Lesley Aine McKeown: The Art of Intarsia - 3-Day Workshop

January 21 – 23, 2022 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m

Intarsia is the art of creating stone to stone inlay jewelry: a technique in which the artist first places stones directly against each other, requiring great precision of cutting and design. In this class we will explore the ways to cut and reassemble stones to interesting patterns to create a cabochon that can be used in jewelry design. Each student will be required to have a basic Lapidary 1 understanding of how to cut and polish a stone to create a cabochon. The class will include complete instruction on how to cut and assemble rough stone material then reshape and polish to create a cabochon. Instruction will include the use of all gemstone material and alternative materials such as wood and bone. We will also discuss stone properties and how they respond to each other in the intarsia application. In this three day class each student can expect to complete one cabochon. Tools we will be using: Flat Lapidary Machine, Lapidary Machines and Polishing machines.

This workshop is limited to 8 students.

BIO: When people ask how I became an artist, I often laugh and say, “it’s genetic.” I was raised in art. My parents met and married while they were students at the Art Institute in Kansas City. I was born shortly after they graduated and began their careers as professional artists. My father made jewelry in the 1960s and ‘70, and worked for Hallmark while my mother painted, sculpted and illustrated medical textbooks. We moved to Sedona in 1979. But it was not until 1982 that the jewelry bug bit me. As an apprentice I Iearned traditional Native American silversmithing techniques and acquired a deep understanding of the nature of metal. In 1984 I launched my career as a jeweler. A career that now spans 37 years in May of 2021.Designing pieces that challenge me technically, that speak to a certain aesthetic, is what pulls me to create. Creativity is evolution, a constant yearning for more. And of utmost importance is how it is made. Each piece is created in my studio in the tradition of the American Studio Art Jewelry movement of the 1940s through the ‘60s, which demands that the work is created entirely in the artist’s studio. From drawing through fabrication, the piece never leaves my hands. My studio is my refuge, and I work solo. In 2019 I completed a four year study of lapidary at Yavapai College under Kevin Horst. Additional studies included two intensives in intarsia. I recently received my certificate in colored stones from the Geology Institute of America – GIA. I’m am avid gardener, I believe in political responsibility, I love animals, and I’m a bit obsessed about cooking.www.lesleyainemckeown.com.

SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate – Lapidary I and knowledge of the use of Lapidary equipment

WORKSHOP FEES: $375 AZDCA Member / $440 Non-Member

MATERIALS LIST:

Rough Slabs and finished material. Please only bring slabs, we will not be cutting rough material. You can bring finished cabochons you wish to cut and reassemble.

1. Epoxy – MUST be Devcon 5-minute epoxy
2. Epoxy mixing stick (I use wooden coffee stirrers)
3. Super glue
4. Scissors
5. Exacto Knife
6. Permanent Marker
7. Ruler
8. Masking tape
9. Wax paper
10. Notebook and pencil

For more info Contact: (520)837-8244; jeanne.jerousek@TucsonAz.gov