The Art of Enameling: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration

This is the best enameling book I've ever read. It somehow covers basic to intricate all in one book. You can get this book as a beginner and refer back to it forever. You also get a bit of a bonus, Linda includes lots of great information on techniques that aren't enameling directly. Foldforming, encaustic (seriously! I thought I was one of ten people actually doing encaustic lol) etching etc. Now she doesn't go in depth, but that would make this heavy detailed book even longer (not that I would complain Haha). She does go into super detail about enameling, as one would hope. I don't think I expected how detailed though. Extensive information into different types of enameling, torch, kiln, wet, dry, then techniques, painting, pouring, sifting (detailed photos and hints on proper sifting technique!), stencil, Sgraffito (scratching), drilling dry fired and filling with fresh wet or dry. How to fix, make bezels, set into bezels, think about your piece and determine the best way to plan how it will be set. *takes breath* Aand..... on it goes. The single most comprehensive book on enameling I own, and I own several. We love our books, inspiration, reference, reading when we can't be doing... so we will always collect them, however, if you are starting out or have limited budget or are looking to add to your extensive library with a book of substance this is your book. More than worth it's price (don't tell anyone else so the price doesn't go up but this could be priced as a textbook, it's laid out like a class she teaches and it's jam packed with years of experience... worth several times it's price! Shh lol). This book will be posty note marked on every page. Wealth of information and inspiration newbie to professional. Drool worthy photos. Must have for every artist using enameling in their work. Lots of historical information about enameling so it's a lesson in the evolution of enameling as much as the process. Photos are showing the amazing things a master can do with enamels but don't be discouraged, she spends tons of time showing basic steps to becoming a master yourself. This is 176 pages cram packed with tips, tricks, suggestions, history and life experience. I can't say enough good about it... clearly lol. Get this book, you will not regret it!

Just received this wonderful book & stayed up into the wee hours of the morning immersed in it. As an enameling beginner, I first ordered Torch Fired Enamel jewelry by Barbara Lewis. I found her 'immersion method' a friendly way to begin to explore the enameling world. This book is a great companion to Lewis' book. Linda takes it to the next level, and is full of yummy ideas and exciting techniques for creating enameled surfaces. Most seem torch-friendly too. It answered a lot of my questions & recharged my creativity. She explains the many enamel types, mesh sizes & how to use them. She has a clear & succinct writing style - no fluff here! Don't be put off by the short length of the book, as every page is packed with info (my only tiny complaint are the small pictures of the artist's finished works). As a long time bead-worker (& color lover), i wanted to stretch myself & create my own charms & pendants. Thank you Linda for this inspiring book! btw; I am 'fire-phobic', so I bought myself a leather apron & sleeves for my arms at Charm and Hammer. They sell safety equipment for women welders, blacksmiths etc. Highly recommended. Already saved me from a burned arm from my unlit, but still hot torch.

In one heartfelt swoop, Linda Darty has gathered and confessed, "Enameling, the art of fusing glass onto metal to create colorful and imaginative designs, is one of the oldest methods used to decorate metal," by updating what should have already been known. Fortunately, Ms. Darty is one among few with enough confidence and experience to anticipate advancement of the field with more fact than fiction. Whether treated as an art, as a craft, or as a pastime, the act of enameling is fundamentally the same. The person committing the action determines the degree of commitment. The degrees to which one will delve into the alchemy, art and science is a matter of self-education requiring comprehension that opens all and closes no doors. This book is profoundly logical, extremely obvious and demystifying. Even with the passive pigeonhole edit, cut and clutter of Lark Book's editorial and art staff, the book and it's content presents more relevant information about glass on metal than has ever been put into print in a single volume. Very few basic points were missed in this rich new standard. There is something to be said about a picture being worth a thousand words. The bottom lie: If you want to know about the techniques of enameling in details, then you'll want to get this book.

This book arrived a few days ago. It's comprehensive approach is just what I was hoping for in this technical oriented volume. (I've already read most of it and learned so, so much!) I've perused other enameling books and thought they were very nice and helpful but his book by Linda Darty is so well laid out in how to get started, materials and tools needed, to proposed lovely projects. But don't be fooled as I have by so many books that are simply a gloss over to the craft and going straight to projects. Those are nice if you have a foundation of skills to build on and need some inspiration. This books really does give you much needed skills to be an enameling artisan. I also love the 'Hot Tips' & 'Fast Facts & Helpful Hints' placed here and there because they really do contain much needed tips she's found useful in her personal work. I also love the 'Historical Highlight(s)'. Knowing a German monk named Theophilus the Presbyter was writing about and creating enameled pieces back in the 12th Century blew me away! I give this book highest marks for essential information for the beginner or as an important volume for the enamel artist who knows there's always a little more to learn!

I bought this book with the assumption that it would be a typical crafts book. Wow, I was really wrong! To start with, Linda Darty spent seven years working at Penland School of Crafts - see ( The Nature of Craft and the Penland Experience: Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Penland School of Crafts ). So nothing in her book is at all mundane, typical or trivial. This book, although only 176 pages, is easily on par with Oppi Untracht's artisan technique books both in its knowledge base and its writing style. For those who've never heard of Oppi these are his two essential books: Jewelry: Concepts And Technology Metal Techniques for Craftsmen: A Basic Manual on the Methods of Forming and Decorating Metals The book itself is divided into three sections: "Enameling Fundamentals", "Enameling Techniques" and "Projects". It will lead the enameler through all the steps needed to learn theory and practice of studio setup, materials preparation, surface preparation, application, firing, finishing and setting technique. Then it will lead the reader through a series of projects of increasing technical and artistic complexity which demonstrate the art in its finest form. I was particularly impressed in the fact that the book just didn't limit itself to telling how to grind, sift and apply enamel powders. It went into good detail for the myriad metalworking tasks needed to actually make enameled objects. So the end result is a textbook for a professional course in enameling. Thanks Linda for taking the time to write this masterpiece!

Considering the difficulty of obtaining a good resource for enameling...I must say this book is the best you are going to find outside of one on one instruction. If you can find any video tutorials online like on youtube that actually SHOWS you someone performing said technique you will be much better off. Enameling takes a sort of finesse you can only obtain by actually watching the wrist flicks and etc. You can and will learn a lot from this book. Plenty of photos and good advice BUT do supplement it with youtube videos or an in person class and you will be enameling beautiful pieces in no time. Definitely recommended above any other book on enameling out right now.

I cannot express how amazing this book is. Everytime I pick it up I find something new. It totally demystifies the process of enamelling to the point where it seems simple - and it really isn't!!! Great pictures, great explanations, LOADS of information on different techniques and lots of different artist visuals to inspire you as you work. It is totally absorbing, to the point of being a great read, full of inspiring ideas, regardless of what your artistic leaning is. I have a lot of craft books, and I can honestly say that this is one of the best. Well worth the money (can't believe it is so cheap!). Amazing :)

very through and explains all in detail

Fantastic book, iI had a great day after seeing this book kkkkkkkkk

Muy bueno, muy completo aunque todavía no lo termino de leer, excelente libro de consulta, necesario tenerlo en la biblioteca

Uno de los mejores libros de esmalte al fuego que existen.

This is a superb book on enameling. The author not only shares her techniques, but the techniques gleaned from other enamlists around the world. I don't do enameling - yet - but think that after reading this book, I'll be able to create basic pieces rather easily. Lots of full coloured photos of pieces from various artists are also showed and briefly described. Very inspirational. Even if you just like jewelry, this might be a book to get for the coffee table.

Thank you .... It is perfect!! It took a while in the post...but it was worth it! Very good book