Making Envy
It’s thrilling to see your artistic vision come to life. I had the idea for Envy pinging around in the back of my mind for several years before I actually had the time and ambition to build it. I imagined a fluid, freestanding piece of art with strong lines and peek-a-boo windows on the wings.
Lime green and grenadine red were the colors I wanted to use from the very beginning. In my mind’s eye, the finished artwork had a dramatic sculptural form I’d never seen before. When it came time to produce a new video, it was the perfect opportunity to challenge my skills and see if I could actually build what I’d only dreamed of.
The pattern I envisioned had a striking linear quality. I felt the best way to achieve the pattern was by arranging narrow strips of glass on edge. This thick type of assembly would also give the art depth, plus physical and visual weight. All of which are proven to increase the value of fused glass artwork.
I was sure cutting and assembling this number of strips would take considerable time. The slumping mold I had in mind didn’t exist. I knew I’d have to make a custom form to slump the fused glass over.
Getting the exact finished shape, I wanted would be a gamble. There were no guidelines or instructions to follow. I was entering uncharted territory. If I couldn’t create the shape I wanted I didn’t want to pursue the project. The project’s success was dependent on the finished shape. And therefore, it made sense to make a test piece. Sure, I’d waste clear glass. But if it worked, I’d be slumping the time consuming patterned blank with confidence. And that made the extra effort worthwhile.
I began by setting up the slumping mold. It was made with an assortment of heat retardant materials. I stacked kiln posts and fire bricks on the floor of my Skutt clamshell kiln. I then draped 1” thick fiber blanket over the posts and bricks to make a wavy shape. Next, I cut double thick clear glass to match the size and shape of the intended artwork. The glass was then placed on the mold and heated to a slumping temperature. The resulting piece was too shallow. It didn’t have the deep contours I was looking for. I rearranged the mold making it taller on one side. The slumping program was adjusted to have a longer hold. This would increase the contact the glass would make with the fiber blanket. I cut a second piece of double thick and slumped it over the mold. This one came out exactly the way I wanted. It was time to build the patterned blank, fuse it and slump it over the mold.
I was excited when I opened the kiln. There is was, my dream piece looked just like I’d imagined. It was a relief to have made something that had haunted my mind, unfinished for so long. After the piece was unloaded and put on display a curious thought came to mind. The artwork was so familiar, it had been part of me for years. I found myself wondering if I’d seen it somewhere before other than in my head. It came out so perfectly that I didn’t know if I liked it. Fusing and slumping advanced projects usually results in some variation of my original idea. Often rendering results that are surprisingly better than expected. But this piece was identical to my vision. I didn’t know how to feel about this realization. Was it artistic maturity that lead to my success? Was the piece interesting? I’d seen it in my head for so long I didn’t know. I work in my studio alone. The only feedback I get during these total immersion sessions is from my family. And they think I’m getting carried away again. Which I am. My neighbors think I’m the mad scientist at the end of the block. I am.
It was only after I had some distance from the piece that I began to appreciate the complexity of the accomplishment. Now, I intend to expand on what I learned. I’m driven to design and build more intricately shaped pieces of art that are up until now, only dreams.
Adventurous exploration of this level is what makes each one of my advanced glass fusing workshops a new experience. My students learn from my horrible failures and benefit from my sweet successes.
I’m a proud lifelong learner happy to share my expertise. I compare artistic journeys, like the one I embarked on to make Envy, with climbing Mount Everest. I climbed to the top one step at a time, so my students can arrive by helicopter.
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Advanced Glass Fusing Class, 4-Day, Hands-on Workshop, April 29 – May 2, 2025
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Happy Fusing!
Lisa
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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!
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