Instructor: Tom and Kay Benham
Torch Fire Enameling,
Beginning Stone Setting,
Stacked Rings + Bangles
Tom's earliest training at IIT's Institute of Design , an off-shoot of the Bauhaus School of Design, has influenced his creative interests in lapidary and goldsmithing for over 40 years. In addition to his lapidary accomplishments, Tom long yearned to learn the ancient art of chasing and repouss and he became a devotee of this expressive art form after having taken chasing and repouss workshops with Tom McCarthy, John Cogswell, So Young Park, Leonard Urso and Valentine Yatkov.
Eventually Tom's interest in lapidary and metal arts inspired Kay to become involved. Just as she partnered with Tom in teaching the art of Intarsia she now shares his passion for chasing and repouss and assists him in passing this ancient art form forward. Together, they have taught Chasing & Repouss workshops for the past three years for The Florida Society of Goldsmiths, William Holland School of Lapidary Arts, Visual Arts Center of Punta Gorda, ArtCenter Manatee and the Central Florida Mineral & Gem Society.
Tom and Kay have taught the modern art of intarsia together for over 10 years at William Holland School of Lapidary Arts and at Wildacres Retreat as well for local gem and mineral societies in the central Florida area. Both have been actively involved with The Florida Society of Goldsmiths for over 14 years.
Over the past 12 years Tom and Kay have had numerous lapidary and metalsmithing articles published in the Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist. Since 2002, they have co-edited the monthly Ask The Experts column for Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist in which they field questions on a variety of lapidary and metalworking topics. They live and work in the Orlando area where they are active with the Northeast Chapter of The Florida Society of Goldsmiths and members of the Central Florida Mineral & Gem Society.
Click here to read this article!
Need to ask Courtney a Question? Email : courtney@creativeside.org
.jpg){kind=link}
