Here’s a behind the scenes look at last week’s class.
We had an exciting and productive 4-day workshop in my Glass Studio last week. We jumped in Tuesday morning and had Free Flows assembled by lunch.
These pieces may look like they were thrown together randomly without giving any thought to composition, but that’s not true. The artist has a lot of control over the way the colors mix and the direction of each pattern. These choices are dictated by the artist and how they layout and arrange the glass.
Glass laid diagonally will give the fused glass a totally different look than glass stacked in a vertical or horizontal fashion. I encourage the students to try new and different methods to expand their understanding of the relationship between how the project is built in comparison to the outcome of the fused glass blank.
We covered color theory and the importance of picking a specific color palate and sticking with it. Following this idea results in more dramatic artwork. It shows the artist’s creative maturity, their dedication to the craft and their confidence in their execution.
A great way to elevate your glass art to the next level is to incorporate unique patterns in your projects. The students made unique pattern components to decorate and personalize their free flow projects.
The free flows came out beautifully. This is where the individual student shines. They’re encouraged to follow their own design direction to create art that reflects their personal style. The resulting pieces speak for themselves.
The students repeated similar color palates on several pieces to create a body of work, a collection of art that compliments each other. Working is series like this builds confidence and creative momentum.
The results were impressive and amazing.
The shadow box is another simple project that delivers surprising and inspiring results. Students learn valuable concepts for glass casting that they can later apply to larger projects with confidence. They learn how to create visual depth by stacking design elements. They use a variety of materials to enhance light transmission and ensure the best clarity in thick pieces. Students learn how to contain thick pieces during fusing to maintain the desired thickness, size and shape of the finished art. And they create a lovely sculptural piece that has incredible depth.
All this effort may seem overwhelming. Making gallery quality artwork takes planning, forethought, multiple steps, detail-oriented assembly and an equally dynamic display to get noticed. But if you break it down into manageable steps, like I’ve done here, advancing your craft and skills is a realistic goal within reach.
Students make several large, multi-dimensional pieces of art in this comprehensive workshop. They learn color theory, design concepts for engaging compositions, fabrication tips, and practical kiln operation. Through the in-depth hands-on construction and one-on-one instruction, students gain a renewed perspective on glass fusing. They leave class with inspiration, knowledge and a new, higher level of confidence to go bigger and construct more elaborate works of art.
New class date below.
Happy Fusing!
Lisa
Follow my blog for weekly inspiration sent to your inbox!
NEW DATE!
Advanced Glass Fusing Class, 4-Day, Hands-on Workshop, April 29 – May 2, 2025
Join me and take your glass fusing to the next level!
Join me for this intense workshop held in my private studio. Wesley Chapel, Florida, 4-Day, Hands-on, Class size is limited to 4. All class materials re included.
In this class, you’ll push the boundaries art glass imposes. Students will explore innovative approaches to design and combine multiple advanced techniques to construct original art that reflects their own personal style. You’ll enjoy: the one-on-one instruction, making multifaceted projects, the well-equipped classroom, and the intimate class size.
You’ll love the concentrated, in-depth study and creative momentum you’ll gain while actively producing, nonstop for four consecutive days. You’ll leave class with a working knowledge of kiln operation, custom project specific firing guides, and the inspiration you’ve been craving to go bigger and do more elaborate works of fused glass art!

