Tag: Lisa Vogt

When I open myself to inspiration and begin the design process for a new piece of art, my first consideration is the focal point. I ask myself, what key element do I want to include to drive the design direction? Once I’ve established the subject matter, I wonder, what can I do to enhance my focal point to  make my composition stronger?

I then imagine my subject in different settings. I tap into my mood that day? Do I envision my design going in a geometric direction with complex shapes or do I feel like building a tropical scene with lush foliage? Once I decide my path, I plan the best way to reach my destination.

Creating the subject is easy.

I know from the start what I want to make, so I begin construction with that. When it comes to establishing a background that creates a relevant setting for the subject, I have several fabrication options. I can surround the subject with a decorative border, leaves, or any other related shape. I select design elements that complement my subject and support my design vision. This type of design style is literal. The objects are recognizable and translate the artist’s intention easily, which is great.

But sometimes I feel my design would benefit from a more subtle approach to the background. In that case, I create an entirely different complimentary design on the base layer. It’s fun, easy and an  extremely effective way to enhance a simple pattern. In effect, the base layer is no longer just mass or a platform to build on. With this easy to apply technique the base layer now offers the clever artist an opportunity to create a more intricate design with greater depth.      

Daisy Dish is a great example of the beauty of this multi-layer design technique. By applying this technique, we introduce color, create pattern, and present a lush setting in just a few easy steps.

How it’s done.

This project is made with two design layers. The base layer is white. We sifted pastel powder frit over stencils to create a botanical background. The second clear layer is placed on top. Daisy flower petals are then arranged on a clear layer. The white flowers are detailed with yellow frit. Building this way, with parts of the design separated by the clear layer produces cool shadows and a greater sense of depth. This innovative technique has a lot of potential. It’s prefect for creative experimentation that ultimately illuminates pathways to exciting new design ideas.

Daisy Dish is the newest addition to my Premium Video Membership course. Members can assess this tutorial with their membership. Join today to enjoy this lovely project along with 16 other exciting, advanced glass fusing project videos and complimentary printable pattern eBooks.

Wherever you are on your journey you’re doing great! Enjoy the journey. The destination will take care of itself.    

Watch the video here.

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Happy Fusing!

Lisa & Niki

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It’s Not a Hobby!

To this day, after 45 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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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 & Niki

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Christmas is almost here!

If you’re lucky, you have already made or purchased gifts for your family and friends. If not, I’m sure you’re busy preparing for your holiday get togethers. With that in mind, I’m sharing a bright, wintery project to usher your creative spirit into the new year. This way, when the time comes to get back to your studio you’ll have a fun, easy project waiting for you to enjoy.  

Cardinals are a bright, cheerful sight in the peaceful winter months.

This colorful little fellow will bring joy to your home all season long. And you’ll love how fast and easy this delightful project is to make. 

Let’s get started.

Detailed projects like this one are easier to make if you work from a pattern. Preparing the pattern may seem tedious, but the increase in accuracy and fit really improve the overall quality of your finished project. Plus, patterns make more elaborate designs manageable, so even the most intricate design is still fun to build.

Make two copies of the pattern and then number the patterns. (Timesaver Tip: Number the pattern before making the copy. Don’t be like me and forget to do it before heading to the glass studio 🙂

To maintain consistency in the thickness of the finished art, this freeform shaped project is made with two layers of glass. Using the pattern as a guide, cut the base layer out of clear glass. Cut the oval shape first. Then cut clear pieces for the tips of the pine needles that extend outside the oval shape. Cutting these little pieces, and adding this extra step, ensures that the narrow pine needles will keep their shape during firing. Without the clear base, they’ll shrink disproportionality to the rest of the project and be fragile after fusing.

Now that the base is cut, let’s move on to the second layer. Cut blue glass for the sky to the same shape and size as the clear oval base. Grind the cut glass to remove any sharp edges and improve the shape.

Use scissors to cut one paper pattern into the freeform shape. Draw a line around the pattern on a primed kiln shelf, or on a fiber paper lined shelf. Arrange the clear base pieces on the shelf inside the pencil line.

Set the shelf and assembled glass aside.

Here comes the fun part, cutting the pine needles and cardinal. Cut the pattern up. Glue the pine needle pieces on green glass with a glue stick. Cut around the pieces, cutting them as close as possible to the edge without running into the paper. Remove the excess glass with pliers.

Glue the cardinal pattern pieces to red glass. Cut the cardinal out. Grind the cut glass to improve the shape and the fit of the pieces. Remove the wet pattern from the ground glass. Clean and dry the glass with a towel. Arrange the bird and pine needles on the spare pattern and set aside.

For a fun added detail, use a paper punch to make snowflake shaped flurries. Press the snowflakes out of Thinfire fiber paper. Scatter the snowflakes on the clear base. Stack the blue on top sealing the snowflakes between the layers. (FYI: I have not tried this encasing technique with other fiber papers. If you use a different paper your results may vary.)  

Using the paper pattern and pencil line as a guide, stack the pine needles and cardinal on the glass. Hold the pieces in place with a small amount of fuser’s glue. This keeps the pieces from moving when you carry the kiln shelf and glass to the kiln. Spoon white frit on the pine needles to represent snow. Use a small paint brush to clean up the top edge of the snow. Sprinkle a little white frit on the blue sky. For a little sparkle, place white dichroic frit on top of the snow and on the sky.

Fire the assembled glass to a full fuse temperature using the guide available on my website.

I love the crisp, vibrant colors of the finished piece and the extra detail the encased fiber paper gives the sky. The Thinfire shrunk lightly during firing and left a delicate star shaped, snowflake pattern in the background. The sparkly dichroic frit adds a little magic to this winter wonderland. 

This season when you’re feeling the icy chill of cold winter days, create your own warmth. Snuggle up to your kiln and make this cheery Cardinal and Pine Tree.  

This pattern is just one of many seasonal delights you can make in the book Home for the Holidays now available as a download on my website.

Watch the Cardinal in Pine Tree video here.

Happy fusing!

Lisa & Niki

I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday season enjoying family and friends and time cozying up to your kiln.

Wishing you a happy & healthy holiday season!

Cheers!

Lisa & Niki

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New Year Inspiration is Here!

Cookies for Santa

At this over scheduled time of year, we’re all longing for the peace and tranquility we associate with more studio time. Well here’s your excuse to log in more hours with your glass cutter and kiln. Don’t let these charming projects fool you; these flashy little beauties are fun, fast and easy to make. Plus, they make great gifts for family and friends.   

You’re a Mean One Plate

These darling plates are great for table decorations or for serving sweet treats. The dishes photographed here measure 10-inch by 10-inch. But these smart designs also look terrific in 12-inch or 8-inch sizes. Feel free to adjust the size to fit any slumping mold you may have. 

Star of David

To make these seasonal plates, cut a 10-inch by 10-inch piece of clear fusible glass for the base layer. Select your design and glass colors. Cut the design layer using the specific pattern you selected as a guide. Glue the design layer on top of the base layer with a small amount of fusers glue, or another appropriate adhesive. Set the project aside to let the glue dry. (I like to use a tiny amount of white Elmer’s school glue and apply it with a tooth pick. This glue dries fast and when used in tiny amounts burns off without a trace.) Using the pattern as a guide, cut the accent pieces that make up the design you selected. Grind the cut accent pieces for a nice, clean fit. Clean the glass with water and then dry it with a towel. (I prefer to use water over detergents or other solvents that could leave residue that might burn onto the glass surface during fusing.) Glue the accent pieces to the design layer with fusers glue. Let the glue dry before moving to the next step. 

Christmas Tree

For Cookies for Santa, Star of David and You’re a Mean One, select the appropriate power frit colors. Wearing a dust mask, sift your chosen powder evenly over the glass. Using a small dry paint brush or the tip of a pencil draw your message in the frit like you would draw in the sand. Remove any frit that might have fallen on the surrounding glass pieces with the dry paint brush. 

Snowman

Chill out with this friendly winter visitor. This plate is fast and easy to make no frit needed.

Full fuse and then slump your plates using my firing guides available on my website.

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Cheers!

Happy Fusing!

Lisa & Niki

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