1. Clean your glass before cutting it.
It’s much easier to clean a single square piece of glass than it is to clean a bunch of small pieces. You’ll also do a better job because you can see any dust or hint of glue from the manufacturer’s stickers more easily on the larger surface area. I avoid using chemicals or cleaners that might introduce potential contaminants to my fused glass. I use plain water and clean cotton towels to clean and dry my glass.
2. Improve your accuracy by using the right tool for the job.
When cutting glass strips or circles for my projects I use certain tools to help improve the fit of my pieces. The benefits of using strip cutters and circle cutters are they reduce waste and scrap glass. Plus, their ease of use makes the project assembly faster, easier and more precise.
Wet saws are great for cutting intricate shapes that otherwise would have to be done in multiple pieces. This time and material saving approach also enables you to make more elaborate designs.
Mosaic nippers are handy to quickly and efficiently produce irregular pieces for playful patterns and whimsical designs.
3. Pick a color pallet and stick with it.
Being selective about the colors you use increases the strength of your artwork. It shows the purposeful design direction of the artist and at the same time establishes the mood of the piece. Use multiple shades of the same colors to create depth and greater visual interest. Select both transparent and opal glass in your color pallet to increase design depth.
4. Use high contrast colors.
Be bold! Combine striking colors to bring your design to life. Using high contrast colors enhances the linear details of your design. It’s an easy way to increase the impact and overall attractiveness of your glass art.
5. Include a focal point.
A focal point gets the viewer’s attention, engages them and makes your art memorable. Focal points can be literal like a leaf, a bird or a wave. Easily recognizable images are relatable and endearing. While abstract designs also benefit from having a focal point too. You can include an unexpected shape or pop of color to make your art more engaging.
6. Do your best work.
Be meticulous with every step. The time and effort you put into each step makes the next step faster, easier and more professional looking. Make sure your glass pieces fit well. If you ask yourself, is this good enough? It likely isn’t your best work. Redo that piece, re-cut the glass, do whatever it takes to make sure you’ll be proud of your finished work.
7. Build your projects with two full layers of glass to make them visually attractive and structurally durable.
This method of assembly produces beautiful smooth edge quality and a uniform thickness throughout your finished piece of art. These characteristics elevate your work to a professional quality that’s consistent with high end, gallery worthy artwork.
8. Make your pieces a little smaller than your slumping molds to ensure they slump evenly.
If you intend to slump your fused glass project measure the slumping mold you plan to use in advance of laying out your design. Make your project ½-inch smaller than the mold to accommodate any potential growth and to ensure the glass slumps evenly. When the glass is larger than the mold, or if it sits on the top edge of the mold, the glass may slip to one side and slump unevenly.
9. Fire projects with other pieces with similar construction style.
It’s good practice to fire projects built with two layers together and fire projects made with one layer separately to ensure you have the best results possible for each type of construction. Large projects can be fired alongside small projects. Fire the kiln at a rate that’s appropriate for the largest project in the kiln.
10. If in doubt fire slower.
If you’re concerned about your firing rate it’s okay to fire your kiln more slowly and add more time to the annealing segment hold. This small change often improves your consistency and results in greater success.
11. Re-prime your kiln shelf and slumping molds before use if they show signs of wear.
I clean and prime my kilns shelves every time in use them. Then I’m sure my glass won’t stick to the shelf. I prime my slumping molds when they show signs of wear. Wear includes: the primer looks thin or it’s pealing. This routine maintenance enables me to fuse and slump with confidence.
12. Allow your kiln and the glass inside to cool to room temperature before opening the kiln.
Be patient! I know it’s hard to resist opening the kiln. If I’m tempted to open my kiln, I ask myself what’s more important to me in six weeks from now? Is it that I get to see the project a few hours early OR that the project is cooled properly and stable? This idea gives me strength to be patient.
Bonus 13. Take before and after pictures and take notes.
Pictures and notes help you gain confidence in your kiln work. They document your progress and are glowing examples of your artistic growth. They’re also useful for trouble shooting unexpected results. Pictures and notes help you reproduce your successes and learn from your failures.
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Happy Fusing!
Lisa & Niki
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