Ricky Frank's
Cloisonne´ Coaching Programs
Do you want to make cloisonne´ enamels that are unique, personal, and as different as you are?
The Creative Cloisonne´ Program is designed to coach you along your Cloisonne´ path...
from idea to image to cloisonne´ enamel.
I show you how I learned & continue to learn to make my Cloisonne´ artwork.
I challenge you to find YOUR way!
I challenge you to find YOUR way!
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Lessons and Videos
that help you "make the technique your own"
One of the new video series in the Creative Cloisonne´ Program is "Draw with Wires", with more than 80 video tutorials. Preparing, bending, applying, and firing wires is a core task in the cloisonne´ process. These videos are not just about the "how-to"; they also challenge you to consider "how-to think about the wires" using different mindsets: Creative, Designing, and Expressing modes of thinking.
Check out a few sample clips!
Three different classes, designed to build the technical & artistic skills necessary
to help you explore and achieve your Cloisonne´ dreams.
Class #1
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Class #2
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Class #3
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Let me guide you through a step-by-step approach that will help you discover your unique vision
and translate it into your own personal cloisonne´ enamel imagery.
Combine all 3 classes...
The Creative Cloisonne´ Bundle
Are you ready to commit to advancing your cloisonne´ enamel artwork to the next level?
Instead of admiring your enamel heroes, become your own "cloisonne´ superhero"!
Instead of admiring your enamel heroes, become your own "cloisonne´ superhero"!
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Register for the Creative Cloisonne´ Bundle
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The 3 main components to
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Technical Cloisonne´ Skills
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Visual Thinking Skills
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The Skills of "Letting Go"
Let Go of what may be holding your back...
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My approach is not for everyone!
If you...
- need me to always give you the right way or right answer
- think that I "know the right answer"
- want to make a project that looks like my artwork
- are not willing to take the time to think about many different possibilities
- need to always try to make something "pretty"
- don't want to be challenged to think outside of you "box"
You should find a different teacher.
You will feel frustrated with me!
Learn a simple approach to help you draw "well enough" to manifest what you imagine.
What is "Cloisonne´ Vocabulary"?
- Can I SEE design elements: lines, shapes, colors, value, & patterns?
- How can I TRANSLATE them into enamel design elements?
- How can I turn my visual vocabulary into enamel vocabulary?
- How can I use wires, enamel colors, and silver/gold foils to create my Cloisonne´ vocabulary?
- How can I become fluent in my new Cloisonne´ language?
Create personal Symbols, Icons, & Silhouettes to express your
artistic vision
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Students will begin the process of collecting images that can be transformed into symbols, icons, and silhouettes.
Combining these personal elements with other lines, shapes, colors, values, and patterns can be a point of departure that leads you to imaginative and unique cloisonne´ imagery. |
- What can I SEE? Design elements (lines, shapes, values, colors, and patterns).
- How can SIMPLIFY? Crop what I see into smaller pieces.
- How can I CHANGE the elements? Ask "What if..?" questions to explore new, different, and possible.
- How can I COMBINE the elements? Create new design elements and patterns.
- How can I TRANSLATE the elements into ENAMEL? Imagine and make the elements using wire, enamel color, and foil.
- How can I INTERNALIZE the new enamel elements? Create a personal enamel vocabulary and language
- How can I create my own ICONS & SYMBOLS, translate them into enamel, and combine everything to express my unique point of view?
- How can I LET GO of self-limiting thoughts/beliefs that keep me stuck?
This is a different type of craft class!
I have created an exciting & unique approach to craft education.
My background
I had NO art experience when I first started to enamel after graduating from college. Though I've taken a few classes in a career spanning over 6 decades, I am mostly self-taught. I show you what has worked for me as I've struggled and succeeded to become a cloisonne´ artist.
I am a coach
Creativity is a form of "Peak Performance". I have extensive experience as a soccer coach and training (a Master's degree in Psychology) as a sport psychologist. I've applied methods, exercises, and concepts that work well in Performance Psychology to teaching myself the many skills necessary to make cloisonne´ artwork. We are learning skills that need to be practiced to become habits. And we improve by challenging ourselves to gently step outside of our comfort zones. This is the same approach that experts and masters in any field learns and improves their skills.
combine Technical Enamel skills with Cognitive (thinking) skills
Techniques and Science are important. But is it "enough"? What will you do with it? And how do you know when you are "good enough"?
I understand the value of knowing how to "Think in Enamel" and will help you develop "inner game" skills. These will help you be more Creative, understand and apply Design concepts, and feel connected to what you make as you practice expressing yourself.
I understand the value of knowing how to "Think in Enamel" and will help you develop "inner game" skills. These will help you be more Creative, understand and apply Design concepts, and feel connected to what you make as you practice expressing yourself.
Combine Enameling with the 5 C's of Creativity
Practice the 5 C's of Creativity as you learn and improve your enameling skills.
- Collect: Gather ideas, images, and questions
- Crop: Deconstruct to simplify your tasks and questions
- Change: Use "What If...?" questions to help you look for more, new, and different
- Combine: Put together images, ideas, materials, and steps to find a fresh approach to your process and your artwork
- Connect: Enter into conversations with your world, your artwork, and yourself as you discover your unique point of view
Learn how to teach yourself
I've created a unique approach to learning called "Personal Tutorials". Watching a teacher perform a task and then copying it is an important skill. But that's not all that we do when we are learning to make our artwork. You cannot copy the different ways that your teacher experiences their world, their artwork, or themselves. Those all require different types of mindsets and questions. I will help you learn to create your own Personal Tutorials so that you can learn more holistically to succeed at different types of learning tasks:
- Play: Let go of "good" and learn what is possible
- Experiment: Develop control by exploring possible variables (the things that we can change that create different results)
- Translate: Imagine our visual images (lines, shapes, patterns, color, value) as enamel elements. How can you make these?
- Apply Design: Use Design Principles to organize your different visual and enamel elements so that you "like it more" or fix what you don't like
- Express: Find ways to share your own unique point of view, passions, memories, and questions using your visual and enamel images
I make it Fun!
I will encourage you to discover the childlike wonder that one feels when asking "What if..." Questions. And I will challenge you to DO it!
You will not be copying my projects, so there is no pressure to "get it right".
You will not be copying my projects, so there is no pressure to "get it right".
you will need to think (a lot!)
Many students are surprised how much thinking is required in my classes. It's not your typical "Teacher gives the students the right answers" type of experience. I am challenging you to not simply "Think More", but to "Think Differently". Most students are not used to this. It takes practice. But this is what is required if you want to make creative, personal, and interesting enamel artwork.
Develop a Cloisonne´ Vocabulary
You are learning a new language. We need to learn to speak using a new vocabulary. This includes visual design elements, like lines, shapes, patterns, values, and color. It also includes enamel design elements. Learning to "speak in cloisonne´" requires me to be able to TRANSLATE my visual design elements into enamel design elements. We will translate using different types of cloisonne´ wires, enamels colors, and silver/gold foils.
All Creative Cloisonne Classes include...
Introduction to Cloisonne´ Enameling
Cloisonne´ does not need to be complicated or finicky
Lesson include...
This is based upon the Introductory Two-Day Class that I have taught for over 20 years.
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Ricky's 6 Learning Tools
Learn & Practice these Skills
I do at least one of these every single day. Usually in the first hour of my day!
- Practice the five C's of Creativity: Collect, Crop, Change, Combine, Connect
- Design Personal Tutorials: Copy, Play, Experiment, Translate, Apply Design
- Brainstorm: Search for MORE, instead of GOOD
- Ask Yourself Questions/ Brainstorm Questions
- Evaluate & Critique: Change your Questions from "Do I like it" to "What do I SEE"?
- Thumbnails Sketches: Remove fear & preciousness from your drawings
FAQ
Do I need a kiln?
No, you can use a torch or a kiln. A kiln will probably be easier and may give you more control. Video tutorials will use both!
What type of enamel will we use?
You can use either leaded or unleaded enamel. I often use unleaded enamel as a base coat when enameling on copper, and I always use unleaded enamel on the back as my counter enamel. I use leaded enamels for all of my colors. I've found that students who use unleaded enamels encounter more problems. I think that it's an easier learning curve when using leaded enamels and there are more enamel choices available.
What Tools, supplies, & materials will I need?
You will need a...
- Heat source for firing your enamels: kiln or torch.
- Metals: Copper and/or fine silver
- Enamel colors: opaque, transparent, and opalescent white
- Silver and Gold Foil (many students are afraid of the cost of the gold foil. I use it often under transparent reds & oranges)
- Assorted small tools & supplies (see Supply List)
Do I need to attend the Zoom Meetings? What if I cannot attend one?
Zoom Meetings are optional. Each one is recorded and available for replay
Are there projects that we will make?
Projects as not a part of the curriculum. You will learn skills (enameling and thinking skills). I may make a "piece" to demonstrate specific skills and techniques and you can copy what I have made, but students are encouraged to take the demonstration and "make it your own". There will be assignments that require you to ask yourself questions and design exercises to help answer your questions.
What is the Group Forum?
Throughout the class, and afterwards, you have the opportunity to share with Ricky and other students. We share questions, possible answers, ideas, resources, assignments, frustrations, and more. I prefer not to use Facebook, and my online community of choice is the Enamel Nation, which I created as a Facebook alternative for enamel artists and students. You will be invited to join a private Group just for our class, as well as a private Group for all former and current Creative Enamel students.
What do I do if I am stuck and cannot figure out something?
You have several options.
- You can ask a question during our live Zoom Meetings.
- You can post pictures and ask questions on our Group Forum.
- I prefer not to offer advice via email as I prefer that all students can learn from the challenges that you are experiencing.
- Occasionally, in an emergency, you can call me and I will help you brainstorm possible questions and answers.
I want the answer... Why won't you just tell me what it is? Why do you make us "think about it"?
In enameling, there is rarely one right answer. And there is never one right way to do something. Because we are combining metal, enamel, and heat, there are many possible variables to consider when dealing with any task. There is the Science (what the materials want to do) and the Art
(what I want it to look like), and one of our challenges is to understand how to balance this. We learn to apply principles (both scientific and design) to help us answer our questions. And the ONE right answer is always "It Depends". The task of the enamel artist almost always involves asking oneself "What does it depend on?". If you cannot stand the UNCERTAINTY (and resulting confusing/frustration) when dealing with this question, you might consider a different media. Enameling may not be for you! I am not being mean, simply real.
And because there are so many possible variables and I have not watched every step of your process, I do not always know the answer to your questions. Enameling can be a very humbling experience!
(what I want it to look like), and one of our challenges is to understand how to balance this. We learn to apply principles (both scientific and design) to help us answer our questions. And the ONE right answer is always "It Depends". The task of the enamel artist almost always involves asking oneself "What does it depend on?". If you cannot stand the UNCERTAINTY (and resulting confusing/frustration) when dealing with this question, you might consider a different media. Enameling may not be for you! I am not being mean, simply real.
And because there are so many possible variables and I have not watched every step of your process, I do not always know the answer to your questions. Enameling can be a very humbling experience!
Trust yourself
Give yourself permission to play, explore, & discover
The Creative Cloisonne´ Program...as unique as you are1
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It's more than new techniques, tools, and materials. |
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Being given permission to play was the greatest gift that anyone ever gave me in my own work.
It released me from having to make “something”, and allowed me to try ideas without strict plans for the outcome. Your teaching to continually ask questions, not only about technique, but also about the why’s and what was I thinking about, or seeing has also extended that permission to play. Play is the essence of create thought, I think now. It’s always a new question of “what if...” -Melissa
Make abstract or figurative imagery. Or combine the two.
It's all about how we organize our design elements
and how we translate them into cloisonne´ enamel elements.
This is not a "project" course.
Instead of making "projects like mine", you will create assignments that help you learn and internalize the many different skills necessary to design, create, edit, and refine YOUR cloisonne´ enamel imagery.
Students will...
- develop skills and understanding.
- learn to problem-solve.
- learn to "think in cloisonne´": Imagine using wires, color, and foils.
- Practice skills to develop "muscle memory".
"If you want someone to teach you how to make a “souvenir” project, take a class from someone else who teaches that way. If you want to learn the details of enamel work (and are willing to put in effort on your own), then this may be the class for you. If you want to develop your own style and artistic voice (and you already know some enameling basics), then this is definitely the class for you.
- Bill O
I am your guide and coach.
Here is how I do it.
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Let my experience
be your guide...
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Here is what I will do as your coach...
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