Registration for this schedule starts on 12/01/2025 and ends on 04/17/2026
Participants must be 18 years to 120 years old when the program starts.
Registration for this schedule starts on 12/01/2025 and ends on 09/18/2026
Participants must be 18 years to 120 years old when the program starts.
Registration for this schedule starts on 12/01/2025 and ends on 10/16/2026
Participants must be 18 years to 120 years old when the program starts.
WEEKEND TASTE OF CASTING Saturday from 10AM - 4PM and on Sunday from 2PM - 4PM.
INSTRUCTORS: BOSTWICK/MILLER
In this 2-day Taste of Casting class, the student will learn the basics of lost wax centrifugal casting using ancient bronze. The class prerequisite: experience using a torch for silver work or low-tech casting. In this sample class all materials will be pre-weighed, and formulas precalculated for ease of introducing casting. Students will cast their choice of a single item from a limited predefined offering of simple commercial wax masters or 3d castable resins. Students will learn how to sprue, invest and cast their piece. The student will be ready to take Casting I with the skills learned in this class.
Included in the class fee: one commercial wax or 3d castable resin, precalculated ancient bronze casting grain and investment for 1 flask. Bring your favorite flex shaft attachments, tools and polishes. A finishing kit will be available for purchase. Media: lead-free antique bronze.
***Friday (after 4pm) and Saturday night lodging is available. If you are not taking a class the following week, you must check out of your room by 9:00 AM on Sunday before class. Breakfast/Lunch is not provided on Sunday but there are close local restaurants near the school.
Class fee: $95
*WH TUITION: $100 Includes Breakfast and Boxed Lunch on Saturday. No additional charge for lodging if taking a class, the week before or after. $60 lodging fee if needed for Friday and Saturday night. Please email registrar@lapidaryschool.org to arrange lodging.
Cynthia Bostwick
Cynthia first learned casting silver jewelry in High School. Around 20 years ago at a time when life became overly stressful, she and her husband, Steve, picked William Holland as an escape vacation week and found a wonderful relaxing friendly family to which they returned every year since. After years of taking most every class offered at the school, Steve began a decade of teaching Casting with Cynthia assisting. Today Cynthia continues volunteering to share the techniques of Casting at William Holland.
Elissa Miller
My earliest memories of jewelry making are from my childhood and attended a summer outdoor sidewalk series at the local museum. I figured out how to make jewelry from the scrap aluminum and copper wire that my dad had in his workshop. Throughout my adult life, I never lost the desire to flex my artistic side. I dabbled in all kinds of art, watercolor painting, oil painting, acrylic painting, knitting, crocheting, photography, graphic design, website design and finally more jewelry making. After the loss of my husband in 2018, I began to search for a way to heal. I took a 2-day casting class in early 2020. I then signed up for online fabrication classes. After fabricating successfully for several years, I discovered William Holland taught casting. Seeing the casting class for April of 2023 was full, I signed up for the waitlist. I accepted the offer to join the class with 3 days’ notice. I became good friends with the Bostwicks and took all of their classes the following year, eventually being asked by Cynthia to be her assistant teacher. As a techie with a 3D printer and the intention of using printed models to cast from the first class I took, I have now been able to create models and cast pieces that have a fine jewelry aesthetic, without the cost. I have been casting printed resins in the William Holland classes I was taking since early 2024 as well as creating 3D models and printed resins for other students. I plan on expanding the use of printed resins in my classes at William Holland.
Please contact William Holland School of Lapidary Arts if you have any questions.