Course Schedule: May 29th– 30th 2021
Course duration: 16 hours – Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Price: 400 €
THE TECNIQUE:
The galvanic processes are all those which use electrolysis to cover a surface, which conducts electricity, with a metallic layer. The galvanic technique has two very important and fascinating applications in jewellery. The most known is the plating of a metal with a precious metal like gold, rhodium, palladium, and platinum, this process allows to prevent oxidation and early wear of some metals and obviously a precious embellishment of the surfaces. The second application is the electroforming technique, this process allows to coat any kind of material, except ferric materials, whit a thick coat of copper, which can be in a second stage plated with a precious metal. Mastering these two techniques, there are no limits to creating new shapes and textures that cannot be achieved with other techniques. You will begin to reconsider some common materials and how to transform them in unconventional and unique jewellery. The combination of these two galvanic processes will be your own personal “philosopher’s stone”.
COURSE CONTENT:
– how to conduct a galvanic process
– using of the power supply
– explanation of the different electrolytic baths
– function of the cathode and the anode
– pre-treatment and preparation of the pieces for electroforming
– electroforming
– preparation of a pieces for plating
– explanation of the different platin baths
– plating
– finishing
ADDRESED TO:
You are welcome to bring any kind of materials for electroforming, like leaves, mushrooms, seeds, small branches, plastics, etc., except ferric materials (the acidity of the electrolytic bath corrodes them); all organic materials must be completely dry. The size limit of the pieces is 4 x 4 x 4 cm.
You will plate the pieces electroformed with gold, platinum, using one or both on the same surface. The electrolytic baths used in the course can be used for plating any kind of metal except titanium, iron and still. In the course you will plate copper because is the metal coat of the electroformed pieces. You will receive all the information where to buy the electrolytic baths, the power supply and the anodes. The equipment used it is the same for electroforming and for plating, what changes it is the electrolytic bath. It depends from the metal you wish to plate with and obviously the investment you would effort; copper and nickel are the cheapest and palladium and rhodium the most expensive. To give you an idea of the investment to do, the equipment to make electroforming and plating with gold and platinum (including the three flash electrolytic baths of 1 lt.) it is about 350-400 euros.
ABOUT THE TEACHER:
Luca Tripaldi is an Italian artist, based in Turin. After training in graphic design, he worked for ten years in Mario Audello Studios in Turin as sculptor, making masks and special effects for many opera houses like Scala di Milano, Arena di Verona, etc. In 1998 he opened his own workshop in Turin.
His favored material is porcelain, preferring to work with unglazed surfaces decorated with ceramic transfers, using his personal technique and his own typical baroque drawings. In 2011 Luca blended his experience in materials together, in the creation of porcelain, resin and metal jewellery. The most part of his jewellery evoke creativity and attention to detail, similar to that which is typical of costume design in theatres. He conducts intensive activities as instructor through the many workshops he holds throughout Europe, United States, Canada, Russia and Asia. He participated at several prestigious art and craft fairs like Sofa Chicago, Collect London, Bijoux Norton Museum and Ceramic Art London. In the 2013 during Sofa Chicago he received a mention from David McFadden of MAD of New York for his porcelain rings. From 2013 to 2016 he wrote a technical ceramic column for the Italian ceramic review “La Ceramica in Italia e nel Mondo”.
