Precious Metal Clay for Beginners

Discover the creative possibilities of precious metal clay in this relaxed, beginner-friendly jewellery workshop. Using this versatile material, you’ll design and create your own pieces in fine silver while learning a range of simple and rewarding techniques.

Precious metal clay (PMC) is composed of microscopic silver particles mixed with an organic binder, resulting in a soft, malleable material that can be shaped much like traditional clay. It allows for intricate detail and organic textures that are difficult to achieve through traditional metalworking. Once fired, the binder burns away, leaving behind solid fine silver.

During the workshop, you’ll explore a variety of ways to design and build your jewellery. You’ll begin by working with copper clay to experiment with techniques, including creating moulds from small found objects such as shells and buttons, and using rolled textures and cutters to develop decorative elements.

You’ll then move on to working in silver clay, applying your new skills to create finished pieces. You’ll learn how to join components using silver clay paste and build up more complex forms, before adding wires and findings to complete your designs as pendants, earrings or charms.

This course is ideal for beginners and is particularly suitable for those who may find traditional metalworking physically demanding, as precious metal clay can be shaped with relatively little hand strength.