Blenko

At the beginning of the summer, our group visited Blenko in Milton, WV.  What a treasure we have in our own backyard!  While there we had the opportunity to make two water pitchers and a candy dish.  It was a wonderful experience!  My favorite activity was making the water pitcher.  

To begin, one of the workers would gather the glass on a blowpipe.

Next, he would bring it to our chair where we would shaped it in a tool that looked like a large wooden ladle.  

We would roll it back and forth and the glass would take on the rounded shape of the ladle.

Then we would blow a tiny puff of air into the blowpipe so as to open up the glass.

After opening it a bit, we brought it over to another station and placed it in a mold.

Then we would have to blow a lot of air through the blowpipe to make the glass take the shape of the pitcher mold.

Then we would break the blowpipe from the pitcher and take the pitcher from the mold.

One of the workers then put the pitcher into another furnace to heat the top so it would be pliable enough to make the spout.

When it had been heated enough, we used a metal tool to smooth the top and form spouts on each side of the opening.

After adding the spout, we had one final step...placing the pitcher in the annealing furnace.  Four hours later, it would come out on the other side.

A few days later, we got to bring our pitchers home.  They are a beautiful work of art!

The Art of Kiln Glass

I found an amazing video on the art of kiln glass.  I am so excited to share it with you.  This video shows examples of work by many different artists.  I want you to notice that many of the artists mentioned practice in other mediums besides glass.  Choose one of the artists from the video to research further and prepare a presentation for the class.

For some reason, the embed code is not working properly so you will need to follow this link in order to watch the video.

The Art of Kiln-glass from Bullseye Glass on Vimeo.

Slumping Fused Glass

Before I went on the trip across the state to visit glass making facilities, we had been learning about the art of fusing glass.  I would like to pick up now where we left off.

You watched a video about the process of fusing glass so that it forms a new piece that is flat.  Now I want to introduce you to how fused glass can be formed into vessels.  This is done through a process called slumping.  You begin by fusing a piece of glass in the kiln.  Then you place it over a mold and put it back in the kiln.  The heat will cause the glass to bend to the shape of the mold.

Watch the following video and answer the questions below.  This video not only shows you how slumping occurs but also shows you how certain types of glass can have reactions when they are heated  while touching each other.  It also shows you how to use stringer to create a linear design.



Linear Reaction Plate from Bullseye Glass on Vimeo.


Answer these questions in your journal:

1.  What tools were needed for using the stringers?
2.  Why did the stringer not change colors in some places?
3.  There were two different firing schedules in this video:  one for fusing and one for slumping.  What are the differences in the temperatures for these two processes?

WV Glass and Ceramics Project Trip Day Six

Our last stop of the trip was a fabulous ending!  We went to the Pittsburgh Glass Center, where we got to watch an artisan make a blown glass bowl.  We then got to make our own glass ornament!  It was an amazing experience.  We toured the facility and walked around in their gallery, where we viewed many beautiful pieces that were hand made. Most of these pieces were for sale and as I wandered around the gallery, I started thinking about how they determine the price of each piece.  As an artist, I have always struggled with how to price my art.  A professor once told me to think about how many hours the piece took to make and then how much each hour of my time is worth.  But I feel there is a bit more to it than that, such as the cost of my materials and the amount of training I have in the particular medium.  For example, I have many more hours of training invested in photography and ceramics than I do in oil painting or printmaking.  Therefore, when factoring that in, I would likely charge more for a bowl than an oil painting.

In talking to the glass blower we worked with today, I learned that some blown pieces take 20 to 30 minutes to create, while others may take two hours to complete.  She also told me some of the more intricate glass pieces are made through flamework, meaning the artist could spend days on them.

If you were a glass artist, how would you determine the price of your pieces?  I want you to develop a scenario in which you choose your method for creating a glass piece, decide how long it would take you to complete the piece (based on what we've learned about the process), and how much your materials would cost (you will probably need to do some web-based research for this info).   And lastly,  in this imaginary scenario, don't forget to mention your training.

Below, I have added some photos of some pieces I saw in the gallery today:

This seedling was the least expensive piece I saw in the gallery.  It's detail is extraordinary!

This piece was in the medium price range.  It was created by the artist who walked us through the process of making a glass bowl today.  She said this vase took her two hours and that after blowing the piece she had to take it to the cold shop to cut the detail into it.

This piece was the most expensive I saw.  Notice the intricate detail.  A design like this would be created through flamework.  This is one of those pieces that could easily have taken days to make.

WV Glass and Ceramics Project Trip Day Five

Today was another wonderful day on the trip.  We went to the Carnegie Museum of Art and Natural History, in Pittsburgh, PA.  They had some amazing pieces in the Art Museum.  Afterwards, we traveled a couple of blocks to the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.  It houses thousands of species of plants and also displays glasswork throughout the garden exhibits.  The work is from various glass artists, but it is probably best known for its display of Dale Chihuly's glass.

Dale Chihuly has been making glass since the 1960s and his work is know all over the world.  Because he is so well-known, he works with a crew to create his pieces.  After a car accident in 1976, he lost his vision in his left eye.  The loss of peripheral vision made it difficult to work on the pieces himself.  He found that if he hired others to do the work for him, he could step back and direct them as to how he wanted the piece made and that distance between him and the piece allows him to better achieve his vision of what the it should be.

I was very struck today by these skinny figures designed by Chihuly.  I found their slenderness whimsical and dreamlike.  How would you describe them?  Why do you think he chose the frosted white coloring?

You get to try your hand at designing figures.  You will use aluminum foil to mold your figure.  

Aspects to think about:

1.  Will your figure be skinny like these or will you add curves?

2.  What gesture(s) will your figure be making?

3.  What message will you convey with the body language of your figure? 

WV Glass and Ceramics Project Trip Day Four

Today we began by traveling over to Cambridge, OH to Mosser Glass.  At their facility, they use molds to make glass items.  They make these items for a variety of uses such as pitchers, bowls, platters, and novelty items.  They also make speciality items for uses in labs and dentist offices.  Today, we watched them make headlight covers for classic cars and pitchers.  It was very impressive the way every member  of each crew had a job and they all worked together as a team.  After we finished watching them work, we headed to the gift shop to browse their beautiful glasswork.

Above are some examples of some of the glass Mosser makes.  Below is a video showing the entire process of the crew making a pitcher from start to finish.  As you will see, there are many steps.  In order to make this pitcher, it first had to be conceptualized.  Sketches had to be drawn and the mod had to be made.  You are going to design a glass piece.  You will need to decide what the piece's purpose will be and how you can make form and function work together.  You will need both sketches of the object and sketches of the mold.  Don't forget the mold will need to be in reverse and that you will need to consider your negative space.

Mosser Glass from Jennifer Edwards on Vimeo.

WV Glass and Ceramics Project Trip Day Three

As a potter hobbyist, today was very exciting for me!  We got to tour the Museum of Ceramics in East Liverpool, OH and then headed back across the river to WV to the Homer Laughlin China Company where they make the well known Fiesta dinnerware, among other ceramic items.  I will post more about Homer Laughlin at a later date.  What I want to share with you today is the intricate patterns I saw on the china at the Museum of Ceramics.  They were quite beautiful and very well done.  Watch the slideshow below and see for yourself...

You are going to design your own china pattern.  I want to see thumbnail sketches of details, all of your drafts, and finally the finished design on paper.  Your design can be floral in nature, geometric, modern, traditional, etc....  Have fun!

WV Glass and Ceramics Project Trip Day Two

The second day of our trip was great!  One of our stops was in Paden City, WV, at Marble King.

We got to tour the facility.  Marbles were not being produced today but we were able to see the furnace that is used to make the marbles.  It is very large!  We also saw many barrels of marbles and scrap glass outside of the factory.

One of my favorite things I saw was the wooden marble toys in the gift shop.  I also saw a giant wooden marble toy at a museum in Moundsville.  I want you to watch the videos I made of these marble toys.  We will be constructing marble toys of our own in class using found materials.  Start thinking of your design and prepare some sketches for our next meeting.

WV Glass and Ceramics Project Trip Day One

We will be taking a little break from learning more fusing techniques because this week I am on the West Virginia Glass and Ceramics trip.  I am traveling to northern West Virginia and to Pittsburg this week to learn all I can about our regional glass industry.

Our first stop was in Williamstown, WV at Gabbert Cullet.

This company buys scrap glass from glass manufacturers and resells it.  We met with the owner and he gave us some information on how his company operates.

They first haul the glass in on trucks.

It then needs to be sorted.  When sorting it by size they use a shaker.  When sorting it by color, it has to be sorted by hand.

There were some very interesting pieces sitting on a wall nearby.  

After the glass has been sorted, it goes into a corral according to its color, where it waits until someone buys it from Gabbert Cullet.

Sometimes, you will even find hidden treasures...

In your journal, I want you to jot down some ideas for how cullet could be used.  Don't be afraid to think outside the box!

Fused Glass Videos

I found some videos pertaining to fused glass.  The first shows the installation of some giant fused glass pieces.  The second shows some work done by Bonny Doon Fused Glass Art.  The third is a gallery featuring fused glass.  These videos show several beautiful pieces.  I want you to watch them for inspiration for future fused glass projects.
PRGS Fused Glass Install from Peter Hammond on Vimeo.



Bonny Doon Fused Glass Art July 16/17 from Laurie Spray on Vimeo.

Basic Glass Fusing Process

We have been practicing cutting our glass into shapes.  Now it is time to make some fused pieces!

Steps for making a 4 inch coaster:

1.  You will first need to prepare your kiln shelf with kiln wash.

2.  Next, create your design.  The piece needs to be 6mm thick and the glass we are working with is 3mm, so you will need two layers.  Cut one piece of glass 4 inches by 4 inches.  Then work to create another 4x4 design by cutting and piecing together glass of different colors.  

3.  Clean the glass with warm soapy water to remove and grit and finger prints.  

4.  Arrange the glass pieces on the kiln shelf making sure not to get too close to the edge.  You will need to decide if you want the piece to be designed down or designed up.  The difference is explained in the video you be watching at the end of this post.

5.  Once the kiln shelf is in the kiln, it will be time for us to program the kiln's firing schedule.  I will be programming it with you so don't stress.  

Now watch this video on the basics of fusing.  While watching, take notes in your journal.  I especially want you to note the difference between full fusing and tack fusing and also the difference between designing down and designing up.  

Fusing Basics from Bullseye Glass on Vimeo.

History of Glass Fusing

Listen to this bit of history on fusing glass:

listen to ‘A Brief History of Glass Fusing’ on Audioboo

Cutting Glass in Shapes

In order to make stained glass projects or fused glass projects, you will first need to learn how to cut sheets of glass into shapes.  Below you will find a video that explains the process.  Watch the video while being sure to take notes in your journal.  In your journal, I want to see you have noted the three components of glass cutting.

Bottle Cutting

There are many things that you can do with old bottles.  Not only is it a way to get creative and create something new, it is also environmentally conscious to repurpose old things into new things.  

 

 

I recently made the tumblers and candle stick holders shown below using a bottle cutting kit.

They are not quite finished yet.  I still have some sanding and cleaning up to do on them.  The bottle cutting kit I used is Ephrem's Bottle Cutting Kit and came with everything I needed to do this project, except for the bottles.  

I made a video of the process.  Watch how easy it can be to cut a bottle into two pieces.  After watching the video, I want you to think of some project ideas.  What are some different ways you can repurpose old bottles?

Making a Glass Mosaic

Mosaics are made when you arrange individual pieces of material, known as tesserae, to form a design.  Tesserae can come in many forms such as ceramic tile, natural stone, china & porcelain, shells, buttons, etc....  The form you will be working with is glass.

You can apply a mosaic to mostly anything.  You will be using wood as your base.  To adhere the glass to the base, you will be using a clear silicone adhesive.  You will use palette knives to spread the adhesive.

To cut the glass into the sizes you will want, you will use glass nippers, as shown below.  When cutting, you MUST wear your eye protection.

You will be mixing grout to spread into the spaces between the glass tesserae.  When mixing the grout, you MUST were your respirator.  You will need a grout spreader or gloved hands for spreading.  You will also need some rags to wipe the grout off of the glass.

Once you have all your materials, it is time to get started!

• To begin, you will need to sketch out your design onto the wooden base.

• Next, use your nippers to cut your glass into the sizes you need.  Rinse the glass and place on paper towels to allow to dry.

• Once the glass is dry, spread adhesive onto the bottom side of a piece and place onto the base in its proper place.  Continue this step until all of your mosaic has been filled in with glass tesserae.  

• Now mix your grout and spread it with either your gloved hands or a grout spreader.  Work in small areas at a time.  Once the grout has been squished into all the nooks and crannies of the that area, wipe the glass with your rag to remove the excess grout.  Then move onto a new area of the mosaic to fill in with grout.  

Once finished, stand back and admire your work!

The glass mosaics below were done by artist Kasia Polkowska.  Check out more of her work and learn about her process by visiting her blog at http://brooklynmosaics.blogspot.com/

Glass Mosaic Artist Barbara Keith

Watch the video of Minnesota mosaic artist Barbara Keith all the way through once and enjoy listening to her story and watching the process.  Then I want you to grab your notebook and watch it a second time, answering the following questions:

1.  What are some reasons she likes making mosaics?

2.  How is making a mosaic different from making a painting?

3.  What is the most important item for her to have when making mosaics?

4.  What are some other tools and materials she uses to make mosaics?

5.  What are some reasons she likes being a full time artist?

6.  Where does she like most for her pieces to be displayed?

7.  What reasons does she give for the importance of art?



Barbara Keith Mosaics from Maria Bartholdi on Vimeo.

Exploring Marble Types

Look at each type of marble in the charts above.  You are going to choose three marbles to recreate in a drawing.  Make sure you use your compass for your circle.  To add color, use colored pencils.  Be sure to pay attention to the small details and recreate them accordingly in your drawing.  When it comes to marbles, the details are very important in distinguishing which type of marble  it is.  Don't forget to label each of your drawings!