pat.lillie@gmail.com
Pat's Classes

Pat Lillie teaches Metal Clay, Metal and Metal Clay Soldering, Dichronic Glass and Metal Clay, and Techniques in Stone Setting. She says of her teaching style, people each have their own favorite ways of picking up and retaining knowledge. She tries to reach her students with several different methods in the classroom, so they can understand, retain, and apply the information she is teaching them. She likes to verbally explain the 'why I am doing things' first, 'what I am going to do' explanation 2nd, followed by actually demonstrating the techniques 3rd. Afterward, her students can explore and try the project techniques for themselves along with followup questions and answers. Her work can be seen at:

facebook.com/pg/patricialilliejewelrydesign

www.patlillie.com

Pat is an artist and teacher who works in metal clay and traditional metalsmithing. She received BFA degrees in Painting, Drawing and Graphic Design. She was a part time painting and drawing instructor and a full-time professional graphic designer until 2009. In 2000, she started designing and creating with precious metals. In 2016, she was named Senior Certification Instructor by PMC Connection. She currently teaches Silver 1 and PMC metal clay classes at William Holland School of Lapidary in north Georgia and in her private studio.

She is a jewelry designer who loves working in both traditional metalsmithing techniques and metal clay. She feels these two mediums allow for a greater diversity in creativity and freedom of expression in her art. She incorporates her knowledge of lapidary, intarsia and lampwork beading in her work. Her desire to share what she was experiencing and creating took her down the path to become a teacher. Pat says, "You can't keep it to yourself." She found that in order to really enjoy and be inspired to create my artwork, she had to share with others, so they could learn it as well.

There are many great artists whose work she loves, but Georgia O'Keefe is her favorite artist. Her intimate detail and use of color has always captured Pat's imagination. But, her biggest inspiration was her father. He encouraged by example all the efforts she makes in creating her art.

Her love of nature in all of its ever changing forms, textures and color is a constant source of expression in many of the pieces she designs. She finds a joy in designing and making silver jewelry that combines natural shapes, cut stones, and textures with the silver medium.

Pat loves to share and pass on, to students, her knowledge and skills with metals and metal clay in workshops in her home studio and various locations. Pat has had the opportunity to travel quite a bit (being married to a career military and commercial pilot) and has been able to visit well over 55 states and countries so far. She's hoping to see more!

mom4hd@comcast.net
Janell's Classes

With a career spanning over two decades, my artistic journey in the jewelry design began when I was employed at my local bead shop, where I honed my craft in the intricacies of beads and wire. I could not find the exact pieces to finish my jewelry and looked into the prospect of having them made for me and that's when the allure of the metalsmithing began. It unveiled a realm of endless possibilities. I took many metalsmithing classes while working at the bead shop. Soon, I was making more jewelry than I could possibly wear, which led to selling my creations at jewelry events and shows throughout the Southeast.

I was introduced to metal clay - this amazing medium seamlessly blended the traditional artistry I enjoyed with a gentler approach that spared my joints. Once again, I dove in wholeheartedly, taking classes at Spruill, online and even traveling out of state to learn from a wide variety of instructors. I eventually became Art Clay Senior Certified as well as Aussie Metal Clay Certified and naturally found myself drawn toward teaching, sharing the knowledge I'd gathered from diverse jewelry techniques.

In addition to the classes I teach at Spruill, you can find me (alongside my co-jewelry instructor, Jackie Comet) featured in several CraftCast classes.

I truly feel that the world of jewelry creation benefits from the diversity of instructors. By embracing ideas from each one, you find what works for you - and in doing so, you enrich your own creative journey.

I have two adult children I get to call friends and an amazing husband who is always my cheerleader. We also have two fur-balls who graciously allow us to live in their home.