Porcelain bowls, textures and electroforming
– this is a group course
Cost:800 euros
Duration: 3 days
Dates:
- 11-12-13 March 2027
- 19-20-21 April 2027
- 20-21-22 May 2027
- 7-8-9 June 2027
- 16-17-18 September 2027
- 11-12-13 October 2027
- 4-5-6 November 2027
Lesson hours: 12 hours
Required skills: no prior experience with elctroforming or porcelain is necessary, but a basic understanding of ceramics is required. You will work with porcelain bowls at leather hard consistency, provided by the studio.
Class schedule:
– On the first day, the lesson runs from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
– On the second day, the lesson runs from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m
– On the third day, the lesson runs from 9 a.m. to 10,30 a.m. and from 4,30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
How to enroll: if you are interested in booking one of the date listed, please send an email to info@lucatripaldi.com with the dates you wish to book and three preferred dates and times for scheduling a Zoom call. If you are in a different time zone, kindly consider this when suggesting your availability and include your city. The call will last no more than 5 minutes and serves to introduce ourselves provide details about the course topics and the studio.
Notice: this course is available only as a group course on the dates listed; it is not possible to take it as an individual course on other dates throughout the year.
Introduction:
The unique property of porcelain, among clays, it is to fully vitrify at high temperatures. Even without glazing, this allows it to be immersed in any acid-based liquid without being corroded or stained. This peculiar characteristic makes it the perfect surface for enrichment with copper layering for decorative purposes using the electroforming technique. The goal of the course is to learn how to create new textures, color schemes, and shapes by alternating white porcelain sections with textures and delicate copper filigree. Additionally, copper, thanks to its property of oxidizing easily and controllably, allows for the creation of unique color combinations with inimitable chromatic effects. Objects made with electroforming can only be used for decorative purposes and cannot be used to hold food or beverages, even if the electroforming is only on the outside.
Program:
– First day from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.: To introduce the lesson, samples of electroformed porcelain bowls are shown to help students understand how porcelain and metal can interact to create a unique material. Each student, based on their own design, will finish some porcelain bowls at leather hard consistency, provided by the studio, with textures and surface treatments designed to complement the electroforming effects, which will be added the following day. The bowls will then be fired overnight.
– Second day from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Opening of the kiln and preparation of the porcelain bowls for the galvanic bath involves using conductive paint, organic materials, and copper wires to enrich the surface and alter the shape of the bowls. Some metal texturing techniques will also be applied. The prepared pieces will dry overnight before undergoing electroforming.
– Third day in the morning from 9 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.: after learning how to calculate the required amperage for the power supply, the prepared bowls are immersed in the galvanic bath. It is then verified that each piece is electroforming correctly. Since depositing an adequate layer of copper on the pieces takes several hours, the lesson resumes in the afternoon once the desired thickness is achieved.
– Third day in the afternoon from 4.30 p.m. to 7 p.m.: The electroformed pieces are removed from the galvanic bath, finished, and then treated with patinas, gold leaf, and silver leaf. Students will receive all the technical information needed to replicate these techniques at home, including links to purchase the necessary materials. The course will conclude with a discussion of the results.
