reviews

Thank you so very much! It was a joy to learn from you. The course was phenomenal. You are an excellent teacher.

Dear Mer, I wanted to take this moment to write a note of personal thanks for such a wonderful class on-line on Opal Grisaille. Your skill with on-line teaching made this long-distance learning an informative and pleasurable experience.

This technique is explained in detail: history, freehand design, choice of enamel and creation of three amazing works. During the lesson you forget that you are following an online class, you feel in the workshop of Mer in a calm and relaxed atmosphere. Thanks to the incredible macro shots you can really understand how to move every single grain of enamel to create delicate shades.

Mer generously shares her plethora of information about working in enamels with those who take her classes or subscribe to her Patreon channel. I have learned so much from watching her videos, and hope to continue to learn even more. In particular, I was able to do the plique-a-jour technique after watching her video once. She’s an amazing and talented teacher.

Here Mer gives you a beautiful Grisaille Enamel tutorial. I have seen Grisaille used with white opaque enamels over black opaque but her application using opals is just beautiful. After 30 years of enameling, you would think you have seen all the techniques. This is differently a technique I will be using, I can see it helping me in my ocean scenes as well as in my animals. Her work is not only beautiful but also shows any enamelist a very delicate approach to shading your enamels.

Just watched part 1 of the shading video. Thank you so much for taking the time to produce it, and for all the work that went into it. Although I have been enamelling for a couple of years on a very part time basis, I learned a great deal, especially about how important the wetness of your enamel is, and how it can be used to your advantage. I’m looking forward to watching part 2. It’s always been valuable watching how others work, to pick up little bits that you might otherwise miss.

This class is very useful. It’s the kind of lesson that changes the way you work. It shows how a well prepared base makes the difference! And no more pieces stick on the trivets!!!

I was a teacher for many years and before that a video editor and web content producer so I appreciate how hard you work to prepare your video lessons for us. My greatest satisfaction as a teacher was when a student had the “ah ha” experience or achieved a goal through something they gained while working with me. That is why I am writing to you about my recent experience.

[…] I have wanted to make something like this my entire metalworking life (20+ years).

Thank you SO very, very much for all your hard work and generosity. You are a very fine teacher. I cannot truly convey the amount of gratitude I feel towards you, but please know that you have, and do, greatly enrich my life and artistic endeavors.

What wonderful gifts you give to us!
In gratitude,
KhC

I must say, this has been one of the best online workshops I have taken. Mer explains everything and shows you everything step by step. I am in love with the way she forms her shapes with such simple tools. Thank you so much Mer for all the time and effort you have put to make this workshop 🙏🙏🙏

Mer you are a great instructor and talented enamelist. After enameling for 30 years you have taught me new techniques in this beautiful art form. The class on wet packing and gradations is excellent. Thank you for sharing!

I watch the videos I have with great joy. Each step is so clear, it’s as if I am watching over your shoulder in real time. Each time I watch one, I see something new as the information seeps into my brain. You are a magician, and an inspiration!

Thank you for creating your amazing online classes! It’s truly inspiring and well explained!

I especially appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge. Your videos have been tremendously helpful in my quest to understand how this works 🙏
I found your video on shading and gradients to be incredibly helpful. Your painstaking care in presenting the process from beginning to end has really helped me to understand what to look for when I work in layers.  Thank you so much for taking the time to produce it, and for all the work that went into it. Although I have been enameling for a couple of years, I learned a great deal, especially about how important the wetness of your enamel is, and how it can be used to your advantage.

In this class Mer explains in a very detailed and clear way how to wash the enamels, how to apply them with the use of the brush and the spatula with 8 different exercises. You will learn how to fire the pieces in the proper way and how to fix mistakes!
The part we found most interesting is where she shows you how to create gradual shades and get perfect transparency, to say the least incredible, on copper!

Mer Almagro offers wonderful tools and supplies to aid you in your enameling endeavors, something that was so needed in Europe!. Her educational contribution to the enameling community is so valuable to all of us. She researches her material and has a great understanding of the technical difficulties facing enamelists. Thanks to her, we now have an English translation of the wonderful Andreu Vilasís book. Go to her classes on Patreon!

Mer, thank you again for another wonderful class. I learned so much just by watching and all the amazing information you have provided 🙏

Hi Mer, I just purchased my first class — wet packing. OMG, you are an amazing enamelist and a terrific teacher. I am so glad I bought it so I can watch over and over — so much to learn from you.