Teaching is now a part of my practice.
I work as an Instructor in the Jewelry & Metals program at Guilford Art Center, guiding weekly classes for both introductory and intermediate levels. I’ll also be running the youth and teen summer programs, along with specialized weekend workshops.
Guilford Art Center has been a longstanding nonprofit in the community, focused on hands-on art education, and it provides a strong setting for this work.
The classes are hands-on and centered on how a piece is made, from sawing and forming to soldering, finishing, and stone setting.
In Intro to Metalsmithing, students work in jewelers brass (NuGold), copper, and sterling silver while learning core techniques and building a strong foundation in fabrication.
In Intermediate, the work becomes more involved, with an emphasis on multi-stone pieces, more precise soldering, settings, and a deeper understanding of fabrication. Each person works at their own pace while developing technical skill and individual direction.
Class time is spent at the bench, tools in use, metal being worked, stones set step by step. The focus is on process and understanding how each decision affects the final piece.
Youth and Teen Programs
This summer, I will be teaching youth and teen metalsmithing programs at the Guilford Art Center.
These classes introduce younger students to the bench, including tool use, material handling, and basic fabrication. The goal is to give students a clear understanding of how jewelry is made while building confidence through hands-on work.
For teens, projects can become more advanced, with opportunities to explore design, soldering, fabrication, and introductory stone setting.
Practice and Teaching
The same standards carry through everything I do. Strong construction, attention to detail, and respect for the material.
Working with students reinforces that. Demonstrating a technique or troubleshooting a problem requires a clear understanding of how a piece is built. It sharpens my own approach and keeps the focus on fundamentals.
Whether at the bench or in the classroom, the goal remains the same: well-made work that holds up over time.
If you’re interested in classes or workshops, you can view the current schedule through Guilford Art Center or reach out to me directly here.
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