Interview with Andrew Floyd about his work and teaching wax technique classes for the M.A.M.A.
Andrew working in the M.A.M.A. studio
While perfecting his art, wax sculpture has become the technique most used to translate his vision since the beginning of this journey.
Andrew Floyd is a Montreal-born jeweller. His interest in craft began when he studied with jewellery artist Enid Kaplan at Concordia's Design Art program. Enid encouraged Andrew to continue his studies at FIT's Jewellery Design program. He then pursued a Master of Metal Arts at SUNY New Paltz, where he not only expanded his knowledge of metal arts, but also developed his critical thinking skills. Since then, he has used his creativity to create unique and refined ornaments inspired by popular culture, historical jewellery design and animal life. While perfecting his art, wax sculpture has become the technique most used to translate his vision since the beginning of this journey.
Andrew how old where you when you became interested in making jewellery. At what point did you think that it would become your life work? Or at what point did it become a passion?
I really got into making jewellery when I was studying Design Art at Concordia University. So Maybe when I was 19 or 20? It would have been in either 1999 or 2000. I had a teacher in one of my design classes, Enid Kaplan, who also happened to be a jeweller and she kind of recognized my potential after seeing some of my class projects. I ended up taking private lessons with her and was pretty much bitten by the jewellery making bug from then on.
Why did you choose to study at FIT and then SUNY New Paltz. What drew you to those programs? What were your favorite aspects of the programs?
It was my first jewellery teacher, Enid Kaplan, who suggested FIT. She mentioned it to my parents and it became reality. After FIT, I took a year off back in Montreal and then applied for the graduate program at SUNY New Paltz. Enid was also the one who pointed me towards that school. Their metals program has a great reputation, especially for the graduate program. That place has such an amazing, comprehensive studio and graduate students got their own dedicated workspace for the duration of their studies. That program was less about technical skills and focused much more on concept, the what and why of jewellery, the history and meaning behind it etc.. It was challenging but such a privilege and such a great learning experience.
What is it about wax that makes it your preferred medium? How much of the work that you do now is created in wax?
I love wax for the possibilities that it allows. There are various kinds of waxes that each have their own properties. You can file, sculpt, smooth and build up with wax, if you make a mistake you can just melt a bit of wax over it to fix it.
And it's great for creating three dimensional work and textures. It's very different from working with metal even though the wax itself gets turned into metal at the end. Right now, most of my jewelry production is based on pieces that were created in wax. It's a great medium for just playing around and experimenting.
You share an online jewellery business with your sister. How did that come about? What’s your role in the business?
The business is called Atelier LAF I really wanted to be able to incorporate making jewelry into my life and turning it into a business seemed like the right way to go about that.
My sister mostly handles administrative work, taking orders, updating the website etc. but she also plays a vital role in helping me design new pieces or collections.
I handle most of the production work.
When along your journey did you start to teach? Can you tell us a bit about the wax class you will be teaching for the MAMA and why you think wax is an important medium for any jeweller.
I started teaching at the MAMA in the spring of 2019. A friend who also happens to be the founder of the school asked me if I would be interested in teaching and the rest is history.
The wax modules that I'll be teaching are going to focus more on a step by step approach to creating a wax piece including proper sculpting techniques, how to do a comprehensive layout on your wax to accurately accomplish a design, the various types of waxes and their best applications for jewellery making as well as creating settings for stones in wax. My strongest argument for learning wax sculpting is its versatility. It is such an important and versatile skill to master.
The benefits of Working with Wax: Modules 1-2 or 3 with Andrew Floyd
Studying wax techniques with Andrew Floyd offers an opportunity to explore the intricate world of lost-wax casting. This method allows artists to create detailed sculptures and jewellery pieces through an adaptable and versatile medium.
Andrew Floyd's expertise provides students with a rich understanding of various wax techniques, including carving, adding texture, and creating complex shapes. Throughout the course, students will engage in hands-on projects that encourage them to translate their ideas into three-dimensional forms.
Participants will gain valuable insights into how to refine their designs and think critically about the relationship between their original wax creations and the final metal product.
Overall, this course serves not only to enhance technical skills but also to inspire creativity and innovation in the field of metal arts. Elevate your craftsmanship in an inviting studio environment that encourages artistic exploration and collaboration.
Andrew Floyd and Atelier LAF
Atelier LAF is an established Montreal based fine jewellery studio founded by brother and sister team Andrew & Laura Floyd.
The LAF collection is composed of handcrafted jewellery pieces designed with casual elegance and radicalness in mind. We believe in spreading jewellery goodness using quality materials and some old school techniques for a long-lasting effect.
