What is Enamel Science?
Do you ever wonder...
"Why did it do that?" 
"How can I control that?"
"Can I achieve that result again?"

Cloisonné enameling is not just an art—it’s also a science. When materials are exposed to heat, changes on a molecular level occur. Understanding these transformations allows you to troubleshoot and refine your process with confidence.

In this class, you’ll learn about the two Basic Enamel Science Concepts:

• Variables—anything that you can change that will create a different result.
• Principles—the natural laws that guide how enameling works, helping you move with them rather than against them.

For me, one of the most important questions in enameling is: "What does it depend on?". Does it depend on the firing temperature? If so, what happens when I change it? When you understand the Variables you can imagine possible options. 
​ When you understand the principles you prevent problems before they occur.  No more guesswork—just informed, intentional creativity.

• Why does enamel bond to metal?
• What causes unexpected results, and how can you adjust your approach?
• How do heat, oxidation, and material interactions influence your final piece?

Through hands-on exploration and guided discovery, you’ll develop the ability to control your results—rather than relying on luck or guesswork.

Variables & Principles
Two Basic Enamel Science Concepts

Variables
When you can change a variable, 
you can ​change your results.

• Type of enamel
• Layer thickness
• Enamel grain size
• Firing temperature
• Firing time
• Type of metal

Principles
When you understand the WHY,
​you can solve and prevent problems.

• Chemical Reactions
• Eutectic Bonds
• Transparency & Air Bubbles
• Thermal Expansion/ Cracking
• Firing Stages 
• ​Time/Temp Relationship

Become an Enamel Explorer

Enamel Science Class
What if you could take some of the fear out of your enameling?
Learn the facts and how you can create experiments to discover how this plays a role in YOUR enameling.

• Firing and the Time/temperature relationship
• Firing and Firing Stages
• Firing: When does your enamel melt? heat sinks, enamel melting points
• Firing Variables
• Annealing to soften your metal
• Copper and Oxidation
• Layering leaded and unleaded enamels

• Fine silver and Reflectivity
• Chemical Reactions over copper or fine silver
• Enamel melting characteristics: opal white
• Water and Transparent enamel: rinsing your fines. tap or distilled water?
• Rinsing your Transparent enamel: 
  

           tap or distilled water?

• Transparent enamel clarity: air bubbles and laver thickness
• Transparent enamel clarity: air bubbles and grain size
• Enamel melting characteristics: opal white
• Capillary action: enamel crawling up the sides of cloisonne' wires
• Eutectic Bonds: Combing fine silver, copper, and high temperatures

Why did this happen?
Variables?
​Principles?

Does "Mesh Size" affect your results?
How, When, &Why?

How do different background treatments affect "color & light"?
 Create Different Surfaces?

Learn "How to create an Experiment"
This is different from "playing"
Experimenting is an intentional effort to discover a specific answer or result.

Design experiments to discover possible answers to your questions.
​Practice the art of "figuring it out".