The term creative slumping has a broad range of potential directions. Isn’t that awesome! We have a huge array of handling techniques to feed our ever curious artistic spirit, and challenge our glass crafting skills. For me, creative slumping means taking ready-made molds and using them in ways that result in extraordinarily unique 3-dimensional forms. The great thing about this approach is that super simple ideas applied in combination often make the most exciting pieces of art.
How do you get started?
It’s about looking at your materials with fresh eyes. Because of past experience, you easily envision the outcome of using your favorite molds. But what happens if you place the fused glass on the mold in a different direction? Or maybe next time cut your glass in a different shape? Better yet, use two molds at the same time for a single project. How will that alter your results? The answers are in test pieces.
Nothing goes to waste.
Clear glass is the least expensive glass. When I’m in the mood to experiment with creative slumping I start by planning my project shape. Then I cut that shape out of clear glass. I fuse two pieces of clear glass together, so I have the same thickness I would later when I transition to color glass. Then I test fire the fused glass over my mold configuration taking notes every step of the way. If my results are unexpected or undesirable I try again. Once I have the look I want, I repeat the process with color glass. I keep the clear glass samples that are successful for reference in the future. The ugly samples are broken into mosaic size pieces and used as filler in my cast projects.
If I can’t waste glass who can?
I do a lot of testing. I figure if I can’t afford to waste glass considering how much teaching I do, then who can? I cut the glass, fire the kilns, and make the mistakes, so you don’t have to. Plus, I’m stubborn. I like a challenge. When a project goes wrong, it becomes a personal mission to figure out how to make it right. And I love sharing my processes and giving you the information needed to be successful the first time.
That’s what my upcoming Creative Slumping, and Breaking Through videos are all about. Showing you step-by-step how I come up with my ideas and how I execute them. Plus, I share my project specific firing guides that I’ve developed and tested to ensure your success. If that isn’t enough to convince you, the video projects are striking. Watching flat glass go from a lifeless single plane to a glistening, energetic sculptural work of art is amazingly satisfying.
Check out my Creative Slumping and Breaking Through videos for more in-depth instruction.
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Happy Fusing!
Lisa
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