Casting Class

Last weekend seven artists from around Texas came together at Wired Designs Studio for a 2 day casting workshop. They rolled up there sleves and got a little dirty working with clay, alginate, wax and plaster making molds to cast glass. I had a great time working with this group of ladies. We may have been working with the same materials yet everyone had such differnt results. Here are their peices just coming out of the kiln.

Some choose to work in the positive creating three dementional pieces like this releif Louise created. It's still covered in paster and I already think it is beautiful evoking the feel of an ancient roman remain. Others used the molds they created to cast negative images in the glass, like this ghostly image Jan created.

A Work in Progress

Green is not a color I normally gravitate towards. Yet for some reason I decided I wanted to make a bowl from various shades of green. I had originally planned to place the top layer on a clear base but it just didn't pop. Nothing I had worked quite as well as the white paper I was using to create my personal pattern. So today I stopped at Wired Designs Studio to pick up a sheet of lacy white to serve as a back drop. Problem solved the piece was set for a firing just a couple hours later. This will be the second firing for some of these pieces which were made in advance.  If all goes as planned tomorrow I should open the kiln to a 19" round tile ready to be cold worked.

Weekend of Workshops

This weekend was all at Wired Designs Studio. When I'm at Wired Designs these days, I am generally teaching a workshop. This weekend I was over joyed to have the opportunity to both teach and take a class.

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Saturday was a delightful day in Fusing I. I love to witness the excitement people have when working with glass for the first time. The ohhhs and ahhhs when they see their first piece come out of the kiln. That happened Saturday afternoon  when this group of ladies saw their dichroic glass pendents came out of the kiln. A little cutting and grinding to get them into just the right shape (like Sue's heart on the bottom left of the kiln below) and back in the kiln they went for a fire polish with the tack fused art glass projects from that afternoon.
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Student work from Fusing I on Saturday, May 19

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Now that they understand a little about the impact of time and temperature on glass, the next step for  Saturday's group  might me taking something like Platemaking on June 23 and 24. In Platemaking they would learn about volume control,  begin to take their cold working skills to the next level and learn what goes into slumping kilnformed glass into a mold to take the shape of a plate platter or bowl.

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The result of one of my demos in the last Platemaking workshop

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On Sunday I got to sit back, relax and learn all about etching metal in one of Gail Stouffer's fabulous metal jewelry workshops. I had a great time hanging out with friends and learning new techniques. Check out the bracelet I made in class (below) using metal we etched earlier that day. The pattern came from sections of a stamp I picked up earlier that day on a "field trip" down the block to Stamp Antonio. I'm grateful for the opportunity to try something different. This is one technique I'll be using again for sure.

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Bracelet made of etched brass.

Glass Craft Expo -Day Three

Sixteen students in Beyond Dichro - The Power of Modern Jewelry. What a blast. By the end of the day I was spent.
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It's now day four and I'm taking a few minutes to post while Gail lectures on electroforming on Glass.  I always love when science finds its' way into our creative processes.

Glass Craft Expo - Day One

Taking workshops on the road. Day one of Glass Craft Expo, I backed up Gail with Glass Collage. Class with Gail is always a blast. One day of TA'ing (teaching assistant) down. Three to go.

This Weekend at Wired

This weekend is plate making at Wired Designs Workshop. I will be working with students as they learn to create functional plates, platters, bowls and other glassware. We’ll design our own flat glass pieces on Saturday. On Sunday students will learn to cold work and slump their glass into original serving pieces. Topics covered include: mold preparation, firing schedules, cold work, and annealing. Here is one of the demos from my last plate making workshop. Wonder what I'll do this time. Guess I should start thinking about that.

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Presentations and Demonstrations

This coming weekend is back to back events sponsored by the San Antonio Glass Art Guild (SAGAG). These events are open to the public. You need not be a member to attend.

The SAGAG moved it's regularly scheduled general meeting to Friday, March 2, 2012 especially to  host internationally known guest artist Mark Ditzler.  He will be teaching a workshop at Wired Designs Studio March 2-5. This is a great opportunity for those of us not in the workshop to hear from Mark.

Friday, March 2, 2012

at Absolutely Everything Catering

Dinner 6:30pm 

please RSVP from the SAGAG website

Meeting begins at 7:00pm

Single strand necklace made with one of Amy Waldman-Smith's Ottoman Beads

Visiting Canadian artist Amy Waldman-Smith will be demonstrating a signature lampworking technique Saturday, March 3. This will be a chance to meet Amy and see her lovely Ottoman beads in person. Amy will be in San Antonio to teach a workshop at Dream Fire Studio March 2-4.

 

Saturday, March 3, 2012

at Dream Fire Studio
Meet & Greet 6:30 pm
Demonstration 7:00pm

 For more information visit http://saglassguild.com/.

What a Weekend

Saturday

The official grand opening of Dream Fire Glass's new studio was a fun filled day of activities. I'll show you...

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Throughout the day there were demonstrations, food, drink, and socializing among old and new friends.

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In the late afternoon a crowd gathered to break the pinata. Stuffed with more then just candy. Grown adults elbowed there way for prizes. The last time I hit a Pinata was in elementary school. This was too much fun.

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As the evening approached there was a visit from some of the Brothers of the Flame. These guys are just amazing. If you ever have a chance to see them perform you absolutely should.

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Sunday

I spent the day at Wired Designs Studio taking an introductory welding workshops. It was a nice change of pace to be taking vs. teaching a workshop at Wired Designs.

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I learned the basics of the established welding processes available and had a chance to use an oxy-acetylene torch and two different MIG welding set ups.   Based on what I have learned so far I think the oxy-acetylene may be the right option for me. Fire good...

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Next Sunday I'll be back at Wired Designs to teach a fused glass workshops on sanblasting iridized glass.

Workshops Winter/Spring 2012

I am scheduled to teach the following workshops at Wired Designs Studio. You can sign up for glass by contacting Wired Designs directly at 210/4954495.
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Beginning Glass Fusing
February 18, 2012
May 19, 2012
9:30 am - 5:30 pm

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A one day workshops where students are introduced to the  essential knowledge required to work with fused glass including compatibility, firing schedules, cold work and other important topics. Students will create two class projects during which they will be exposed to; three firing schedules (full, tack and fire polish); the use of kilns, grinders, saws; and work with a variety of glass and glass related products. This is a great opportunity to learn something new.

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Platters, Plates and Bowls
March 24-25, 2012
June 23-24, 2012
9:30 am -12:30 pm
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Students will begin by designing and creating their own flat glass tiles. In doing so they will learn about volume control,  firing schedules and how to cut glass circles. Students will cold work their tiles using the sandblaster, wet belt sanders. Lapidary grinding wheels and diamond pads. We will address mold selection and preparation in order to slump the finished tiles and beautiful one of a kind function plates, platters and bowls

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Sandblasting Iridized Glass
January 22, 2012
April 7, 2012
9:30 am - 4:30 pm

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This workshop will open your eyes to the possibilities of sandblasting before and after firing.  Students will work with iridized glass to create patterns and shadows using positive and negative space. These techniques can be applied to base glass or per-made blanks before or after slumping. Glass jewelry makers can also benefit by adding new ideas and depth to their designs. Students will create tiles or wall hangings in this is a one day workshop.

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 Powder Skills 
April 21-22, 2012
9:30 am - 4:30 pm

 

Learn to create imagery, depth, and drama in your work by incorporating exciting powder techniques. Students will create powder wafers, explore crackled powder techniques, uses positive and negative space to create custom designs and incorporate imagery into their fused glass projects. This specialty class will show you the true power of  powders!

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Kiln Carving 
March 4, 2012
9:30 am -4:30pm

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Drop your chisel and learn how to achieve a sculpted look with this assistance of your kiln. We will design and create bas relief images and textures using fiber paper to form impressions in glass. This is a wonderful technique to add dimension and pattern with economy of both labor and materials. Use the smooth clean surface on top and look through to the pattern within the glass. Or turn it over and not only see but feel the shapes and textures.

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Glass Casting 
January 27-29, 2012
May 25-27, 2012
9:30am -4:30 pm

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Sculpt in clay; learn about mold making materials and techniques to create refractory molds; and how to measure, cut and cast glass billet for your specific mold. We will discuss the special considerations that go into a casting firing schedule, including how to heat, cool and anneal thick and uneven thicknesses of glass. Students will cast their own work in glass.

Weekend Workshop

This past weekend I enjoyed leading a group through their first fused glass plate making experiences in  at Wired Designs Studio. Several of the students had already been exposed to creating components perfect to include in custom plates and platters in October's Liquid Glass workshop.  With this in mind, I demonstrated the special considerations that should be taken when including these custom design elements by using a progressive pattern bar from an August workshop to make a large platter.

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Above, my demo from class still in the kiln after the first firing.

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In additional to learning how to create and fire their glass tiles, everyone received hands on experience in coldworking. Using a lapidary wheel they ground and beveled the edges and then sandblasted the surface to ensure a clean finish. The well crafted tiles where then slumped into their final forms. Below are every one's pieces coldworked and ready for their final kiln firing.

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Everyone did such a great job! I can't wait to see how they all turn out and what they do next.

Visiting Artist Johnathon Schmuck

 

SAGAG General Meeting  

Jonathan Schmuck Guest Speaker

When: Nov 17, 2011  06:30 PM 

Where: Wired Designs Studio 

5123 N. Loop 1604 W. Suite 104

San Antonio, TX 78216

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The San Antonio Glass Art Guild (SAGAG) is excited to present visiting artist Johnathon Schmuck. While here in San Antonio to teach Rock 101 at Wired Designs Studio, Johnathon will be the featured presenter at the SAGAG general meeting. Johnathon is a long-time supporter of the SAGAG having done a number of exciting and educational presentations for us in the past. We look forward to seeing him again. The meeting begins at 6:30 with a half hour to provide an opportunity to say hello to Johnathon and network with glass guild members. At 7pm we will conduct or general meeting followed by our feature presentation. Meetings are open to public. Visitors are welcome.

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Johnathon Schmuck is the author of "Joy of Coldworking". Illustrated with color photographs of processes, equipment, and works of art, this extensive publication on coldworking techniques is a must have resource for glass artists. I never hesitate to recommend this book to students and fellow glass craftsman. Regardless of experience level this book as something for everyone. November 17th is your chance to meet the author. Don't let this opportunity pass you by.

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Recent Workshops

October included several workshops which I particularly enjoyed facilitating including Kiln Carving at the Kerr Arts and Cultural Center (KACC) and Liquid Glass at Wired Designs Studio.

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In Kiln Carving at the KACC students learned to sculpt in glass using time, temperature and gravity as their your tools.  They designed and created bas relief images and textures in fiber paper which were used to form the impressions in glass.  I enjoyed the opportunity to meet and talk to a fascinating group of students including one who was working with glass in the flame and a fellow Artisan's artist who typically works in clay. 

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student projects from a Kiln Carving workshop at the KACC

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Just this past weekend was a Liquid Glass workshops at Wired Designs.  Students learned techniques which all take place at kilnforming temperatures from1600-1700 degrees Fahrenheit including combing/raking, pot melts, wire mesh melts and high-fires.  My favorite part was watching them work as a team through the combing/raking process. They did such a great job!

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student combing of spring green, driftwood grey and deep cobalt blue

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 pot melt and wire mesh melts still in the kiln

A Weekend Well Spent

Last weekend we were casting at Wired Designs Studio. Here is a student applying a thin splash coat to pick up as much detail as possible before hand building a plaster mold around their wax form. This was not a workshop for anyone concerned about looking cool. By the end of day two we were dawning respirators, dusting plaster off ourselves and trying to wash the wax out from under our nails. Now that's my idea of fun!

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After the molds set the wax was steamed out. In the past I have used a series of cheap pots and metal mesh. This go around I invested $25 in a 24 gallon tamale warmer at a local grocery store. Best 25 bucks I ever spent. Not exactly how my  mother would have used this tool but it worked like a dream.

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While waiting for the molds to steam out I did a little cold working. This piece of glass is being ground on a lapidary wheel. This is one of several steps, including sandblasting and lathe carving, I take to make a functional piece (e.g. bowl or plate) that feels fabulous to touch.

Pattern Bar Workshop

This weekend was two days packed full of pattern bars in a workshop I facilitated at Wired Designs Studio. We started Saturday with the traditional Roman pattern bar and then dove into totem pole, bookend and progressive pattens. Here is a little taste of what that looked like

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Before

the first firing - Day 1

After 
Being cut on the saw - Day 2

Using the pattern bars we had just sliced and washed we stated work on projects using these fabulous elements as key design components. By the end of day two there was work back in the kilns ready for firing number two.

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 Planning the use of the progressive pattern bar shown above right
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Examples of student work

Vitrigraph Twisted Cane

 Nina "Sam" Hibler from Dream Fire Glass pulling cane

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Bucket full of twisted vitrigraph cane

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kiln reaching 1786 degrees Fahrenheit

Because Texas isn't hot enough already, might as well crank up that kiln full and start pulling some vitrigraph. Sam and I set up my little Olympic Hot Box kiln  to pull some pretty sweet black, white and coral wig wag (twisted back and forth) cane. Granted sitting on a step ladder is not the most ergonomic choice but it got the job done.  Now what is to be done with this cane? Thought I might use some in a glass weave I've started.

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For more information about vitrigraph:

- Check out Bulleye Glass Technotes #2 

- Consider a skill building workshop at Wired Designs Studio, vitrigraph is  scheduled for October 6th

Summer and Fall Fusing Workshops

Saturday was a full day of fun  facilitating a workshop of Essentials Fusing I students  as they created dicroic glass pendents and tack fused works of glass art at Wired Designs Studio. Spending the day with so may eager minds, I thought it would be good to share possible next steps for those of you who have had a taste of kilnfomed glass and want more. Here are a list of workshops I am scheduled to teach at Wired Designs Studio in August,September, October and November.

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 Functional Plates, Platters and Bowls 

August 20 & 21

November 26 & 27

Students will begin by designing and creating their own flat glass tiles. In doing so they will learn about volume control,  firing schedules and how to cut glass circles. Students will cold work their tiles using the sandblaster, wet belt sanders. Lapidary grinding wheels and diamond pads. We will address mold selection and preparation in order to slump the finished tiles and beautiful one of a kind function plates, platters and bowls.

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Pattern Bars 

August 27-28, 2011 

Learn how to apply this ancient concept to your modern day kiln formed work. We will explore a variety of possibilities to create designs that range from structured  and  geometric to organic and  tribal. You will  learn how to create, cut and lay out patters for use is future fused projects ranging from functional plates  to modern day jewelery.

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 The Power of Powders 

September 17-18, 2011 

Learn to create imagery, depth, and drama in your work by incorporating exciting powder techniques. Students will create powder wafers, explore crackled powder techniques, uses positive and negative space to create custom designs and incorporate imagery into their fused glass projects. This specialty class will show you the true power that adding powder can have!

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 Glass Casting 

September 24-25, 2011 

October 15-16, 2011 

Sculpt in clay; learn about mold making materials and techniques to create refractory molds; and how to measure, cut and cast glass billet for your specific mold. We will discuss the special considerations that go into a casting firing schedule, including how to heat, cool and anneal thick and uneven thicknesses of glass. Students will sculpt and cast their work in glass.

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Liquid Glass 

October 29-30, 2011 

Explore Creating pot melts, Screen melts, high fires boiling and hot coming glass in the kiln. Come prepared to experiment and take home a wide variety of components that can be used in future work. A great way to take your scrape glass and turn it into interesting effects which can be used to create one of the kind windows in your functional and art glass work.

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See something that interests you? Contact the ladies over at Wired Designs Studio at  (210) 495-4495 to sign up today. Space is limited.

Glass Weaving Workshop

Saturday, July 9, 2011

at Wired Designs Studio

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Learn the techniques to turn glass sheets, rods, and stringers into sparkling textural glass fabric forms. The class focuses using glass as threads to make your own faux and true weaved glass fabrics which can be used to create architectural textiles, or components for inclusion in larger projects.  

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Stringer Fabric 10" Square Glass Plate

Natural Attraction

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 This time last year I was driving through the country side admiring the abundance of wildflowers. The vibrant colors  splattered across fields as if they came straight from an artist paint pallet. This year is very different. I can't remember our last good rain. There certainly hasn't been one this spring. Already in stage 1 drought restrictions this years wildflowers came and went so quickly I wonder if it was a figment of my imagination. On my most recent drive south of San Antonio the landscape was gold, amber and red. The only real wildflowers to survive these conditions are the reds and yellows of the Indian Blanket and Mexican Hat. What caught my attention on this drive were the fields of wheat shining golden in the sun. Texas can be beautiful place both in the years lush from rain and when kissed by the sun. I imagine this will be a long dry summer during which the native grasses and fields of wheat will dance in the hot breeze of the afternoon.

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These images were still fresh in my minds eye when Leah Fairbanks arrived at Wired Designs Studio to teach a workshop on Gardens of Glass. Although I personally do not make glass beads on the torch , I appreciate the skill involved and enjoy collecting beads from the visiting instructors I have had the privilege to meet. Leah brought a diverse selection of floral beads in almost every color pallet from pastels to deep rich tones . Presented with an assortment of brilliant and lush options what was I immediately attracted to? Why this vessels of amber wheat naturally. The golden stalks sit atop a vessel full of a blue gray color reaction with flecks of gold leaf sparkling in the light. Of all the beads Leah makes this may not be the most colorful or complicated but it was the one that was meant for me.

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5cm glass bead by Leah Fairbanks

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SAGAG April Meeting

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April 28, 2011

Dinner at 6:30pm

Meeting at 7:oopm

at Absolutely Everything Catering

3915 San Pedro, San Antonio Tx 78212

Presentations highlight San Anontio Glass Guild Cookbook tutorial contributors will including; Gail Stouffer of Wired Design Studio on Modern Glass Jewelery Design, Nina "Sam" Hibler of Dream Fire Glass on Flamedworked Leaves, and myself on Power Wafers. 

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Proceeds from the sales of the SAGAG cookbooks go to fund scholarships to workshops and conferences for SAGAG guild members. Cookbooks are available at SAGAG meetings or online on saglassguild.com.

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What is Dichroic Glass?

Isadora  5" scooped square

dichroic glass with a black soda lime glass background

Now Available at Artisans at Rocky Hill

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I often use dichroic glass as a design element most commonly in jewelry but also from time to time in functional glass items. When recently dropping off the series of pieces above  at Artisans in Fredericksburg, I chatted with several people about dichroic glass and why so many people find it so very attractive.  I thought it might also be nice to share a little of that information with you here. 

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What exactly is dichroic glass? It's glass, typically clear or black, which has a thin film of quartz crystal and metal oxides (e.g. copper, silver, titanium, etc.) on its’ surface. To create this product metal oxides are heated in a vacuum chamber using a high voltage electron beam until they are vaporized and deposited on the surface of the glass. The glass may be coated multiple times (e.g. 15-45).  The thickness, not more than 35 millionth of an inch, contributes to the beautiful colors we see. The coatings act as an optical filter which manipulates light. The brilliant colors we see are generated when light is reflected and refracted from it. Shifting a piece even slightly changes the color you see. The name dichroic comes from the root words di for two and chroma meaning color, literally two-color.

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This iridescent quality is very difficult to fully capture in a photograph. To fully appreciate its’ luminescent qualities you really have to see it in person. So if you in the Texas Hill Country be sure to stop by Artisans at Rocky Hill on Fredericksburg's Main Street and ask Anne to show first hand you what I'm talking about. Or if you prefer to get some first had exprence in making your own fused glass jewlrey using dichroic glass you can sign up for a Fusing I workshop at Wire Designs Studio in San Antonio.

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