Tag: stained glass art

Learn how to make gorgeous, vividly decorated nature themed fused glass designs in this comprehensive webinar.

Master the art of design, pattern, and color.

Join me and see how quickly and easily you can ramp up the visual intricacy of your work in just a few steps. I share my personally developed, “watercolor style,” approach to shading and highlighting glass.Using glass powders and frit, you’ll be able to create the illusion of depth and a subtle imagery that results in a soft, painterly look.

You will love the easy-to-follow instruction and seeing how I create elaborately detailed works of art with a gorgeous three-dimensional flair.

In this webinar you will learn how to use advanced artistic techniques like a pro. Beginner, intermediate and advanced fusers alike will enjoy applying the many simple, yet effective techniques I share in this in-depth, live event.

Plus, as a special bonus I include step-by-step instruction on how to use failed projects. I explain in detail how to solve problems and how to ensure successful projects moving forward.

I also include my custom firing guides, project patterns and materials list in PDF form.

You will be fired up and eager to apply these new techniques to enhance the beauty and charm of your work.

I hope to see YOU tonight!

Happy Fusing!

Lisa

Follow my blog for weekly inspiration sent to your inbox! 

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NEW CLASS FOR 2023!

Sculptural Fused Glass Hands-on 4-Day Workshop

February 21-24, 2023

You’re invited to join me for this intense workshop held in my private studio in Wesley Chapel, Florida. Class size is limited to 3.

In this comprehensive class you’ll learn how to design, build and creatively display multiple stunning pieces of art that reflect your personal style.

You’ll push the boundaries glass imposes. You’ll use innovative approaches to design and combine multiple advanced techniques to construct original sculptural art. You’ll enjoy: the one-on-one instruction, making large scale projects, the well-equipped classroom, and the intimate class size.

It’s hard-core fusing in a nurturing, relaxed environment. You’ll love the concentrated, in-depth study and creative momentum you’ll gain while actively producing nonstop, for four consecutive days. You’ll also learn how to design and build custom art glass displays that enhance your original work.

You’ll leave class with several completed sculptures, a working knowledge of kiln operation and custom project-specific firing guides. You’ll have the design confidence and hands-on experience to rise above and take your work to the next level.

This is the turning point workshop you’ve been waiting for! Let’s get fired up!

What Students Say

“Outstanding workshop! I loved the organization of class and materials and the individualized instruction. Lisa is able to keep each student with different abilities moving along and creating beautiful pieces. I was surprised how much we accomplished in the class.” – Susan D.

“My favorite thing about the class was everything! Really enjoyed the diversity of the projects and getting to work on so many in one week. I was surprised by how much I learned and how quickly time passed each day. I also enjoyed the personalized instruction.
“Lisa, you did an awesome job of keeping on task during the workshop and also it was very inspiring and relaxing to create in your atmosphere.” – Lisa R.

“My favorite thing about the class was learning how to make sculptures, the different techniques, and all the different aspects of working with the glass. Lisa was very informative and very knowledgeable. She is an excellent teacher, and I will come back for another class.” – Terry G.

SHOP Great Gifts for Glass Artists

Downloadable instructional videos for every skill level.

Watercolor technique. That’s fun to say. It immediately paints a picture in my mind. I see soft color washes detailing the delicate images of a dreamy scene.

For artists familiar with the mechanics of glass fusing creating a painterly quality in glass is an exciting new concept. We’re comfortable with the rigid, linear appearance of our geometric designs. And why not, they’re easy to build and they deliver visually dramatic results.

I’m here to tell you that creating pictorial scenes, decorated with nature themed subjects is equally rewarding and satisfying to fabricate and display. At first glance, these projects appear tedious to build. But once you see how easy it is to make lush backgrounds and three dimensional florals you’ll be hooked.     

Finding inspiration.

I’m always on the lookout for inspiration for new design ideas and new techniques to try. When I’m actively on the hunt for fresh material I silence the conformist and let my muse run free. I look more closely at everyday items and routine scenes to find a hidden perspective I can build off.  It’s especially fun when two unrelated items, that are unrelated to glass, merge and solidify a design image in my mind. My Succulent series was born as a result of such an unusual pairing

I purchased a bowl that I thought would look pretty on my kitchen countertop. When we cut fresh vegetables for dinner, we put the trimmings in the bowl. Later, the contents are dropped in our compost bin in the back yard. I liked the bowl for the edgy floral pattern. The soft cranberry and green colors also attracted me. It inspired the beginning of a design, but it wasn’t enough. I wanted more than just flowers. I wanted to create a sense of space and a feeling of peaceful joy. I found the inspiration I was seeking on the label of a bottle of organic dog shampoo! My daughter bought it for our happily spoiled pups. One day the bottle was sitting on her bathroom counter. The label’s leafy design and earthy colors caught my attention. I liked the green and yellow colors and the shapes of the plants. I thought the vertical design direction would be the perfect complement to the round shape of the succulent flowers.

Advanced fusing design.

I took what I liked from each design and merged them together. I believe the spontaneity of the combination is what gives the artwork it’s refreshing appeal. Designing engaging patterns greatly adds to the pleasure of building personalized, original art. This approach to glass fusing is easy to apply once you allow yourself the freedom to re-imagine the possible. Once you learn to trust your creative spirit, innovative ideas flood in.  

Want to learn more?

I’m excited to tell you I’m presenting my Watercolor Technique and Advanced Fusing Design Webinar next week on Tuesday January 17, 2023. In this LIVE event I’ll share how to apply my advanced techniques and design concepts with you in person. I hope you’ll join me for this energetic, inspiring, and educational event Tuesday January 17, 2023!   

Happy Fusing!

Lisa

Follow my blog for weekly inspiration sent to your inbox! 

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• YouTube
• Instagram

Upcoming Webinar

Watercolor Techniques & Advanced Fusing Design

January 17, 2023

Learn how to make gorgeous, vividly decorated nature themed fused glass designs in this comprehensive webinar.

Master the art of design, pattern, and color.

Join me and see how quickly and easily you can ramp up the visual intricacy of your work in just a few steps. I share my personally developed, “watercolor style,” approach to shading and highlighting glass.Using glass powders and frit, you’ll be able to create the illusion of depth and a subtle imagery that results in a soft, painterly look.

You will love the easy-to-follow instruction and seeing how I create elaborately detailed works of art with a gorgeous three-dimensional flair.

In this webinar you will learn how to use advanced artistic techniques like a pro. Beginner, intermediate and advanced fusers alike will enjoy applying the many simple, yet effective techniques I share in this in-depth, live event.

Plus, as a special bonus I include step-by-step instruction on how to use failed projects. I explain in detail how to solve problems and how to ensure successful projects moving forward.

I also include my custom firing guides, project patterns and materials list in PDF form.

You will be fired up and eager to apply these new techniques to enhance the beauty and charm of your work.

NEW CLASS FOR 2023!

Sculptural Fused Glass Hands-on 4-Day Workshop

February 21-24, 2023

You’re invited to join me for this intense workshop held in my private studio in Wesley Chapel, Florida. Class size is limited to 3.

In this comprehensive class you’ll learn how to design, build and creatively display multiple stunning pieces of art that reflect your personal style.

You’ll push the boundaries glass imposes. You’ll use innovative approaches to design and combine multiple advanced techniques to construct original sculptural art. You’ll enjoy: the one-on-one instruction, making large scale projects, the well-equipped classroom, and the intimate class size.

It’s hard-core fusing in a nurturing, relaxed environment. You’ll love the concentrated, in-depth study and creative momentum you’ll gain while actively producing nonstop, for four consecutive days. You’ll also learn how to design and build custom art glass displays that enhance your original work.

You’ll leave class with several completed sculptures, a working knowledge of kiln operation and custom project-specific firing guides. You’ll have the design confidence and hands-on experience to rise above and take your work to the next level.

This is the turning point workshop you’ve been waiting for! Let’s get fired up!

What Students Say

“Outstanding workshop! I loved the organization of class and materials and the individualized instruction. Lisa is able to keep each student with different abilities moving along and creating beautiful pieces. I was surprised how much we accomplished in the class.” – Susan D.

“My favorite thing about the class was everything! Really enjoyed the diversity of the projects and getting to work on so many in one week. I was surprised by how much I learned and how quickly time passed each day. I also enjoyed the personalized instruction.
“Lisa, you did an awesome job of keeping on task during the workshop and also it was very inspiring and relaxing to create in your atmosphere.” – Lisa R.

“My favorite thing about the class was learning how to make sculptures, the different techniques, and all the different aspects of working with the glass. Lisa was very informative and very knowledgeable. She is an excellent teacher, and I will come back for another class.” – Terry G.

SHOP Great Gifts for Glass Artists

Downloadable instructional videos for every skill level.

Let’s talk about cameras.

All digital cameras are not the same. Better camera quality will give you better picture quality. Using a camera with a higher resolution will double your image sharpness, color, and focus. For example, my old camera had 12 million pixels. My new Nikon D3500 has 24.2 million pixels! I’m not endorsing this particular camera. But I am saying that, from my experience, this camera’s mega-powerful pixel count takes incredible pictures.

This isn’t intended to be a technical lesson on taking product pictures. You can easily find the dry, dos and don’ts online. Here, I am going to share the composition and creative tricks I’m using to set a mood and capture emotion in my pictures.

I have to admit this new direction I’m taking with my pictures was not all my idea. I’m bossy. I live in a house full of bossy, opinionated, intelligent people. We like to joke that we have all chiefs and no Indians here. What can I say, I’m surrounded by a high, self-esteem crowd. But we’re all flourishing amid the positive energy we’re generating, so it’s all good.

Anyway, my daughter Niki suggested I move my picture taking outside and I listened. In the past, I’ve recommended taking pictures of your work in neutral environments with white backgrounds. In theory, the bare background should make the true glass colors show well. A plain setting, free of distractions should make the artwork jump off the page.

But the trend for product photos has changed. The generic backdrop no longer stimulates or engages us. Now, photographs have to create a mood. They have to project a lifestyle. To do that, pictures are taken in thought-provoking settings with textures and colors that establish a sense of time and place.

This concept is not new to me. I’m learned what works and what I like as I’m going along.

It’s hard work toting my heavy, fragile artwork around. But wow! I’m getting amazing results. And, I’m having so much fun learning new tricks to show off my art in interesting ways.

The best thing about digital photography is you can take hundreds of pictures for free. And you can view your results immediately. If you capture the feeling you want in a picture, great, move on to the next set up. If not, simply move. Take the picture from a different perspective. Or turn the art. You can test unusual backgrounds with wild abandonment. Shoot away. Get crazy. Go for it. Have fun. I do.

Here are some things I’ve learned while taking more than 100,000 pictures.  

1. Shadows are your friend. Seek out dramatic angles created by the strong contrast of light and shadow. It really pushes the artwork to a new, higher level of sophistication.
2. Fall in love with textures and patterns. They add visual intricacy and increase depth to your pictures. It also establishes a welcoming setting that draws the viewer’s attention and establishes a tangible mood. Place your art in front of different backdrops and see which one magnifies the beauty of the glass.    
3. Get in tight. Fill the frame with your art. Before taking a picture, I run my eye around the perimeter of the view finder. I want to make sure there aren’t any shapes or objects in the background that might detract or overshadow the art. Try different angles that might make the art look more exotic. Take the picture. Go ahead. You have the storage space. And it might be the one that you absolutely love best.
4. Try different camera settings. I’ve been shooting every single picture in 3 modes, automatic, portrait and manual aperture. In automatic mode the camera has standard settings. It’s a great mode to establish a baseline and for image consistency for the entire photo shoot. Portrait mode is fun. The focal point is in focus, but the background is fuzzy. It creates a dreamy mood. It’s great for taking profile pictures and artwork pictures when you want the art to stand out from the background. In manual aperture mode I can play with the depth of field. If I want the art and the background to both be in focus, I select a high number like F22. If  I want just the front edge of the art to be in focus, I try a lower F stop like F4.5.  
5. Color is not the enemy. Embrace brightly colored backdrops. Blue sky, sparking water and green grass are all winners in my book. They do wonders for your pictures. The inclusion of such strong colors immediately creates an uplifting mood that speaks volumes to the viewer.
6. Zoom in. Try using a zoom lens from a distance. It pushes portrait mode to a higher level that changes everything in a good way. The only way to describe the extreme perspective is romantic. The fantastic image lures you in and plays with your heart.     
7. Crop it with the camera. Select a tight composition and take the absolute best picture you can every time. Don’t rely on cropping to fix it. Of course, you’ll want to crop some pictures when you sit down and plan how and where to use the images. But I considered that a subsequent part or step of the documenting process.   
8. Mirror, mirror. Include the art’s reflection and light passing through the glass in some pictures. One of the brilliant features of glass is its transparency and reflective quality. Show it off with clever angles and a strong light source.
9. Take it on the road. Take pictures of your art at new locations. Select different sites. Pick certain sites because they complement your artistic style. Then pick others specifically because they contrast your art. I found the more exotic sites gave me the most exciting results. Don’t worry what other people will think when they see you pulling bowls out of your bag. You’re an artist. Weird is wonderful. Embrace your specialness.
10. Get down. Change your point of view. Try taking pictures from a low perspective shooting up at the art. It’s a refreshing composition and it exaggerates the importance of your art.       

Taking new project pictures of my artwork to update my website started as a simple idea. But it exploded into a whole new artistic outlet for me. My pictures no longer represent just a physical item. Now they’re living, breathing extensions of my art with a passionate sparkle all their own.  

Artistically we’re always maturing and growing stronger and more excited about our creative endeavors. This experience has taught me that you can learn new, fun things if you open yourself up to possibilities and dive in.

Wherever you are in your creative journey you’re doing great. Keep up the terrific work. Do your best, be your best and the rest will take care of itself.

Happy snapping!

Lisa

Follow my blog for weekly inspiration sent to your inbox! 

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Upcoming Webinar

Watercolor Techniques & Advanced Fusing Design

January 17, 2023

Learn how to make gorgeous, vividly decorated nature themed fused glass designs in this comprehensive webinar.

Master the art of design, pattern, and color.

Join me and see how quickly and easily you can ramp up the visual intricacy of your work in just a few steps. I share my personally developed, “watercolor style,” approach to shading and highlighting glass.Using glass powders and frit, you’ll be able to create the illusion of depth and a subtle imagery that results in a soft, painterly look.

You will love the easy-to-follow instruction and seeing how I create elaborately detailed works of art with a gorgeous three-dimensional flair.

In this webinar you will learn how to use advanced artistic techniques like a pro. Beginner, intermediate and advanced fusers alike will enjoy applying the many simple, yet effective techniques I share in this in-depth, live event.

Plus, as a special bonus I include step-by-step instruction on how to use failed projects. I explain in detail how to solve problems and how to ensure successful projects moving forward.

I also include my custom firing guides, project patterns and materials list in PDF form.

You will be fired up and eager to apply these new techniques to enhance the beauty and charm of your work.

SHOP Great Gifts for Glass Artists

Downloadable instructional videos for every skill level.

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 indicate design is still fun to build.

Make two copies of the pattern and then number the patterns. (Time saver 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 free-form 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 dis proportionality 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 free form 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 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 glass on top sealing the snowflakes between 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 below.

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 available as a download on my website.

For a limited time get your FREE project pattern on my website.

Happy Fusing!

Lisa

Follow my blog for weekly inspiration sent to your inbox! 

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SHOP Great Gifts for Glass Artists

Downloadable instructional videos for every skill level.

The magical thing about glass fusing is you can work with the same materials for years and all it takes to fascinate you again is the introduction of a new component. The round Christmas ornament is far from a unique design. But add a new twist, a little bling and amazingly you have a delightfully fresh version of an old favorite.

At this hectic time of year, we’re all looking for fast and flashy projects that make great gifts. These easy to make ornaments are your ticket to wonderfully productive studio time. What makes these simple pieces so attractive is the paring of traditional holiday colors along with lively patterns.

Making the Ornament Bowl

Begin by cutting a 9-inch circle of clear glass for the ornament base. Cut 2 clear pieces of glass to represent the bail of the ornament. Select your murrine and cut it into 1/8-inch-long bits with mosaic nippers. Choose your holiday colors and cut them into strips. Arrange the strips on the clear base. Separate the cut strips with twisted cane. For added interest, include a strip of murrine.

Then, just for fun, rearrange your materials. Try different combinations until you have a pleasing pattern. I love this spontaneous type of assembly as it always produces a more dynamic design than I originally imagined.

Using a 9-inch round paper pattern as a guide, draw the circle shape on the strips and cane with a marker. Cut the strips and cane to fit neatly on the clear base glass. Cut clear dichroic to represent the bail of the ornament.

Cut narrow strips of dichroic on clear. Arrange the dichroic strips on the wide band of color to make the snowflakes. Be sure the dichroic coating side is down so it won’t scratch when the bowl is used.

Place the assembled glass in the kiln on a primed or shelf paper lined kiln shelf. Stack the 2 clear bails beside the circle. Overlap the white and the clear bails with the dichroic bail to bridge the parts when fused.    

Making the Dichroic Ornaments

I plan to use these little beauties as festive spoon rests in the kitchen. The dichroic coating is fragile and will scratch if not protected by clear glass. When making functional art with dichroic glass, I assemble the projects differently. Unlike the first ornament, which was built on a clear base, the base of these small decorations will be made up of pieces. The pieces will then be capped with a single piece of clear glass to enhance the dichroic colors and protect the coating from getting scratched.  

Begin by cutting 4-inch circles out of clear glass. Cut 2 bails for each of the ornaments out of clear glass. Set the circles and bails aside. Cut a fun assortment of 4-inch squares of dichroic on black into strips. Rearrange the strips to make four unique ornament designs. Add a few twisted canes for a lacy effect. Turn any textured glass strips over. Using the clear circles as a guide, trace the circle shape on the back of the dichroic strips with a silver marker. Cut the glass and cane to match the circle. Turn the cut glass over and rearrange the strips and cane. Cut a bail for each ornament out of dichroic on clear.

Place the dichroic and cane layer in the kiln on a primed or shelf paper lined kiln shelf. Cap the dichroic glass with the 4-inch clear glass circles. Stack the 2 clear bails beside the glass. Overlap the clear cap and the clear bails with the dichroic bail to bridge the parts when fused.  

Full fuse the assembled projects using the guide in my tech docs link below.

If any of the circles are uneven, grind the edges as needed to improve the shapes.

Place the fused glass in slumping molds. Slump using the guide below in my Tech Docs link below.

I love including functional art in everyday life. And the kitchen, being the hub of family activity that it is, is a great place to enjoy personal, hand-made holiday decorations.

Full fuse and then slump your plates using my firing guides available on my website in the FREE Tech Docs section on Firing Guides & Graphs For 96 & 90 COE Fusible Glass

For a limited time get your FREE Holiday project patterns on my website.

Happy Fusing!

Lisa

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Great Gifts for Glass Artists

Downloadable instructional videos for every skill level.