Art and Design A comprehensive guide for creative artists - Aaltodoc

The aggressive conduct of these warriors and their regalia,
made from warthog tusks, horns and other animal trophies,
made a major contribution to their reputation.”
That is to say, art and the modesty of ornaments as well as
jewellery should be highly regarded as matters of public
interest and importance.
None the less, distinct African tribal people associate 'scare'
with events of worships and rituals. In particular witch craft
or sorcery.
Techniques of decorating jewellery
African jewellers make jewellery artworks by using very
many outstanding techniques, dictated by the materials
available.
Miller (2005, 14) says, “A good technique is the foundation of
superior jewellery design and manufacture.” That is to say,
nearly all creative jewellery artists will enjoy the delight of
discovering good approaches of working with a justified
technique of executing planned jewellery.
Occasionally, it is not reasonable to decorate jewellery
accessories made from natural seeds, shells and beads. They
are naturally endowed with indisputable artistic patterns,
which may naturally appeal to end users and their common
desires.
Here is a look at some of the generally accepted “ways in
which jewellery can be decorated” basing on Gale & Little's
(2000) writings:
Fabrication
Spraying or
painting
Plaiting
Mainly applies to shaping metal. For the
time of decoration, actions or steps may
include hammering or stamping to flatten
links, filling and sawing or piercing.
The two attributes; spraying or painting
present an appealing sense on the surface
of jewellery. They help to prevent harm
on human skin. And, they also protect
a jewellery artwork from quick surface
degeneration caused by rust.
This technique uses a woven-wire
approach. Where by, a chosen flexible
jewellery material—wire or thread can
be bound intricately together just like
strand. An entirely plaited wire meant to
decorate jewellery will bear some general
resemblance to sisal ropes.
142 143
Incising
Ornamentation
File or filing
Coils
Casting and
soldering
Drilling
This can be done by carving or cutting long
lasting marks/markings or grooves into a
jewellery surface by using a sharp knife or
any other tool.
Decorates jewellery by adding elaboration
of other ornate designs. The material used
for artwork execution is usually determined
by the process and the final design.
Decorates jewellery by roughening or
smoothening a surface. Filing is mainly
done on metallic jewellery and sometimes
on wood.
Are made by using wounds of wires or
thread, to form decorative curls, spirals and
twirls. Accordingly, the executed coils can
be used to decorate other surfaces of a
jewellery artwork.
The two methods can be used to
decorate—operating simultaneously. They
both deal with high fire temperatures
that form molten. By using a shape of
mouldable materials, decorations and joins
can be made.
Ideal decorations can be added on
jewellery by drilling fully composed
patterns of holes using a nail or any other
piercing tool. Suitable and appealing ideas
of designs depend on materials used as
well as purpose/functions of impending
jewellery.
Finishing jewellery
Creative jewellers finish their artworks of jewellery by using
a large number of techniques. For the most part, methods
of finishing are determined by varying factors like the type
of materials used to execute a final artwork. “It is often the
finishing touches that make a handmade item so special.”
(Owen 1991, 7)
Finally, as a creative jewellery artist, always make your own
tools—necessary for full time use, particularly finishing the
executed jewellery artwork. For example, a broken piece
of glass can be used for smoothing or polishing plastic,
woodwork or other surfaces.