The New Silversmith

"""Nicole Ringgold has taught for Vivi Magoo for many years, and she continues to awe and amaze our students with her unique approach to metalsmithing techniques and design. Using recycled sheet metal and wire along with scraps of metal and minimal tools, Nicole creates hand-fabricated sculptural designs that give honor to nature in the form of wildlife, flora, and fauna. I know of no one else who creates the way she does--carving and sculpting in sterling silver--she is a true artist in every sense of the word. I highly recommend her new book; it will give you all the inspiration and motivation you need to believe in yourself, think outside the box, and let your own creative abilities shine.""--Barb Solem, ViviMagoo.com ""I have always admired Nicole Ringgold's work. [Her] workshop exceeded my expectations and was beyond anything I could have hoped for from an instructor. I felt that my skill level and confidence skyrocketed by the end of the six-day workshop. Nicole's philosophy is 'anything is possible, ' which is evident in each nature-inspired piece she creates. . . . Within one class she can challenge a beginner as well as an experienced metalsmith, creating an environment that stresses process (at your own pace) over product, making each student feel like they can indeed do anything. A Nicole Ringgold workshop is not to be missed if you are lucky enough to snag a coveted spot!"" --Dina Post, dinapostjewelry.com ""I have been a professional jewelry artist for over thirty years. There is always something else to learn and master. This was driven home when I took a life-changing workshop with Nicole Ringgold. This experience enhanced the way that I see and work with metals, deepening and expanding my understanding and appreciation of their endless possibilities. Nicole approaches things from her own fresh viewpoint, torching the rules and pushing the limits. Her teaching is enthusiastic, creative, thoughtful, and organized. My first experience was so inspiring that I have traveled across the country twice to take additional classes with her. Each class has been different enough to nurture and enhance my understanding of and practice in metals, partly because Nicole continues to grow as an artist and teacher. Additionally, I have witnessed all of my fellow students catching the fire of enthusiasm and forging ahead with their work. I am thrilled that Nicole has written a book and look forward to seeing how she captures and expresses her ideas and techniques on paper. And I have no doubt that her book will be as riveting as her studio teaching."" --Lucy Golden, lucygoldenjewelry.com ""I've taken several of Nicole's metalsmith workshops, and not a single one has passed without me saying, 'Well, that tip is worth the price of admission, I can go home now'--and that's just on the first day! Nicole is authentically kind, generous with her wisdom, and bears a wicked sense of humor. Her skills are unmatchable, and her patience endless. She's a brilliant instructor, and a wonderful human being. If I sound like a gushing fangirl, it's because I am. And I'm not alone."" --Janette Kotichas, Boulder, Colorado ""Nicole @ringgoldnicole - Her classes are a true gift of allowing you to bypass all of her own screw-ups and hard lessons she's gone through. . . . She is a master of her craft, yet she's so generous in sharing her journey.""--Erika Martenson, mountaingirlsilver.com"