Enamel on Steel for Artists with Kat Cole, April 17 & 24, 11:30am - 1:30pm ET

This workshop is an overview of enameling on steel for small and large-scale work. Enameled steel surface is durable and long-lived, suitable for food-safe or outdoor public art use. This class will explore the unique surface quality, mark-making, and rich durable color that enamel has to offer on this dynamic base material. In addition to the process, we will look at personal equipment needs, sourcing materials and outsourcing elements of the fabrication.

We will cover:

• The history of enamel on steel and applications both large and small
• Equipment needs
• Troubleshooting designs to account for loading into the kiln and warping
• Best steel alloys for enameling (and sourcing)
• Using liquid-form enamel (and sourcing)
• Tinting with oxides
• Using pre-enameled steel sheet for sample-making
• Preparing the steel for successful enamel bond
• Post-firing surface treatments and finishing