Colored Pencil on Copper Jewelry: Enhance Your Metalwork the Easy Way by Roxan O'brien

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· 20 ratings · 2 reviews

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Jul 13, 2017 Lori Anderson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: jewelry designers, metal smiths, crafters

I was so excited to receive this book today! Weighing in at 88 pages and eight projects, it might seem to be on the slight side, but there is a LOT packed into these pages and your imagination is truly limitless!

First, each and every photograph of pieces shown in the book, whether an example or a project or even just tools, is excellent. Call me silly, but I particularly like seeing photos of the author's actual tools and supplies, as it makes the pieces seem more real and more accessible.

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Second, I've never seen or heard of colored pencil on copper before, and apparently (as of this date), only Prismacolor Premier colored pencils will do the job. That's great, because I actually own these, and if you don't, you can find them virtually anywhere, from Walmart to craft stores to art supply centers. The author recommends the 12-pack of pencils to start with, but hey -- I'm a color-lover so I linked you to the larger pack, and they're quite affordable!

If you aren't already familiar with working with sheet metal, you can find other books on the subject as well as online and YouTube tutorials for everything you need to know -- the basics of cutting metal, punching holes, riveting, and even sawing metal. If sawing sounds like too many blades being broken, never fear -- stores like Beaducation have pre-cut metal pieces in all shapes, sizes, thicknesses, and metal types. They also have a zillion metal stamps and various types of dapping tools which are used in some of the projects.

Don't get worried when you reach the page about hydraulic presses and silhouette dies made of acrylic sheet -- Roxan O'Brien offers alternatives to the hydraulic press and dies. These tools and materials are for the more advanced jewelry designer. She spends six pages on the press, and I feel that, while not entirely necessary for the book (and a possible turn-off for the crafter flipping through who happens to land on those pages), it's good to know what the next step could be in making this truly your OWN design and your OWN creative process. If you're lucky, you'll have a grandfather or uncle or husband who has a garage full of tools, and they just might be hiding a hydraulic press in there behind the decrepit old Mustang they've been remodeling for 45 years!

Another aspect of the book appeals to my OCD and list-making tendencies -- each of the eight (8) projects has a list of supplies needed and a check box to literally check as you go. Small detail, but one I love.

The projects start on page 25, and Roxan doesn't hold back. The previous 24 pages about tools and patinas and dapping blocks were all necessary and sufficient to get you going immediately. One item that isn't in the supply list that is most necessary is patience. You are literally drawing a work of art, and don't rush your work (I speak from sad, sad experience). If you get confused, never fear -- page 32 has a wonderful troubleshooting list. How many times have I wished other books had this feature? And oh, she knows those of us who can't help but rush through a book and start right away! She includes a Cheat Sheet so if we didn't read and properly digest all the directions, we can get a quick look at the process and decide before we're halfway committed to the project if this is a piece we can confidently complete.

Bottom line -- even if you never complete a single one of O'Brien's projects, she has given you loads of ideas to create your own pieces, from the simple to complex. If she shows a project with a dapped piece, you can make it flat instead. If she chooses to rivet pieces of metal together, you can use wire work to connect the pieces. If your drawing isn't what you wish it were, lines and color are what many an artist made their bread and butter on. And think of this -- if you have a friend who's a whiz at art but has no desire to work with metal or fiddly jewelry bits, why not do collaborative pieces, where one provides the art and ond provides the metal know-how and decoration?

Pages 64-87 cover patina. Some people love the idea of changing the color of the metal instead of their own art. Put aside the colored pencils (or consider layering an art side with a backing that's been patinaed) and go through six (6) different ways to patina metal so it has an aged or rustic look.

I sound like I'm gushing, and I suppose I am, because I've been making jewelry for ten years and I've seen many things get introduced to the design scene, and suddenly everyone's work looks like everyone else's. By using your own art, your own idea of where to use metal stamps, texturing, patinaing, riveting -- all or just one -- you have a book that is calling upon YOUR inner muse to create, not simply copy the author. To me, a great crafting how-to book is one that gives me basic projects that give me pleasure and satisfaction of a job well done while giving me a clear runway to take off, spread my wings, put the book aside, and translate my ideas into my own creations -- thanks to Roxan O'Brien's excellent tutelage.

Buy this book if you're bored with current trends. Buy this book if you love metal but are stuck on what to do next. Buy this book if you love to draws but never quite knew how to translate that into jewelry that doesn't take months to complete. Just -- buy this book.

(Legal stuff -- I bought this book on my own, and all opinions are my own with no coaxing or guiding from anyone).

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Aug 19, 2019 john calkin rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: beginning jewelry makers

Colored Pencil on Copper Jewelry has all the dos and don'ts about the subject at hand, as well as a few projects to get you started. What it doesn't, and can't give you is the creative spark to advance on your own. Working with color, motifs, shapes, and themes is up to you and perhaps a few other books about jewelry making. But this book is a fine start on the subject if you have the self-confidence that drives all creative people. Colored Pencil on Copper Jewelry has all the dos and don'ts about the subject at hand, as well as a few projects to get you started. What it doesn't, and can't give you is the creative spark to advance on your own. Working with color, motifs, shapes, and themes is up to you and perhaps a few other books about jewelry making. But this book is a fine start on the subject if you have the self-confidence that drives all creative people. ...more