In August of 2018 I took a workshop with Andrea Kennington of NC Black to learn about her forming techniques for botanical and insect forms. (The Plantae and Arthropods workshop, as listed here).
This is a great workshop and if you get the opportunity to take this one, or any other, from Andrea, you will not be disappointed. One of the things I noticed is that she really knows how to teach to varies learning styles. She teaches techniques and processes, not step-by-step tutorials, which is what artists need so that they can then take these techniques and incorporate them into their own work. However, she still provides plenty of patterns and she breaks down the techniques into manageable chunks so that people who prefer step-by-step instructions will not feel overwhelmed.
I managed to take good notes during the workshop, which I am really glad about, because I am looking back on now them to refresh my memory since I took the workshop over a year ago.
The experience left me realizing that a rolling mill was definitely a tool I needed in my studio (though I have yet to get one). That and many of the other tools she used during the class. Especially the hammers. Though, for real, I love all hammers. I also have yet to do anything with the various forms I made.
My self-imposed studio hiatus is especially hard to bear sometimes; and one of the things I miss most is spending time around other metal artists. I am most always an awkward, introverted person and generally feel out of place, but when I get to spend time in a group with other people who are also awkward artists, and we are all making things, I do feel like I belong.
