Watercolor Technique & Advanced Fusing Design

Watercolor technique. That’s fun to say. It immediately paints a picture in my mind. I see soft color washes detailing the delicate images of a dreamy scene.

For artists familiar with the mechanics of glass fusing creating a painterly quality in glass is an exciting new concept. We’re comfortable with the rigid, linear appearance of our geometric designs. And why not, they’re easy to build and they deliver visually dramatic results.

I’m here to tell you that creating pictorial scenes, decorated with nature themed subjects is equally rewarding and satisfying to fabricate and display. At first glance, these projects appear tedious to build. But once you see how easy it is to make lush backgrounds and three dimensional florals you’ll be hooked.

Finding inspiration.

I’m always on the lookout for inspiration for new design ideas and new techniques to try. When I’m actively on the hunt for fresh material I silence the conformist and let my muse run free. I look more closely at everyday items and routine scenes to find a hidden perspective I can build off. It’s especially fun when two unrelated items, that are unrelated to glass, merge and solidify a design image in my mind. My Succulent series was born as a result of such an unusual pairing

I purchased a bowl that I thought would look pretty on my kitchen countertop. When we cut fresh vegetables for dinner, we put the trimmings in the bowl. Later, the contents are dropped in our compost bin in the back yard. I liked the bowl for the edgy floral pattern. The soft cranberry and green colors also attracted me. It inspired the beginning of a design, but it wasn’t enough. I wanted more than just flowers. I wanted to create a sense of space and a feeling of peaceful joy. I found the inspiration I was seeking on the label of a bottle of organic dog shampoo! My daughter bought it for our happily spoiled pups. One day the bottle was sitting on her bathroom counter. The label’s leafy design and earthy colors caught my attention. I liked the green and yellow colors and the shapes of the plants. I thought the vertical design direction would be the perfect complement to the round shape of the succulent flowers.

Advanced fusing design.

I took what I liked from each design and merged them together. I believe the spontaneity of the combination is what gives the artwork it’s refreshing appeal. Designing engaging patterns greatly adds to the pleasure of building personalized, original art. This approach to glass fusing is easy to apply once you allow yourself the freedom to re-imagine the possible. Once you learn to trust your creative spirit, innovative ideas flood in.

Want to learn more?

I’m excited to tell you I’m presenting my Watercolor Technique and Advanced Fusing Design Webinar next week on Tuesday January 17, 2023. In this LIVE event I’ll share how to apply my advanced techniques and design concepts with you in person. I hope you’ll join me for this energetic, inspiring, and educational event Tuesday January 17, 2023!

Happy Fusing!

Lisa

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Upcoming Webinar

Watercolor Techniques & Advanced Fusing Design

January 17, 2023

Learn how to make gorgeous, vividly decorated nature themed fused glass designs in this comprehensive webinar.

Master the art of design, pattern, and color.

Join me and see how quickly and easily you can ramp up the visual intricacy of your work in just a few steps. I share my personally developed, “watercolor style,” approach to shading and highlighting glass.Using glass powders and frit, you’ll be able to create the illusion of depth and a subtle imagery that results in a soft, painterly look.

You will love the easy-to-follow instruction and seeing how I create elaborately detailed works of art with a gorgeous three-dimensional flair.

In this webinar you will learn how to use advanced artistic techniques like a pro. Beginner, intermediate and advanced fusers alike will enjoy applying the many simple, yet effective techniques I share in this in-depth, live event.

Plus, as a special bonus I include step-by-step instruction on how to use failed projects. I explain in detail how to solve problems and how to ensure successful projects moving forward.

I also include my custom firing guides, project patterns and materials list in PDF form.

You will be fired up and eager to apply these new techniques to enhance the beauty and charm of your work.

NEW CLASS FOR 2023!

Sculptural Fused Glass Hands-on 4-Day Workshop

February 21-24, 2023

You’re invited to join me for this intense workshop held in my private studio in Wesley Chapel, Florida. Class size is limited to 3.

In this comprehensive class you’ll learn how to design, build and creatively display multiple stunning pieces of art that reflect your personal style.

You’ll push the boundaries glass imposes. You’ll use innovative approaches to design and combine multiple advanced techniques to construct original sculptural art. You’ll enjoy: the one-on-one instruction, making large scale projects, the well-equipped classroom, and the intimate class size.

It’s hard-core fusing in a nurturing, relaxed environment. You’ll love the concentrated, in-depth study and creative momentum you’ll gain while actively producing nonstop, for four consecutive days. You’ll also learn how to design and build custom art glass displays that enhance your original work.

You’ll leave class with several completed sculptures, a working knowledge of kiln operation and custom project-specific firing guides. You’ll have the design confidence and hands-on experience to rise above and take your work to the next level.

This is the turning point workshop you’ve been waiting for! Let’s get fired up!

What Students Say

“Outstanding workshop! I loved the organization of class and materials and the individualized instruction. Lisa is able to keep each student with different abilities moving along and creating beautiful pieces. I was surprised how much we accomplished in the class.” – Susan D.

“My favorite thing about the class was everything! Really enjoyed the diversity of the projects and getting to work on so many in one week. I was surprised by how much I learned and how quickly time passed each day. I also enjoyed the personalized instruction.
“Lisa, you did an awesome job of keeping on task during the workshop and also it was very inspiring and relaxing to create in your atmosphere.” – Lisa R.

“My favorite thing about the class was learning how to make sculptures, the different techniques, and all the different aspects of working with the glass. Lisa was very informative and very knowledgeable. She is an excellent teacher, and I will come back for another class.” – Terry G.