Learning Page
My glass studio is located in my home in Columbia, MO. I was bitten by the glass bug soon after I turned 50 when I learned to create lampwork beads and then fused glass.
For those of you who are new to glass work, I'd like to provide a few resources for you to check out to help you learn about this fabulous art and its artists.
Glass Fusing is my passion. I started out by learning lampworking (see below) but felt limited by my non-existent drawing skills. Decorating a bead is much like drawing on a canvas - something I never had the talent to do. So.....I looked to glass fusing. It didn't take more than an afternoon at Village Glass Works. I immediately ordered my own kiln.
Fusing glass entails layering different colors, patterns, textures and shapes of glass, then kiln firing them till they become one piece of glass. Along the way, you may incorporate frits (crushed glass of different coarseness), stringers (thin spaghetti shaped glass), noodles (flattened stringers), metals, enamels, even organic matter. Two of my favorite types of glass are irridized and, of course, dichroic. They bring unparalleled color to the party and make every piece exciting. Cover a piece of glass with a clear top layer, and you change the final product. Re-fire a fused piece of glass over a mold and you create a plate, bowl, candle holder, relish tray, flower vase - there's no limit but your imagination. Fused glass is elegant, beautiful and begs to be picked up and touched.
Since different glasses are not necessarily compatible when fused (or worked over a torch, for that matter), usually special glasses are used that have been tested to be compatible. (Non-compatible glasses may melt together, but as they cool, the stress will cause the finished product to break - sometimes dramatically.)
New products are being released every day for the kiln worker - new glasses, new techniques, and better equipment. The first, best resource for a budding glass fuser is Warm Glass.com. There's a gallery for inspiration, resources for supplies and glass, and a bulletin board full of tips, help, and guidance. Be sure to navigate over to http://www.warmtips.com/ and read all the tips and tricks.
I hope you enjoy my fused glass creations as much as I enjoyed making them!
