Colored Pencil on Copper Jewelry: Enhance Your Metalwork the Easy Way

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.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).

Wow! I couldn't WAIT to get this title from Roxanne O'Brien, and pre-ordered it immediately. My expectations were more than fulfilled when the book arrived and I found it full of detailed explanations of all the necessary supplies and tools, as well as chock full of projects to start off with. I enjoyed O'Brien's upbeat, encouraging writing style, as well.Since I already had a dapping block and some metal stamps, all I needed was gray gesso and a little copper sheeting to make the pendant featured on the cover. IT WAS SO FUN TO DO! :D I am already sketching out designs for another, and there's a bracelet I want to make, too. My mind is already dreaming up seasonal projects for Autumn and the Winter season. This is a REALLY good book for getting the old noodle to sprout ideas!If you've always loved the LOOK of enamel, but don't have access to a high-temp kiln, live in a walk-up without a balcony, or have small children or pets and don't want to operate a blowtorch inside, this book opens the door to a fabulous technique to allow amateur jewellers to add the beauty and detail of colorful enamel, but without the attendant risk of setting the house on fire (or accidentally sending Fluffy to an early grave)! DEFINITELY TWO THUMBS UP! :D

Fantastic book, it's everything I wanted, needed and had heard about. I make jewelry, sell jewelry and get bored with what sells the best, so I look to make changes that aren't too extreme and I think this may be it. I will be making a necklace for myself when I'm able to, I'm recuperating from surgery and felt this is the best time to buy some books to read, to enhance my creativity.She takes you from the very start of using colored pencils to the advanced methods, you can learn what ever you want and even change things up to be your own style.Very informative and very creative!

I liked the idea of a new technique and the descriptions of how to do it were clear enough but it felt just a little repetitive with the projects. I would liked to have seen a little more emphasis on color blending with the Prismacolor Premier pencils for added depth and maybe a little color theory to show how to make images more vibrant. The advice on layering the pencils lightly in order to avoid building up the wax is good. The discussions about the various products for sealing the work is good (I agree that Protectaclear is the best for metal). The discussions and images for the various patinas were also good. Joyce Chen 51-0220 scissors work pretty well to cut out 24 gauge copper for simple shapes for those who don't want to use a jeweler's saw.

A lot of the instructions were lost on me since I'm not a metal smith (nor do I have access to most of those tools), but I like that the coloring techniques can be applied to copper blanks as well, which come in a variety of sizes and shapes from most jewelry supply stores (Fire Mountain Gems, Rio Grande, etc.). I especially appreciated the formulas in the back for obtaining beautiful patinas, just using everyday supplies and simple techniques. And, if you're a metal smith and have access to the tools of the trade, this book will have that much more value. In any case, there are lots of lovely projects with full-color photos for inspiration.

Not only explains the topic (using colored pencils on metal), but does a nice, in-depth explanation of the hydrolic press as well as other tools the beginning jeweler might need. Nice, fun projects, with clear explanations & reasons why she chose a particular product over another. Where to find things helpful as well as credits to other books. If the reader wants to learn more about using a hydrolic press, her resource is named. Worth the money.

I enjoyed this book after trying this art without this type of direction previously. This book has made my way more successful and easier to complete with joy.

Es un buen libro en que explica bien la técnica a la que se enfoca y muy claro de entenderMe gusto y aclaro muchas dudas

Dispatched quickly, this book is a fascinating "how to" for colouring metal without using enamels. It is a technique well worth knowing about and I highly recommend this publication.

I am returning this book, the coloured pencil technique only begins when you are 41% into the book. There is an expectation that you will buy a particular brand of coloured pencil (the only one that works, apparently) and they are expensive, $40+ for 12, which I could not find in stock anywhere.There is also an expectation that you have access to a hydraulic press and assorted dies (a large chunk of the book is spent telling you how to use this equipment). Another big section tells you how to patina using assorted products and colour with heat which requires a torch, none of which has anything to do with the coloured pencil technique, although they are undoubtedly useful adjuncts...The technique itself is explained well enough and the reader is getting the benefit of years of experimentation but I’m not prepared to risk chunks of money in a Covid economy to try this. If I had all the gear I’m sure I’d have great fun... but I don’t.

I have no experience with using colored pencils on copper jewelry, but I was looking for a new creative hobby and purchased this book. It is nicely illustrated and the jewelry projects look very professional. What is somewhat daunting, is the amount of supplies and equipment that one appears to need in order to enjoy this hobby fully, i.e., shears, hole punches, dapping blocks, jewelry saws, etc. On the plus side, you don't need to purchase top of the line supplies to begin with. You can also use some items which you may likely have around the house, such as containers, safety glasses, sandpaper and so forth. The author does provide many technical tips to ensure a good outcome. Love the "Tree of Life" pendant!