison” rings.

Two 1-day ring workshops may be combined to create a 2-day workshop or a 1-day ring workshop can be scheduled in conjunction with another type of 1-day or 2-day workshops such as All Chained Up, Russian Filigree, or Eastern Repousse.

Level: Basic to intermediate metalsmithing skills, students must know how to solder with a torch and fabricate a silver or gold bezel setting.

Studio requirements: at least 4 air acetylene torches, flat or combo rolling mill.

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Secret Treasures: Amulets & Lockets Workshop

Drawing on a variety of fabrication and surface embellishment techniques, Victoria takes lockets into new dimension. Through demonstrations with a variety of tips and a highly creative approach to hollow construction, students will make 1-2 different types of hinged amulets or lockets.

Embellishment techniques demonstrated may include stamping/chasing, roller printing, wire granulation, kum boo, and surface treatments to speed up clean up.

The Secret Treasures: Amulets & Lockets Workshop is taught as a 2-day or a 3-day workshop.

Level: Intermediate metalsmithing skills, students must know how to solder with a torch and fabricate a silver bezel setting.

Studio requirements: at least 4 air acetylene torches, flat or combo rolling mill

Praise for Giving Voice: “Remarkable Work”

I love Giving Voice. This remarkable, inspiring and unique book is a magical journey unlike any other and is beautifully done. Rich colors and patterns metamorphise into stunnning images created by reknown artist Victoria Lansford. Her words dance and flow across the pages filled with insightful thoughts and expressions. The music is contemplative, sophistocated and lovely. I would highly recommend this book as a gift to others or for one’s self.

RogueJoan via Apple Books

Praise for Giving Voice: “Amazing”

Giving Voice is what ‘multimedia’ is supposed to be! Visual art, music, and spoken word brought together in a complementary manner. Whether you're checking out a few pages to get a quick pick-me-up of pen, ink, and piano, or parking yourself in one spot to lose yourself in the gestalt, or doing something in between, you’ll find something new inside to keep coming back to.

Anonymous via Apple Books

“Victoria is a true artist and shares her gift teaching with patience, passion, good humor, and enthusiasm…”

I just spent the most wonderful week-end with one of the best teachers that I have ever had the pleasure of learning from. Victoria is a true artist and shares her gift teaching with patience, passion, good humor, and enthusiasm...she has an infectious laugh, and you can't help laughing with her while she encourages you to achieve levels of skill that you didn't know you had. 11 other jewelry students and myself came into her workshop on Saturday having never picked up a hammer to do repousse ever before and all learned more from her in this one weekend than we thought possible. She spent time with each of us, pointing out better ways to solve whatever problems that we were having pushing the metal around to make it do our bidding. Victoria, I can't wait until you come back to us!

Patti D'Arbanville
Artist, Actress

“It’s beyond beautiful…”

No painting, song, or sculpture had ever moved me like your art did. It's beyond beautiful, I cannot describe my feelings. Each piece is so organic, they look alive. Each one left me with different feelings, mostly: wonder, amazement, happiness, and curiosity. Some even a soft anger or loss. But each one left me emotionally rolled. You're work is....life changing. I've finally heard the thundering beacon of what I want for my future. And that is to someday be as an amazing of an artist as you.

I thank you so much for what you do.

Alexandria Reyes
Phoenix, AZ

“I wish to compliment you on the wonderful DVD you and your production crew produced to introduce your method, knowledge, and vision for Russian Filigree…”

I wish to compliment you on the wonderful DVD you and your production crew produced to introduce your method, knowledge, and vision for Russian Filigree. The DVD demonstrates, so honestly, your dedication, skill and techniques that you have given to master this artful jewelry. You hold back nothing and give so much. This is the best teaching DVD that I have purchased in a long time. Thank you once more for the opportunity to learn from you.
Cordially,

Dolores Lewis
Dean Emeritus Moore College of Art

“In Japan, Victoria would be considered a national treasure…”

Victoria teaches techniques used for millennia to create many of the great works of art one can see in museums. Though these techniques had fallen into disuse due to their labor intensive nature, Victoria has found many tricks that streamline and improve the processes, and she uses them to make strikingly contemporary pieces rooted in the ancient world.

One will never go into a hardware store with the same mind set again. Students are given a series of challenges and opportunities to grow their own inner voices and are encouraged to create works unique to them, at their levels of ability.

The number of places one can learn these skills in the US can be counted conveniently on one's thumbs. In Japan, Victoria would be considered a national treasure, and she would be funded to pass these skills on to the next generation.

Al Boyers, Metalsmith