Etsy MetalClay is a moderated team with the following requirements:
Jurying Requirements
Etsy Metal Clay Team
Style and Level of Difficulty
• It is required that the successful applicant’s work have a cohesive, unique and personal style that will allow other team members to easily recognize their work – an original statement should be made. Applicants who are capable only of texturing and cutting out shapes and/or stamping designs would be considered beginner level and not yet ready to join the team, although they should be encouraged to apply again when ready.
• It is desired that at the time of application to the team, the successful candidate will have attained at least an intermediate level of skill in making jewelry composed of metal clay. What this means is outlined below. This is so there can be a two-way learning experience for team members, and that new team members aren’t beginners looking for mentoring only. All team members should be able to learn something new from one another.
• Any candidate whose style closely mimics that of another artisan, especially one who has also studied under that artisan, will not be considered for membership. Developing one’s own unique body of work and a demonstration of uniqueness and creativity is key.
Photography
• The successful candidate will have clear, attractive, sharp photographs of their work capable of being included in an Etsy treasury and any other form of team promotion. If their work meets the team’s other standards but not this, they will still need to improve their photographs before acceptance; otherwise, there will be no guarantee their work will ever meet the minimum standards to be included in a treasury.
Techniques and Workmanship
• The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the mastery of one or more intermediate to advanced level of skills in metal clay such as hollow beads/burnout cores; mirror finishes; bezel and prong setting of both fireable and non-fireable stones; chemical oxidation and, in the case of bronze or copper clay, the ability to add a heat patina through the use of a torch; box construction; hinges; enameling; water etching.
• Jewelry pieces should be of sufficient thickness that bending or warping of the piece under pressure should be very difficult or impossible.
• Insides of bails and the backs of the pieces must be finished and attractive to the eye. All pieces large enough or with sufficient area to be signed must be signed either through a raised (fused on) or depressed (stamped) hallmark.
• All candidates’ metal clay jewelry listings on Etsy should include a photograph of the back of the piece and at least one photo where their signature/logo/hallmark is shown if included on the piece.
Originality and Design
• Ability to design one’s own original textures and describe their technique through the use of photopolymer plates, original molds, dry carving, or original carvings on materials such as cork, linoleum, wood, etc.
• All designs should be well-balanced and pleasing to the eye with good symmetry or asymmetry of design. Ideally the candidate should have the ability to incorporate more than one PMC technique, such as a hollow bead with an original texture.
Finished Presentation
• All pieces must be free of visible surface blemishes such as cracks, extra blobs of clay or paste and sharp edges. Time and care spent sanding and polishing should be evident. Edges should be smooth and show no evidence of tool marks.
Team Participation
• Team members are asked to actively participate in team activities. We maintain a private, lively and active Facebook page where most of our communication takes place. New members must have a Facebook account and be willing to join our team page there.
• We also ask that members create treasuries incorporating team members and participate in other group promotions, including but not limited to charm swaps and the donation of handmade charms for inclusion in bracelets that we auction off to benefit various charities.
