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PMC Basics DVD by Tim McCreight... a beginners review.
New team member Katie spent a sunny afternoon in the Kernowcraft office watching our 'PMC Basics' DVD, here's what she thought!
PMC Basics by Tim McCreight (C252) is a really simple and easy to follow DVD explanation of Precious Metal Clay. From the chemical make-up of the product to how to use its various forms, this DVD covers everything a beginner wants or needs to know. And for someone like me who has never used PMC, it makes the process of working with it into something I now feel confident enough to do on my own.
Easy to follow sections
A beginner myself, I found the set-up of the DVD brilliant, it’s made up of small chapters which can be viewed as a whole or skipped to a relevant section, saving time, which to be honest we could all do with more of! Tim’s simple explanation is easy to follow yet not at all patronising, as you might imagine for a beginner’s DVD. It feels like you have your own personal tutor!
Sections include texturing, making joints, firing and finishing, each of which have a supportive ‘supplemental text’ that can be chosen showing notes on the chapter. This makes it really easy to get your head around what can be ‘scary’ processes for a beginner such as soldering or creating moulds.
Bringing PMC to life
For those of you who find instructions in books hard to follow, this DVD really does bring the processes of working with PMC to life. The section on firing your final product is particularly useful as you are able to see for yourself the change in state of the Precious Metal Clay, something which is difficult to explain in book form.
We often get phone calls at Kernowcraft asking about how to set stones in PMC, the DVD offers a few methods of doing this so you can choose a way that best suits you, all of which are explained in a simple step by step form.
Money saving tips
Keeping costs down can often be a huge factor for beginners who want to experiment in the wonderful world of Precious Metal Clay without breaking the bank. The DVD mentions inventive ways of cutting costs by experimenting with household products. Who would have thought about using soap to create carvings in PMC or making an inventive bevel contraption out of little more than a golf ball and a nail!
Overall the DVD emphasises the simplicity and potential of a product such as PMC. Watching it has given me the knowledge I need for the designs that have been running around my head since I first became aware of PMC. The DVD gives tips to help you with making many things including earrings, rings and beads, it’s a real confidence booster for all of you who, like me, are ready to make your first steps into the exciting world of Precious Metal Clay.
To buy PMC Basics by Tim McCreight click here.
For Tim McCreight's tips on firing Precious Metal Clay why not visit our Jewellery Making Tips section.
28th June 2010