Holiday Show - Today & Tomorrow

2016 Workshops at Stouffer Studios

I am very honored and excited to have been invited to teach at Stouffer Studios in 2016. Below are the workshops I have arranged with Gail for the first half of the year. It's a nice mix of project and technique for both beginner and intermediate fusers. If there is something you are interested in that you don't see below, please leave a comment so we can consider it for the future. 

WORKING WITH RAINBOWS: IRIDIZED GLASS 

Are you captivated by the sparking beauty and rainbow colors of iridescent glass surfaces? If you like them like we do, then this is the class for you.  In this 2-day glass fusing workshop you'll learn about the history of iridescent glass and what special considerations should be taken when working with this special material to obtain the ideal results. You'll create beautiful iridized glass plates using at least 4 different techniques including; sandblasting designs using resists, quilting rainbow patterns, double irids, and kiln carving. Some basic fusing experience required.

LEVEL - NEXT STEPS

Some glass fusing experience is necessary

DATE/TIME - January 30-31, 2016 from 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

CLASS FEES - $189 Due at Registration (non-taxable)

MATERIALS FEE - $65 Due on the Day of Class (taxable)

SIGN UP HERE

GLASS FUSING PROJECT: CHEESE TRAY

Join us for a one-day workshop, which is more than just a project. We'll be making a cheese tray using multiple techniques that you'll use in future projects. Practice our skills in strip construction and try some exciting new fusing tray molds. We'll create feet for our trays, learn the best attachment methods, learn how to use boron nitride spray, and more. You'll even get a cheese knife to go with your cool new tray!

LEVEL - NEXT STEPS 

Some glass fusing experience is necessary

DATE/TIME - February 21, 2016 from 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

CLASS FEES - $99 Due at Registration (non-taxable)

MATERIALS FEE - $85 Due on the Day of Class (taxable) 

Fee includes your mold, which you'll take home to use again and again

SIGN UP HERE

CAST GLASS LEAVES AND FLOWERS

This easy one day class will expose you to the basics of color casting with glass powder and frit. Use this technique to achieve jaw dropping results that rival spring time in the Texas hill country as you learn how to create cast glass flowers in almost any color under the sun. This is a fun 1-day workshop for both new and experienced fusers. No previous glass experience required.

Students will learn how to select and care for molds. They will mix and measure glass frit or powders based on their color selection and learn how to fill the mold to achieve beautiful results that require little to no additional finishing work.

LEVEL - BEGINNERS WELCOME

DATE/TIME - April 10, 2016  from 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

CLASS FEES - $99 Due at Registration (non-taxable)

MATERIALS FEE - $45 Due on the Day of Class (taxable)

SIGN UP HERE

METALS AND MICAS

Learn how to include metals and micas into your fused glass. During the workshop you will learn about the various micas, and metals leaves, foils, wire and mesh options available and how to use them by creating reference tiles documenting the materials and application methods discussed. You will then apply this new found knowledge in creating your very own mica or metals project.

LEVEL - NEXT STEPS

 Some glass fusing experience is necessary

DATE/TIME - April 30 - May 1, 2016 from 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

CLASS FEES - $189 Due at Registration (non-taxable)

MATERIALS FEE - $85 Due on the Day of Class (taxable)

SIGN UP HERE

THE POWER OF POWDERS

Explore a variety of options to create imagery, depth, and drama in your work by incorporating the power of powders to your glass technique toolbox. Students will learn to create color fades, produce patterns and imagery, explore crackle techniques, and use powder wafers. This survey into the world of powders will open a whole new world of possibilities by showing you the power of powders!

LEVEL - NEXT STEPS 

Some glass fusing experience is necessary

DATE/TIME - May 21 - 22, 2016 Days from 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

CLASS FEES - $189 Due at Registration (non-taxable)

MATERIALS FEE - $65 Due on the Day of Class (taxable)

SIGN UP HERE

Meditation on Fire

When I'm working on the torch everything else begins to melt away. For a few hours my stress leaves my shoulders. The running list in my mind of things I should have done or need to do stops playing, and all the chatter in my head goes quite as my focus narrows to the sweet spot in the flame. After a while I find a rhythm as I repeat the same motions over and over. This stillness in motion becomes a kind of meditation. For me it is a way to pray and praise. I'm grateful to Sam at Dream Fire Glass for introducing me to this skill set. Working with glass in the flame has increased my understanding of this material and in some ways of myself. Thank you Sam.

A hop skip and a holiday away

The holidays are not very far off. It's time to start preparing for gift  giving  shoppers  looking for a bit of sparkle.

Day 2 - Powders

 

Day two began with a review of all five techniques which went into the kiln the night before. It wasn't long before everyone was cutting them up into part sheets to make their own designer tiles.

 

 

By the afternoon the kiln was full again with pieces to be full fused and a whole new set of techniques including sgraffito, powder wafers and fossil vitra. We made full use of every square inch of that kiln. It was a good weekend workshop. I can not wait to see everyone's final pieces.

Day 1 - Powders

Day one of a two day workshop focused on glass powders. My students each got 5 different techniques into the kiln. Can't wait to see how they all turn out.

a little time at the torch

I am still working through that batch of Czech glass I was given  last summer. I spent a few hours this holiday weekend over at Dream Fire Glass studio making donuts and discs. It may sound boring but it certainly was not. The crazy weather we have had here lately comes with unpredictably electrical. We lost power twice today while working. The first time came just as Sam was contemplating what we might do if a power outage were to occur. Good thing she was thinking about it. When it happened we were able to act to keep the kiln temperature from dropping too fast. Every piece of fiber blanket on the table went in the kiln and around the kiln.  My beads were all small and would survive fine in a fiber blanket but I'm hoping it was enough to save the four BIG beads Sam had put in the kiln this afternoon. After the second such event we packed up our bags and called it a day. It was enough excitement for one afternoon.  

P.S. It's kinda weird when the room goes completely pitch black with just the torches on and something half made in the flame.

 

A Gallery Filled Weekend

 

 

 

Two beautiful days in the Texas Hill Country. The country sides is green with this years abundance of rain.  On these little back roads, I am close enough to see purple thistles blooming along the roadsides, wild turkeys out in the cool morning with their tail feathers fanned out on display and water filled creek beds that had been dry for years. By the time I arrive at Artisans in Fredericksburg I am calm and relaxed. 

Sunday I got a late start, having been kept up half the night by a thunderstorm that left a couple inches of standing water across yard. Once at Roadhouse I found the perfect pair of earrings I just had to have. Garnet is after all my birth stone. Thank you Francisca, I think these were made for me.

I wouldn't want to forgot how...

It has been so long since I have worked on the torch, I was afraid I might have forgotten how. The communication between my head and hands was a little off.  Doing the repeated exercise of making icicles helped to brush off some of the cobwebs. It's a great way to practice heat control and reignite ones mussel memory. I know if I got back on the torch again tomorrow I would be 10 times better.  Practice, practice practice...

Pretty Pink Flowers

It was a beautiful Spring day in the Texas hill country. The perfect day to visit Artisans. As the days get warmer, yellow and red  flowers dot the landscape.  It will not be much longer till the wildflower season comes to an end. This group of pretty pink flowers will last despite temperature or rain. The mosaic my glass flowers accompanies was made by the sister team of Kart and Studstill. Aren't they pretty?

Say Si - Small Scale Work for a Larger Cause 2015

Tonight is Say Si's annual Small Scale Work for a Larger Cause art auction where proceeds  benefit the multidisciplinary arts program that Say Si provides locals youth to help them develop artistic, social and leadership skills. If you can't make the auction in person check out the online gallery at http://www.saysi.org/small-scale-artwork-slideshow/ or on flicker

Empty Molds for Empty Bowls

 The San Antonio Glass Art Guild (SAGAG) will be participating in the San Antonio Potters Guild 15th annual Empty Bowls event benefiting SAMMinistries. I was in such a rush to finish some bowls to deliver to tonight's SAGAG meeting that there wasn't time to photograph them. All that was left to photograph were these empty molds after donating my empty bowls. You will find a few glass bowls  among the many fabulous handcrafted bowls at this years event. For each bowl purchased guests will enjoy delicious soup and bread from local restaurants. All proceeds benefit San Antonio families facing homelessness who are served by SAMMinitries.

Sunday, March 8, 2015

11:00am - 2:00pm

Southwest School of Art

300 Augusta Street

The Power of Powders

I recently facilitated my first workshop for 2015 at Roadhouse Arts. It was two days of nothing by powder techniques for the fused glass artist. We had a blast filling the kiln to capacity with the various techniques being taught and a few test tiles based on questions or ideas.

 

The workshop space at Roadhouse is fabulous. I am looking forward to my next workshop there Sunday, February 15th, cast glass flowers. This is a great class for  experienced fusers as well as complete beginners. Check the entire line up of workshops at RoadHouse Arts.

 

in progress student sgraffito

 

sgraffito tiles after their 1st firing

a full kiln at the end of day 1



day two with new tiles or peices going in for a second firing

student powder wafers