About Me (Artist Statement) - Glass

more about me | about me & clay

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The more popular glasswork techniques are glassblowing, mosaic, stained glass and fuse & slump.

 

Fuse & slump is the style of glass work that I find most fitting for my creative style and tastes. It is sometimes referred to as warm glass or kiln-forming glass.
 

This process entails gluing several layers of cut glass pieces, usually, but not always, to a glass base. The pieces are strategically cut and placed to achieve the desired effect. The piece is then placed in a kiln. The temperatures at certain stages and for different lengths determine the type of fusing that takes place in the kiln. Lower temperatures create a contour or tack type of fuse that leaves the glass with texture and softened edges. The higher temperatures create a full fuse, leaving the glass with a smoother surface.           

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Some of my pieces are finished without a second firing. These pieces are usually flatter pieces, such as artwork, jewelry or cutting boards. Other pieces need me to fire a few times before slumping, each firing an improvement.

 

When a particular shape is desired, a second firing is used to slump the glass. The piece is placed into a temperature-resistant mold, and heated again, until the glass slumps into the mold, taking its shape. This process is used to create a variety of bowls, plates, platters, trays and more.  

 

A wide assortment of glass is used when creating pieces.
 

Sheet glass may be transparent (clear or pigmented), opalescent (solid colored or multicolored opaque), iridescent (shimmery after fired) or dichroic (layered with metals and oxides to produce a color that shifts depending upon viewing angle and lighting).

 

After firing, specialty glass will often take on different sheen, transparency, or textures.

 

All of these glasses vary in appearance (some more so after firing), transparency, sheen, texture, cost and availability.

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Often, I use a variety of glass accessories to decorate my piece. These consist of glass dots, decals, noodles, stringers, frits and other embellishments. Sometimes, I decorate my finished pieces with beads, charms and other decorative accessories. I also, at times, combine clay and glass to create the completed piece.

 

The outcome of a piece depends mostly on the type of firing, glass  and glaze choices and design. 

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Please note: With hand-made glass and pottery, no two pieces are exactly the same. The slight imperfections and distinct signs of handcrafting contribute to each piece's unique character.