Reticulation and Granulation
with Harold O'Connor

CLASS DESCRIPTION
Reticulation is the process of creating 'mountain and valley' structures or patterns in metal surfaces. By heating specially prepared metal sheets with various torches, the semi-melted metal flows towards the flame. Surfaces created in this manner bring 'life' to the metal surface. Harold will cover:
Granulation is an ancient method of surface embellishment that has seen a re-birth in the last century. Its appeal is the surface patterns which are created through applying various size metal granules producing designs of geometric or abstract nature. Students will learn:
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Harold O’Connor is a jeweler’s jeweler. He has been a practicing goldsmith and teacher for over 40 years. Working in Colorado, he’s opened himself up to the topography of the west. The majesty of the mountains, the intimate valleys. And he’s brought those inspirations and visual cues to his work. Imagine reticulated silver that’s heated and crunched as the earth’s own crust once was, with results that are both random and breathtaking. With this complex work, Harold also makes tiny granules of silver or 18 karat gold, using an ancient Etruscan technique.
Harold is the author of 'The Jewelers Bench Reference' and 'The Flexible Shaft Machine' and has exhibited and conducted workshops throughout the world. We are thrilled to have him teach his signature techniques at Boulder Metalsmithing Association.
PREREQUISITES
Intermediate to advanced metalsmithing skills are required for this class.
STUDENTS SHOULD BRING
For the reticulation portion of the workshop, students should bring:
Number of Seats: Maximum 10 students. Students must be 18 or older. All participants will be required to sign a waiver.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Registration open soon
Reticulation is the process of creating 'mountain and valley' structures or patterns in metal surfaces. By heating specially prepared metal sheets with various torches, the semi-melted metal flows towards the flame. Surfaces created in this manner bring 'life' to the metal surface. Harold will cover:
- -discussion and creation of metal shapes suitable for reticulation
- -preparing the metal through depletion guilding
- -manipulation of the metal during the heating process
- -various torches used to create certain design patterns
- -forming reticulated metals into 3-D forms
- -combining reticulated metals with other forms
- -integrating, patination, and repair of reticulated metals
Granulation is an ancient method of surface embellishment that has seen a re-birth in the last century. Its appeal is the surface patterns which are created through applying various size metal granules producing designs of geometric or abstract nature. Students will learn:
- -making small snips of metal
- -learning how to fire the small snips into round granules
- -making a special flux for adhering the granules to metal
- -applying beads to metal surfaces
- -consideration of various methods of granulation
- -fusing granules to metal, how to repair them if not completely fired
- -how to finish a work, patination, and repair, if needed
- -consideration in combining granulation with other techniques
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Harold O’Connor is a jeweler’s jeweler. He has been a practicing goldsmith and teacher for over 40 years. Working in Colorado, he’s opened himself up to the topography of the west. The majesty of the mountains, the intimate valleys. And he’s brought those inspirations and visual cues to his work. Imagine reticulated silver that’s heated and crunched as the earth’s own crust once was, with results that are both random and breathtaking. With this complex work, Harold also makes tiny granules of silver or 18 karat gold, using an ancient Etruscan technique.
Harold is the author of 'The Jewelers Bench Reference' and 'The Flexible Shaft Machine' and has exhibited and conducted workshops throughout the world. We are thrilled to have him teach his signature techniques at Boulder Metalsmithing Association.
PREREQUISITES
Intermediate to advanced metalsmithing skills are required for this class.
STUDENTS SHOULD BRING
For the reticulation portion of the workshop, students should bring:
- (1) 3” X 12” piece of 26 gauge reticulation sheet silver
- jeweler’s saw frame, 4/0 blades, beeswax or lubricant for blades
- scribe
- sliding calipers
- round nose, chain nose, flat nose pliers
- solder shears, pointed solder tweezers, insulated cross-lock tweezers
- 6” flat file, #2 cut, with handle
- 4” needle files, shapes: triangle, round, flat, barrette
- small goldsmith cross peen hammer
- borax flux and brush
- silver solder: hard, medium and easy
- small charcoal block
- 26 gauge binding wire
- Emery paper, 220 grit
- mm graph paper, and a sketch book
- #000 paint brush
- (1) 3” X 6” 26 gauge sterling silver sheet
- 2 feet of 26 gauge sterling round wire
- 1 small bottle of Batterns flux
- #000 paint brush
- some small containers for storing granules
Number of Seats: Maximum 10 students. Students must be 18 or older. All participants will be required to sign a waiver.
CANCELLATION POLICY
- You may cancel up to 30 days prior to the start of the class and receive a full refund, less $25 processing. To cancel, send an email to info@bouldermetalsmiths.com.
- Cancellations less than 30 days prior to the start date will not be refunded.
- In the event we have to cancel a class, you will be notified prior to the start date and will be issued a full refund.
- Registration is not transferrable. You may not sell your seat to another student.
- If a class has multiple sessions, and you miss one, there is no make up opportunity and the instructor will not catch you up at the next class session. You may not join the next scheduled class session, as there’s a maximum number of students for every class and it’s not fair to the other students.
- If you are late to a class, the instructor will not catch you up. There’s a structured curriculum for every class and its not fair to other students to skip part of the curriculum to catch up a student that’s late.
- By clicking on the “I’m going” button and paying the registration fee, you are agreeing to this cancellation policy.
- No Exceptions.
Registration open soon