Tag: Fused glass

6 Advanced Tips For Designing Exciting Fused Glass Art

You’re artistic, crafty, gifted, talented, whatever title you favor, like me, you’re a hands-on creative who loves making exciting art. Being a veteran member of this inspired group, it’s likely you already apply some of these design concepts in your work and in your everyday life. My intention here is to bring to light the increased value of purposefully incorporating these ideas in all of your artistic endeavors. 

Stand-out glass art is the result of careful planning and mindful execution. Yes, it takes forethought. But once you see the incredible benefits a little preparation can bring, you’ll actually enjoy the process as much as I do.  

Elements of good design that’ll take your glass artwork to the next level.

Rule of thirds.

This rule refers to the way the artistic composition of a piece of art is planned and laid out. Begin by dividing the project shape into three even pieces vertically and horizontally. Think of it like the lines of an imaginary tic-tac-toe board are superimposed over the project. Then place design elements along the imaginary lines, or better yet where two lines intersect. This placement creates desirable tension that engages the viewer and therefore holds their attention much longer.

Unless the design is geometric, avoid placing design elements in the center of the artwork. This type of symmetry creates a calming setting that’s easily ignored.

Work in odd numbers.

When designing your pattern include an odd number of design elements. If you’re drawing flowers, have 3, 5 or 7 blossoms. This pleasing setup meets the viewer’s expectation, plus it amps up the tension and the repeat adds continuity to the overall design. 

Include a focal point.

Every design can benefit from having a focal point. The focal point can be literal and pictorial like a bird or tree. Or it can be abstract like a specific design element, an unexpected shape, a field of contrasting color or an unusual texture. Focal points anchor the viewer to the art. They lure them in and invite them to stay awhile and look around to see how the focal point relates to the remainder of the artwork. 

Place design elements in a triangular fashion.

Placing design elements in a triangular pattern creates a visual flow that encourages the viewer’s eyes to move around the design. Your artist guidance, in the form of strategically placed design elements, is a personal invitation to interact and communicate with the viewer. That’s powerful stuff!  

Repeat shapes, elements and patterns.

If you use a shape, design element or pattern in one place consider repeating it two more times. For example, if a circle appears in one place, add two more. This level of planning shows your commitment to your design and the confidence you have in your work. Plus, it adds depth that raises the sophistication level of the work as a whole.

Repeat colors.

Color plays an important role in the visual impact of art. It sets the tone and mood for the work. It also unifies the piece. You can increase the dramatic impact of your work by repeating colors at least three times. This adds continuity and shows the artist’s higher level of seriousness and commitment to the art.

When selecting colors plan to use multiple shades of the same color, like yellow, sunflower yellow, light amber, medium amber and dark amber in combination to create shading and add contrast.

Small changes have a BIG impact! 

When you stop to think about it, it’s likely you’re using many of these concepts every day. When you decorate the coffee table you arrange three candles in a corner, not in the middle. The candles are likely three different heights that visually forms a triangle. You selected candle colors that are repeated in your decor.

Now, put it all together. Purposely apply these simple design tips when making your glass art and you’ll see a wonderful increase in the beauty and desirability of your finished artwork.

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Happy Fusing!

Lisa

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Why Make Boring When You Can Make Beautiful?

We recently went to an arts and crafts show. I was happy to see fused glass well represented among booths brimming with nature paintings, fancy greeting cards, beaded jewelry and plenty of other artsy creations.  

I cruised the fused glass booths and noticed a trend. The tables were overflowing with plain drink coasters, small, single color rectangular dishes and simple square plates. The occasional floral former vase stood out here and there. And the few bowls made with Fuser’s Reserve, a glass with a bold pattern, were a welcome splash of color.

I left the show feeling oddly disappointed. Later, I tried to pin point the reason for my unrest. The fused glass was well executed. The crafters showed a sound working knowledge of the firing process. Technically, there was nothing wrong with their work. But nothing stood out.

Of all the pieces on display, only one was memorable. It was a rectangular table-top piece nicely displayed in a gallery quality, iron stand. The design featured bright Gerber Daisy style flowers beautifully clustered in groups on a sky-blue background.

The floral composition was simple, yet unique and original. But the real reason it stood out, and left a lasting impression was because the artist’s personality was apparent in the design. That’s when I realized what the other projects were lacking, personality.

I understand doing a show is a lot of work. It’s hard to predict what will sell. You want to appeal to buyer’s spontaneous desire to bring a treasure home. A token to commemorate the fun they had walking around the craft show. And so, you build safe projects that you hope have universal appeal. But the problem is they’re missing an important element critical to art, originality.

We work in a dazzling medium. Your work should reflect the beauty of the medium, as well as your individual flare for crafting innovative pieces with glass.

Get your work noticed!

Instead of worrying about price points and cash flow, focus on making art that excites you. Set your artistic, creative spirit free. Your style may not appeal to everyone. That’s okay. It’s better to let your passion show. Don’t sellout and make boring pieces hoping to get a few bucks in exchange. Wouldn’t you rather sell fewer pieces to customers who truly appreciate them for their beauty, rather than their function? I would.   

Develop your own design style.

Narrow down colors and patterns that speak to you. Then combine those elements to create art all your own. Be bold. Experiment with different techniques. Pair unusual or unexpected colors. Have fun. The excitement it generates in you, will be evident in your new work. It’s a surefire way to make your art stand out of the crowd.   

Want more in-depth methods for developing your own style? I delve more deeply into this concept and show you, how to develop your own design style in my Breaking Through, Making Gallery Quality Art Video and in my Fused Art Design Video.   

In my Fused Art Design Video, I show you how to pair complimentary design ideas to elevate the overall visual power of your artwork. Once revealed, you’ll see it’s a simple concept that’s easily implemented. Combine this theory with your artistic flare, and you’ll rapidly advance your glass work from craft to art.

It takes time, dedication, a meticulous skill set and money to plan and make art for a craft show. Make your effort count by designing artwork that’s memorable long after the show is over.

Happy Fusing!

Lisa

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It’s Not a Hobby!

To this day, after 43 years as a teaching professional, people still don’t take my job seriously. They think because I call myself an artist, I don’t actually do any real work. Recently a distant aunt said, “It’s so nice you’re doing something with your hobby.” She’s old, she meant well, and she lives far away. She doesn’t get it. I understand. But I still felt compelled to validate my career choice by rattling off the numerous tasks I do to keep my business going and my career relevant.  

I’m guessing a lot of you have experienced the, deer in the headlight look from someone after revealing that you’re an artist. “Oh. That’s cool,” they say. Then they panic and look for the easiest escape route. Then, while you’re punching your password, they ditch you before you can prove your worth with the pictures stored on your phone. I get you. 

We’re artists. We’re proud. We’re a strong, viable community. And we work hard. 

Just because we love what we do doesn’t mean we’re not business minded. Our attitude about our trade is just more abstract. 

With our plight in mind, I’ve compiled some tips you might use to assert your profession.  

5 Tips: How to be Taken Serious as an Artist 

1 Wear flamboyant clothes. Billowy and bright make the best statement. Finding flashy garb is easy. Head to the back of the store; it’s hanging on the deep, deep discount rack.  

2 Think like an indecisive squirrel crossing the road.In conversation, don’t be shy. Speak your creative ideas and random thoughts freely, uncensored. Having two sentences follow the same train of thought is for geeks. (No offense to geeks; I respect their straightforward approach to fixing my computer.)  

3 Have crazy hair. The wilder the better. Let it go. Give your straight iron to your accountant. 

4 Explain to friends, in detail the deeper meaning of a wet lump of clay. 

5 Surround yourself with original art that speaks to you. Don’t fall prey to mainstream home decor picked by an interior designer from a catalog for the masses. If you really want to make a statement and show how invested you are to your profession, display your own colorful art with pride.  

You got this!

Happy Fusing!

Lisa

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We all know the thrill of receiving and opening a box that contains anything related to working with glass. Whether it’s glass, frit, fiber paper or tools, we’re joyful as kids in expectation of getting our hands on our new toy. I get you!

Call me silly but, there are few things more exciting than getting a new tool! Especially when the piece of equipment streamlines your workflow, increases your accuracy, and reduces material waste. The New Edition Circle Pro 24 proves to hit all these marks, plus it’s sexy looking. Happy dance ensuing!

I love tools.

I always have. Buy me a diamond coated grinder bit over diamond earrings and I’m giddy. Give me any kind of art supplies instead of makeup and my creative heart soars with gleeful anticipation.

I’ve been using the Circle Pro 24 for years with great success. The original model is well-made, dependable, and accurate. I’ve used it to cut large circles for fused glass sinks. Over the years, I’ve used it to cut hundreds of small circles for my gallery collections, and I showed dozens of students how to use it to cut glass for their advanced glass fusing projects. I’m delighted with the cutter’s long-lasting performance and continue to use it to make projects for my how-to videos.

Creator’s is known for producing precision engineered, high performance tools that meet a need and do the job intended with ease. In my experience, the original Circle Pro 24 outperformed other smaller circle cutters on the market for years.

The one drawback I experienced was the arm the cutter attaches to, rocks when I rotate the cutter to score the glass. The movement sometimes produces a distorted circular shape. My solution is to apply downward pressure on the end of the arm to steady it during rotation and then it works beautifully.

One look at the new edition design and I was confident the redesigned body style and rigid acrylic material eliminated the rocking. That’s when I was sold and had to have one.

After demonstrating the circle cutter in my videos I’m frequently asked where to buy it. In my online search for an outlet, I found the New Edition Circle Pro 24 replaced the model I have. After seeing the sleek new design style and the construction modification from metal to acrylic I was confident the functionality would be even better.

Box Opening Highlights.

The cutter comes well packed in a sturdy box. Inside the box all the parts are safely contained in a plastic bag. You don’t have to worry about unpacking it and accidentally throwing away loose parts.  

Instructions for set up and use are included along with contact information in case you have any questions. As a bonus, tips for cutting glass circles are also included.  

Creator’s Circle Pro 24 in Action.

Setting up the circle cutter is fast and easy. The instructions are long enough to be helpful and short enough to inspire action. The mechanism is tight, smooth, and easily adjusted. The ruler is convenient for selecting different size circles quickly. The glass cutting wheel is made of a high-quality carbide steel that produces clean, consistent score lines. It slides along the ruler with ease and is secured with the simple turn of a set screw.

I set the cutter to make an 8-inch circle. I’m immediately impressed by the smooth gliding rotation of the arm and the consistent score line produced with only light-handed pressure. I used my hand-held cutter to make relief scores from the circle score to outside edge of the glass sheet. I used my running plies to remove the excess glass. I used my grozing pliers to further clean up the edge. I’m thrilled with the uniform circle shape and clean edge quality produced using the Circle Pro 24.

What stands out is the precision of all the components and how well they function as a unit to cut and produce accurate circles.     

One of the new additions I think is genius are the friction buttons. I often had trouble with my glass moving under the cutter wheel as I ran the score. I’d tape the glass to the waffle grid to keep it from sliding. Now, I tuck friction buttons under the glass, and it stays put while I run the score. The buttons are easily removed with a removal tool (included) and reposition as needed.

Beginner Friendly- You Can Cut Circles

The way the new model is engineered makes it beginner friendly. It’s easy to use. You’ll be able to cut circles any size, accurately with confidence in minutes. There’s no need to avoid those round designs that call to you. You can make them.

What Makes this Cutter Different?

In comparison to other compact circle cutters, the Circle Pro is much larger. When set up, it takes up a sizable amount of table space. If you’re short on workspace don’t worry, assembly and disassembly is quick and easy. Handy storage location ideas might include a dedicated shelf, a plastic bin, or a box.

What you gain from the large size is versatility, accuracy, and ease of use. Smaller, compact circle cutters tend to produce inconsistent score lines that lead to breakage. They often come with inferior cutter wheels that wear out quickly and unexpectedly also leading to breakage.

The Details.

The Circle Pro 24 cuts circles from 2 – 24 inches. It comes with instructions, a high-quality cutter head, 8 friction buttons and button removal tool. Some assembly is required. A screwdriver is needed to install the legs. A waffle grid is required for proper use of the equipment. The waffle grid in not included and is sold separately.

You Get What You Pay For.

Quality, efficiency, and the pleasure of precision accuracy are what this circle cutter is about. When deciding on a new tool consider the benefits of the tool’s features and how they’ll improve the professionalism of your art.

Professional quality tools make your job faster, easier, and more enjoyable because you can focus on the creative process without mechanical distractions.  

There are many options for circle cutters available in different sizes. When considering which one is best for you, first identify your needs and expectations. Also consider where you want to take your art in the future. If you plan to expand the size and number of projects you make, then bigger is likely better. If you have a small workspace then a small circle cutter is perfect.

Good to Know.

Cutting glass circles does not have to be scary or hard. It’s easy and fun with the right tool.

 

Thank you!

I’d like to thank Creator’s for the opportunity to use the New Edition Circle Pro 24. It’s a welcome addition to my glass studio.

Happy Fusing!

Lisa

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How to Make a Hanging Dichroic Heart Trio

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I thought I’d share a new heart design idea. This dichroic dazzler is made with a fun variety of fusible materials that I had in my studio. It’s fast and easy to make.

Hearts are the universal symbol of love. Because I love glass fusing, the heart is a pattern I enjoy repeating often to bring unique beauty to an old favorite.

The wonderful thing about this simple, easily recognizable shape is it can be made using a variety of fusing techniques and always promises spectacular results.

Day to shine.

Take my lead. Search your studio for small, colorful scraps of fusible glass left behind to shine another day. Collect cut offs and odd pieces you knew would come in handy. The beauty of this project is it transforms mismatched leftovers into sparkling, hanging pieces of art.

I gathered miscellaneous fusible materials that I knew would bring attention to my design. I used dichroic pinwheels for my anchor design details. The delicate circular patterns add visual interest and sparkle to the design. Dichroic Firestrips add flash and playful diagonal lines. The twisted cane adds striking color and a three-dimensional quality to the bouncy grouping. The characteristic round shape of the murrini adds structure and direction that encourages the viewer to interact with the assorted materials.

How-to assemble.

Cut the base glass shape out of clear glass. Grind the glass to improve the shape and remove any sharp edges. Clean the clear glass before stacking glass on top. Select your anchor design details. These are the flashy accents that make this piece unique. Arrange the anchor pieces on the clear glass base. Glue them down with fuser’s glue. I use Elmer’s White School Glue. I apply the smallest amount of glue possible with the tip of a toothpick.

Design tips for pro quality results.

Attention to detail matters. Cut or nip small glass pieces to fill in the background. Layout the pieces with purpose to give the art structure and create design continuity. Don’t just dump scrap on top. Plan the background design with care. Make curved patterns, stripes, or rows of dots. This is key if you want a polished piece and not a messy mosaic.  

Fill in as much of the background as possible. This type of assembly delivers consistent project thickness and uniform edge quality after fusing.

Hanging Made Easy

Handy Hangers are a great quick solution for making hanging fused glass art. They’re compact and strong. Just tuck the hangers between glass layers leaving the loop accessible. Fuse the glass project as usual.

Link the three hearts together with wire rings or string. Tie a string to the top loop and hang your beautifully crafted art with pride and confidence.  

Happy Fusing!

Lisa

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