How to learn silversmithing
It seems to be that there is a lot more interest in people learning various crafts - often as a hobby (which is how I initially started). There are so many creative outlets out there: I love metalsmithing, my sister loves watercolor, my mom is a knitter, my neighbor works with leather... the big jist of it all being that it's satisfying to make things.
Does silversmithing interest you? If it does, there are actually quite a few ways you can get started. I'll list a few here to get you going.
1) Find an in-person class
I started my journey by enrolling in a metalsmithing course at my local community college. If you can find an in-person class it's a really lovely way to start because you wouldn't have to spend the money in traveling to get there. You may be able to find a local art school that offers classes - often a google search of silversmithing classes near me will find you something nearby. Not everyone will be lucky enough to find something near to them, so there are also a number of other places that offer in-person classes including (but certainly not limited to) GRS in Emporia, Kansas, the Cowboy Arts and Gear Museum in Elko, NV, the Texas Engraving School in Brookshire Texas. These can be pretty spendy depending on the travel costs and the course itself, but it can be a very amazing way to start and will give you the opportunity to meet other people with your same interest.
If you happen to live near me, I am open to teaching some one-one-one beginner instruction. Just reach out to me at sevenjsilver@gmail.com
2) Take an online course
When it comes to online courses, I really have to recommend Be A Maker School. I've taken two classes through them (engraving and stone setting) and love the platform. They have a lot of different courses - yes, obviously silversmithing but also rawhide braiding, leatherwork, and a bunch of other specifically western style trades. It's a six-month program with immediate access to the full course's videos, but also six months of monthly group video calls and also private one-on-ones with the instructor. The cost can feel like a lot of money upfront, but you have the videos forever and the level of service and attention (not to mention an instant community) makes it feel like you're getting a great deal.
3) Ye old Youtube university
Alright, this is the most economical way to start learning. Find your way over to Youtube and search for some basic silversmithing tutorials. How to cut with a jewelers saw, how soldering works, metal forming, etc. Some channels are better than others for sure. Here's a few I think are a nice start: Spirit Mountain Silver for some basic and intermediate techniques, Mitera Made for general silversmithing information, and Amuck Design for some intermediate and more advanced forming techniques. In this day and age, there's a lot of information out there you can access for free. It may not necessarily make things easy, but it can be a very affordable way to start.