Welding 101 for Emerging Artists

Welding 101 for Emerging Artists is designed for artists looking to expand their creative practice into metal. This focused, artist-friendly introduction distills key elements from our Welding 101 into a single accessible session, giving participants the essential “quick and gritty” fundamentals of welding without the depth of a full technical course.

Students will learn core machine setup, basic weld control, and how to safely and effectively join metal while exploring how welding can integrate into their existing body of work. Light plasma cutting may be introduced for students working with sheet metal, depending on time and project needs.

Participants will complete a make-and-take project using a curated selection of studio materials, assembling steel elements into a small sculpture or component that can stand alone or be incorporated into their ongoing personal body of work.

This class also serves as an entry point into Welding Studio 102 and 103 for those interested in continuing their training and working more independently in the studio.

Location:

This class will meet at Liberty Arts Studio, located at 918 Pearl St., Durham, NC, United States.

Pre-requisites:

This class does not require any prior experience with welding or metal fabrication, but does require the ability to work around heat, noise, sharp edges, and power tools.
This class is beginner friendly and designed specifically for artists.

Skills & Equipment:

Students will learn the fundamentals of MIG welding in a creative context, focusing on quick setup, basic weld techniques, and safe operation of equipment. The class emphasizes practical skill-building for artistic applications rather than technical depth.

Students will learn: 

Basic MIG welder setup and operation
How to control and place welds for simple assemblies
How to safely join found metal components
Introductory use of fabrication tools within a creative workflow
Optional exposure to plasma cutting for sheet metal (time permitting)

Equipment used in this class includes a MIG welder, chop saw, angle grinders (cutoff wheels and flap discs), and standard metal shop tools such as pliers, clamps, and layout tools.

Materials:

Students will be working primarily with mild steel, including rod, flat bar, sheet, and found metal pieces from a curated selection of studio materials. All materials are included in the cost of the class.

Students may bring small metal objects to incorporate into their work, subject to instructor approval.

Safety & PPE:

Protective gloves, face shields, and ear plugs will be provided. Proper protective wear designed for welding and fabrication will be made mandatory to wear.

What to Wear

Students must wear non-synthetic, long-sleeve clothing and closed-toe shoes. Hair should be tied back. Comfortable clothes that can get dirty are recommended.

In the interest of safety, the instructor reserves the option to limit participation if students are not wearing appropriate clothing.

Notes / Important Info:

This is a single-session workshop with a total duration of 2.5 hours.

This class takes place in an active welding studio environment and involves working with heat, noise, sharp edges, and power tools. The studio is a working space and may be loud during instruction and fabrication time.