Class Information and Schedule
Are you having creative pangs that need a place to be realized? Are you a beginning to advanced metalsmith needing a fun, stimulating, and creative place to work? Do you look at jewelry and think “I wish I could do that!” If you answered YES, then Whaley Studios is your go-to place!
Whaley Studios offers GROUP CLASSES and SEMI-PRIVATE CLASSES, Monday thru Friday and OPEN STUDIO TIME on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons, and occasional Sunday afternoons. Our studio also offers a variety of Workshops for students of all skill levels. We also offer several Introduction to Jewelry Fabrication Classes throughout the year. The atmosphere is busy, fun, creative, and welcoming! We are located in the dynamic Hillcrest area of San Diego near fine restaurants and shopping. Our air-conditioned, fully equipped studio is upstairs, and features a large balcony. Parking is by paid street meter, pay lots (three within a block) or off-street, free parking in the residential area a few blocks away. Whaley Studios is also proud to offer Do-It-Yourself Wedding Ring Workshops for those who are seeking a more personal experience and want to create custom rings for their special day. Check out our “Make Your Own Wedding Rings” page for more details.
Class Format
Whaley Studios classes are designed to help guide and develop the creative potential of each individual student. Beginning students, those with no experience or limited prior experience, start with the fabrication of a sterling silver ring of their design. This gives each new student a chance to immerse themselves in the classic process of metalsmithing – learning to alloy silver, melting silver and pouring an ingot, using a rolling mill, forming, soldering and finishing a ring of their own design. Through this process students learn studio safety, vocabulary and technique through hands-on experience. More advanced students work on projects of their own design and choice.
Please call us if you have any questions at (619) 299-9619, or contact us online.
Interested in a Gift Certificate? We have those, too! Please call our studio.
Group Classes
Join us for one of our group classes!
Class Sessions for 2020 are scheduled as follows: Due to our studio being closed during...
Semi-Private Classes
For those who want a longer time in the studio and more intense instruction.
Class Sessions for 2020 are scheduled as follows:
Due...
Open Studio Time
We also offer open studio time for experienced, currently enrolled students based on the studio's availability. Jay Whaley or one of our...
Class Sessions for 2020 are scheduled as follows:
Due to our studio being closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, a re-vised session schedule will be updated soon. Please stand by!
| Session 1 MON Jan 6 – Feb 17 TUE Jan 7 – Feb 18 WED Jan 8 – Feb 19 THUR Jan 9 – Feb 20 FRI Jan 10 – Feb 21 (Break: Feb 24 – Feb 28) |
Session 2 MON Mar 2 – Apr 13 TUE Mar 3 – Apr 14 WED Mar 4 – Apr 15 THUR Mar 5 – Apr 16 FRI Mar 6 – Apr 17 (Break: Apr 20 – Apr 24) |
Session 3 MON Apr 27 – Jun 8 TUE Apr 28 – Jun 9 WED Apr 29 – Jun 10 THUR Apr 30 – Jun 11 FRI May 1 – Jun 12 (Break: Jun 15 – Jun 19) |
| Session 4 MON Jun 22 – Aug 3 TUE Jun 23 – Aug 4 WED Jun 24 – Aug 5 THUR Jun 25 – Aug 6 FRI Jun 26 – Aug 7 (Break: Aug 10 – Aug 21) |
Session 5 MON Aug 24 – Oct 5 TUE Aug 25 – Oct 6 WED Aug 26 – Oct 7 THUR Aug 27 – Oct 8 FRI Aug 28 – Oct 9 (Break: Oct 12 – Oct 23) |
Session 6 MON Oct 26 – Dec 14 TUE Oct 27 – Dec 15 WED Oct 28 – Dec 16 THUR Oct 29 – Dec 17 FRI Oct 30 – Dec 18 (Break: Dec 19 – Jan 3) |
Student Testimonials
Whaley Studios has helped many students with their jewelry careers over the years, but the focus is less about training students to become professional jewelers and more about giving people the opportunity to bring creativity and personal expression into their lives. It’s about nurturing and guiding the creative impulse – in a relaxed class format that people can manage even with busy schedules, and it takes place with a fun community of others all engaged in the creative process. Students gain confidence in learning new skills and taking a process from conception to completion in a way they find delightful, not just with the end result but with the experiences gained along the way.
T. Bennett
Jay is the man. Seriously. A master goldsmith with the heart of a teacher. His classes are the highlight of my week. The fellow artists are really cool to hang with also. So fun to be around people who love art.
Ahava Y.