Discover the Best Ring Making Classes in Los Angeles
Rings date back to ancient times and in the very beginning were made from stone or bone. In ancient cultures, rings were expensive and could only be made by skilled craftsmen. For the wearer, an ornamental band around the finger was a sign of wealth or power. Today, ring making is far more accessible. Every day people wear rings for decoration, and many others take up ring making as a hobby for the simple joy of creative expression.
We often think of rings as being made from precious metals such as silver or gold. These materials can be difficult to work with and involve heavy and expensive tools. Luckily, you don’t have to be a professional jeweler to make your own rings. There are many accessible materials and tools for beginners, such as wire, beads, and polymer clay. Beginners can learn to work with metal if they can find a jewelry studio offering classes near them.
Investing in ring making tools does not have to be expensive. There are many beginner’s ring making kits available to consumers. However, exactly which tools an individual will need depends on the materials they need to work with. For example, working with clay requires a rolling pin and crafting knife while working with wire requires pliers and wire cutters. In general, all ring makers need a mandrel or finger gauges for measuring ring sizes. Beginners can identify what tools they need by first defining their areas of interest and searching for a beginners kit or signing up for a class that includes materials.
Why You Should Learn Ring Making in Los Angeles
Ring making is a fun hobby that can have benefits to mental health and overall well being. Individuals generally experience happiness when engaging in a creative and expressive hobby. Physical work can also be meditative and relieve stress and reduce anxiety. Discovering success in a new hobby also increases self esteem and confidence.
Taking up ring making can introduce individuals to new people. Whether you choose to attend in-person or online classes, you will meet new people with similar interests. Even individuals who choose to learn on their own from home often seek out hobby groups online. This new-found community acts as a source of advice and encouragement to continue working on and improve your craft. Having a community where you feel you belong decreases feelings of loneliness and opens opportunities to discover new friends.
No one should start a new hobby solely to earn money. The cost of crafting supplies, materials, and classes add up over time, and there’s no guarantee of earning income. However, some ring makers invest in learning how to run a business and become skilled enough to sell their creations online or at craft or art fairs. Even then, income can vary. Some hobbists only earn enough to cover the cost of their craft. Others turn ring making into their full time job. Many still are happy simply to engage in the hobby and keep their creations or gift them to loved ones.
In-Person Ring Making Classes in Los Angeles
There are no current in-person ring making classes on offer in Los Angeles. However, residents will be able to find general jewelry making classes. Often, these courses teach students the techniques to create necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. It is possible, however, for these techniques to be applied to making rings.
Jewel City Beads is a jewelry supply store in Montrose that specializes in beads, including those made from bone, shell, gemstone, crystal, and pearl. The store offers classes and supplies for jewelers of all skill levels.
Currently, Jewel City Beads is offering its Basic Beading course. Students learn the basic techniques for working with wire and creating beaded necklaces, bracelets, and earring. Students may choose from a variety of beads to create from but must pay their market cost. The instructor can offer recommendations for staying on budget. The class is open to beginners and is two hours long.
If you live in Los Angeles and aren’t enthused by the classes on offer, consider reaching out to schools offering current and past courses to inquire about options. There may be upcoming classes available or it might be possible for a current class to be adjusted to your interests. Otherwise, continue to check back with CourseHorse to view available classes in your area.
Virtual Ring Making Classes
You can learn ring making just as well online as in person. Virtual classes eliminate the commute required of physical classrooms. They also commonly offer flexible scheduling options. Since they are not restricted by distance, students can attend classes located anywhere in the country, offering many more choices in instructors and course topics.
Though virtual classes seek to replicate the interactivity of in-person courses through virtual tools, they aren’t ideal in every situation. Metalsmithing involves complex techniques and tools and most individuals wouldn’t purchase for themselves or even have space for at home. In these situations, virtual students would witness a live demonstration of the craft from a professional art studio but wouldn’t be able to participate themselves. These demonstrations may be best suited for students needing to brush up on prior knowledge, beginners to the topic, or others who are unsure about their interest in the craft.
While working with gold or silver may not be ideal for online classes, there are plenty of beginner ring making techniques that students can perform from their own home while following along with an instructor. Polymer clay, beading, and wire wrapping are such accessible techniques. However, for most online classes, students will need to supply these materials themselves.
You can find virtual ring making courses through CourseHorse’s online search tool. EatMetal currently offers a virtual Hammered Earring class. This course involves a live demonstration where students will witness the creation of hammered earrings from start to finish, including a detailed explanation of techniques and a discussion of necessary materials. The class is private and intended for only one or two people of at least 18 years of age.
If you can’t find online courses on the topics you are interested in, consider contacting the schools offering courses. There may be other courses upcoming or your interest could lead to the creation of a new course. You can also wishlist previously hosted courses to be notified if they return and check CourseHorse regularly for any new classes.
If you aren’t interested in the virtual courses you find, feel free to reach out to individual schools and express your interest in specific topics. You can also check back in the future to search for new courses.
Private Group Ring Making Classes in Los Angeles
Private group ring making classes in Los Angeles make for excellent team building events. Creative classes are perfect for inspiring creative problem solving, and fun activities improve workplace productivity. It’s also important for employees to engage with each other in a non-work setting. Previously unknown team dynamics and individual member skills are realized as coworkers communicate and collaborate over artistic projects. These discoveries carry over to improve teamwork in the workplace.
Organizations can register for the Virtual Polymer Clay Jewelry course. The class can accommodate up to 500 attendees, making it ideal for departments of nearly any size. Clay is also the perfect material for jewelry makers of all skill levels, allowing students to make their design as complex or simple as they desire. By the end of the hour and a half course, attendees will have made a keychain, brooch, or pair of earrings.
While it’s true the Virtual Polymer Clay Jewelry course doesn’t list rings as a possible crafting item, CourseHorse allows for course customization. You may contact them through their online contact form to discuss your options. While many of CourseHorse’s classes are held over Zoom, you may also request the use of a different virtual platform if that would be more suitable for your team. CourseHorse provides even more flexibility in allowing registrations to change group sizes or reschedule events at no additional charge (so long as advance notice is given). Participants don’t need to worry about purchasing materials for online classes. The cost of materials is included in all CourseHorse Courses and are shipped to each participant.