COURSES
I, the owner Adam Kelliher (artist name Broken Ox Creations), teach by appointment only. I can do classes of up to six. One on one courses are the most popular option.
I offer you my time- when you pay for it, it is yours. I work on no other projects. You pick what you would like to learn, and I facilitate this.
All images below are my work, more can be seen at instagram.com/brokenoxcreations
I currently mass produce in studio, as well as overseas. I consider myself an expert lapidary, but not a master.
​
I value my time at $50 an hour when teaching. You can pick from a specific course below, or ask me a series of gem and jewelry related questions. I will have an answer.
When I teach, I provide all necessary materials. You can bring current projects. Gold, and silver will be charged for. Brass and copper are free to work with. I also have free stone to work with, high end stone will require purchase.
​
I offer group rates. If you and friends would like to take courses together, I will reduce the rate accordingly. It can be 2-6 people.
​
You can schedule with me anytime outside of business hours. Before I open 9am- 11am or after business hours 6pm to 9pm. I'd like to keep my days off my days off, but will teach on sun, mon or tues as a rare exception.
Teaching will take place in Studio.
LAPIDARY FOUNDATIONS I​
This course is meant to teach you the basics of cabochon cutting. I highly recommend the BC Lapidary society for this, as they offer quality courses at a fraction of the cost. Plus, you can be plugged into the growing community of rock enthusiasts throughout this province. If you do choose to take this course, it may or may not be me teaching. You will be shown how to turn a rough rock, including those found by you, into a wearable jewelry stone.
Hours: 10
Prerequisites: none
Tools required: none
LAPIDARY FOUNDATIONS II​
This is the intermediate course, ideally for this course, you've made about 10 cabochons. The process of shaping stones is explored further. free forms are a core part of this course,. you will learn how to make a designer stone. You will also be taught how to cut stones with druzy, and shown methods of shaping and polishing that go beyond template cabochons.
Hours: 5
Prerequisites: Beginner Lapidary
Tools required: none
GEMSTONE DRILLING
You will learn how to drill sea glass, shells, and gemstones. I will explain why stones break, why drill bits dull, and what machines are best for this.
Hours: 2
Prerequisites: Finished 5 cabochons​
Tools required: none
REFUNDS
If an unexcused cancellation occurs within 36 hours of course time, I will refuse to teach you again, unless you pay for two hours of my time from the day that was missed. Meaning a surcharge of $70 will be added to your bill upon second attempt at lessons.
​
Group rates require downpayment to secure materials for all students. Down payment is non refundable, but may, at my discretion, be applied to a raincheck date.
GEMSTONE INLAY
A signature of mine. I had seen it in a mentor's work, and recreated my own version. No metal work experience is required, though you will take much more creative ideas away from the course if you have metal experience. The gemstone inlay is preliminary, but I move on to present the concept behind stone on stone setting and give you a myriad of approaches to advanced lapidary work.
Hours: 8
Prerequisites: Stone Drilling and beginner Lapidary
Tools required: None
SILVERSMITHING I
This is literally your beginner level silversmithing course. If you've never worked with metal or soldered a joint with a torch, you're in the right place. I, or another instructor will teach you all you need to know to get started. You'll make a ring with a stone set in it (cabochon). It will be made in silver. EVERYTHING you need for this course is included in the fees. You will get to take your memento home with you, but not the tools- those you'll have the opportunity to purchase from my shelves.
Here at my studio, I focus on teaching the theory behind your practice. There are other studios in the city that will engage you in the process of making your own ring, but I go to great lengths to explain the atomic process that occurs when that torch touches metal, I explain why, certain reactions occur, and how to affect these reactions in advantageous ways. If you are serious about picking up silversmithing as more than a one time ordeal, then you will be pleased with this course curriculum.
Hours: 10
Prerequisites: None​
Tools required: None
SILVERSMITHING II
Here now, maybe you've put in more time at home, or in the drop in hours and are ready to push your practice further, this is where more science is thrown at you, and intermediate techniques are practiced.You MUST have a basic concept of silversmithing to partake effectively in this course. IE: have completed ten pieces. Stone setting will be examined further, including faceted stones. Sourcing material will be explained more thoroughly, questions on mass production and high end statement pieces will be addressed, and more tools will be introduced to your arsenal. You'll make another ring, but this ones gonna be artsy. You will also be taught how to mix metals through fabrication.
Hours: 8
Prerequisites: Silversmithing I or equivalent​
Tools required: Bring current projects, as well as favorite pieces made.
SILVERSMITHING III
​
Hours: 8
Prerequisites: Silversmithing II or equivalent
Tools required: None
INLAY II
This differs from gem stone inlay, in that we explore more ways of inlay, but using metal into stone. an assortment of techniques will be explored.
Hours: 8​
Prerequisites: Intermediate Lapidary & beginner silversmithing
Tools required: none
INTARSIA
This work gets dexterous. I teach a method that is relatively forgiving but just as impressive. You will make an intarsia piece. I will also describe how to to advanced intarsia where careful care and attention to detail is dire. Mass production of intarsia will also be taught here.
Hours: 8​
Prerequisites: Intermediate Lapidary
Tools required: none
SLAB POLISHING
Beautiful slabs deserve to be made into showpieces, not cut to gems. Here, I show you my method of dry polishing with a high speed sander. I also explain other methods and teach how to use rotary, as well as vibratory flat laps.
Hours: 3
Prerequisites: none
Tools required: none
FLINT KNAPPING
You'll make an arrowhead in this course. From a rough boulder of obsidian, you'll be shown how to chop it down with modern machinery and rough out a blank on grinding wheels. you will then proceed to pressure flake it in the popular method known as flake over grind. You will also be shown how to make your own tools.
Hours: 8
Prerequisites: None
Tools required: Boots, full length pants.
ROCK TUMBLING
It's the very first type of rock polishing I ever partook in, with my childhood christmas present.
After polishing hundreds of pounds, I give a lecture on the entire process. how to get the best polish, source stones, maintain and repair tumblers. I discuss rotary and vibratory. You can read the pamphlet that comes with your tumbler, but this course really exposes the science behind them, so that you can control the exact results every moment.
Hours: 4
Prerequisites: none​
Tools required: none
REVERSE INTAGLIO
This work gets dexterous. I teach a method that is relatively forgiving but just as impressive. You will make an intarsia piece. I will also describe how to to advanced intarsia where careful care and attention to detail is dire. Mass production of intarsia will also be taught here.
Hours: 8​
Prerequisites: Intermediate Lapidary
Tools required: none
GEM CARVING I
We will look at free forming, getting you accustomed to the flex shaft. I will introduce bit types, and discuss micro chipping, stock removal and prepping for polishing.
We will look at setting, so how to carve free forms that are easy to set. I will introduce mass production capabilities for this type of carving, as well as slower more meticulous ways.
​
Hours: 8​
Prerequisites: Intermediate Lapidary
Tools required: none
GEM CARVING II
Here we concentrate of carving an overall form. perhaps a much more elaborate free form, or a realistic piece. Time will be taken to understand sanding and polishing, as i introduce you to the options out there as well as the history of polishing tools and the innovations in the last century.
​
Hours: 8​
Prerequisites: Intermediate Lapidary
Tools required: none
FANTASY CARVING
This is very similar to reverse intaglio, but we are polishing inside the intaglio. We carve transparent stones, so the image is visible through the front.I will teach you how to prevent chipping, and get high gloss polishes.
​
Hours: 8
Prerequisites: Intermediate Lapidary, Gem Carving​
Tools required: none
​
WIRE WRAPPING I
Meant for the first timers. The preliminary concepts of metallurgy are presented so that you comprehend the metals you can use. Sourcing material, as well as study resources, are part of the curriculum. In addition, we look at stone cut types to help you assess the best stone shapes for your project and wallet.
​
The nitty gritty is that you'll be weaving a pendant, making delicate patterns with metal thread
Hours: 8
Prerequisites:
Tools required:
WIRE WRAPPING II
For those of you with a dozen projects now beneath your belt, you're going to prosper from learning the more intricate wire techniques known to the Milky Way galaxy. Setting crystals, small facets and building wire designs will be shared with you in this course
Hours: 10
Prerequisites: Wire wrapping I or equivalent
Tools required: Most tools provided, but if you have your own niche tools, please bring them.
RELIEF CASTING
Hours: 5
We are just gonna do it all in one. This is relief casting over various surfaces standard in the industry. Broom, salt, bean, water, etc.
I'll show you how to get organic silver forms that will differ from your standard milled metal.
Prerequisites: beginners silversmithing
Tools required: none, (bring silver scraps if you have them)
WAX & ORGANICS MODELING
Casting is a brilliant way to step into mass production and fine art jewelry. Casting is my recommended way to get past working with milled metal and into your own sculpting of metal. Metal will do anything you want- it expands into any form. Here, we look at creating those forms. Working with wax is the conventional way of modeling your piece. I teach various ways of milling, and sculpting the wax- through heat and cold work. I even show you how to make your own waxes from harvested materials. I push further with harvesting and explain how to take forms from nature, such as twigs and fruit peels to form alternative metal forms. In this course, you will not actually cast your work. For the extent of it is spent on giving you a full array of the ways to create original jewelry. (For an additional fee, I will cast your work.)
Hours: 8
Prerequisites: none​
Tools required: Bring various Items from nature, such as bark, leaves, kitchen scraps, ...anything organic (no plastics, metals...)
LOST WAX CASTING
This is where we get to play with fire. In this course, you will be taught how to properly set up your wax pieces and other sculptures for casting. You will cast numerous pieces. And then we will explore the best tools for cleaning them, and preparing them as master copies to be duplicated infinitely.
Hours: 8​
Prerequisites: Wax Modeling, beginner silversmithing
Tools required: none