Overview

This book was published in 2019 and is available at Amazon and other retailers. I now have a new book available for non-enamelists (it's not a how-to): Enamel Buttons, An Essencial Resourse for Collectors.

This page shows you the outline of the book and more... Information for enameling books is never really done; as Jean Vormelker says: the 3Ls - Life Long Learning. Thus, the TOC and projects listed below include links to new information or updates that were not able to make it into the book. In addition, I have listed any corrections to the book that have been reported. I look at myself at being the Archivist of Contempory Enameling in that I'm trying to document all new things I can find. To this end I am also listing links to enamel education - videos, on-line webinars and classes available.

I teach enameling at the John C. Campbell Folk School. If you are not already a member of The Enamelist Society or any other organizations, please consider joining. The Carpenter Art Enamel Foundation has transitioned.

Also, I'm heavily into beading, mainly Bead Embroidery. But I also work with other beading techniques. If you'd like to learn more about seed beads, see my Bead Knowledge Center.

Many comments are being made about all the new things described in the book. One person asked me how I found all these things. Read here about my philosophy in writing this edition.

Charles Lewton-Brain says... "What a superb book you have built. Crazy amount of work! And as I posted [on Facebook], the most important book on enameling for at least 50 years. This is the Oppi Untracht of enameling books. A beautiful, thorough, exquisite job of it. Thank you for all you have contributed to the culture by doing this."

Read other comments here.

Challenges: Looking for a reason to enamel - try these challenges

Create a piece using something you learned from the book and I'll post it on this site. Just email me with a photo and description, including what you learned in the book to create it, and permission to post it.
Ever hear of Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)? These are small pieces of artwork, in any media, which have to be 2.5" x 3.5" in size. I have been creating these for years with my bead embroidery, but now am creating with enamel, too. See my ATCs. The challenge is to create some ATCs and swap with others. I'd be interested in swapping with you - just send me photos of the ones you've created and check mine out for which you'd like to swap.

For Beginners:

it's always challenging to start a new endeavor. This book has all the info you will need to be successful. However, there is so much information about enameling that you might find this daunting. The book is set up in order of what you need to know - that is, the chapters are: your studio (ie: tools and space), the materials needed (enamels, supplements and add-ons, and metal) and then how to apply, fire and finish an enamel. I suggest the following to get you started...

Enamel on copper using opaque enamels at least as a base (transparents have special considerations on this metal). The most basic projects are the Traditional Sgraffito and Stenciling projects so try those out first. Once you are comfortable with the process, graduate to other projects such as Decals, Eutectic Effect and Separation Enamel. Then try others such as Graphite Pencil, Pitting Enamels and Basse Taille. The most difficult forms of enameling as Plique-à-jour and Vessel Forms.

Be sure to read the introduction to the projects to see what you can learn from each of them. Enjoy the process because even if the piece does not come out the way you expected, it could very well be an Oops Perfect!

The TOC and Projects have many links with new information. If you are not sure where to find something, look in your book's index and see in which chapter that topic is described. Then, look for that chapter below and any link it has to new information. If you have something new you'd like to share, just contact me and we can discuss it. Enjoy the new info linked...

Foreword
Preface
What is Enameling?
- Overview and Glossary
Enamelist’s Studio
Enamel, The Material
Supplements and Add-Ons
Metal As A Canvas
Enamel Application
Firing Enamels in a Kiln
Finishing
Trouble Shooting
Technology

Testing Template

Corrections to the book

Enameling Education - videos and classes

Projects

Photos from all the projects are shown below, but only those with updated information have links. More information for these might become available so please come back again. The book discusses what you learn in each project which many times is more than just the actual technique (like how to build up color) and tells some of the differences between projects that are similar.

Additional Instruction: Coral Shaffer, a retired enamelist, studied in Japan for 1.5 years. Her project in the book is a Japanese technique called Ginbari. Coral also studied various other Janpanes techniques and wrote the book: Shippo Yaki: Enameling in Japan. It is currently out of print and as she has retired she has graciously allowed me to post it here. This describes techniques such as Musen (wireless Cloisonne) and Shotai-jippo, a form of plique-à-jour. Check out her book for download or print if an overview of these techniques holds any interest for you.