Students should have considerable working experience with the product and should be comfortable with techniques such as joining, slip joining, hollow forms, ring construction, rolling out equal thicknesses of clay, stamping textures and working with two- and three-dimensional forms.

A series of seven specific projects test students’ proficiency in using PMC in a variety of ways. Techniques taught include stamping, carving, simple tool-making, gem-setting, building a hollow form, embellishing beads, patterning, texturing, mold-making, making slip, ring sizing, rehydrating PMC and surface finishes. Also included are various firing techniques from kiln-firing to torch-firing gold PMC, discussions on metallurgy, gemology, teaching techniques and ways to set up a PMC business. Each project is designed to present several aspects of Precious Metal Clay. By proving their skills through these pieces, students demonstrate to themselves and to the instructor that they have a solid understanding of these diverse uses of the material. Successful completion of this intense three-day workshop provides confidence for artists and teachers, preparing them for a wide range of professional pursuits. Active participation in the class is needed to get the full benefit—the photos below provide a glimpse of the projects and the intentions behind them.