Tag: writer

Fruits of Our Labor Vlog 13

Vlogging is Niki’s idea. She’s my vlog creative director. She videos my routine activity, or my project development processes while I’m in my glass studio. It hadn’t occurred to me that sharing my everyday activity with you would be so fun and have so much educational potential.

The other aspect that surprised me is how much time and effort I put into learning myself. I’ve always enjoyed developing new techniques and design ideas. It’s not work. It’s play.

The length of time and extensive testing I dedicate to achieve my artistic goals is plain in the flower and mushroom cap vlog series. I do extensive firing tests like this all the time. But I conducted them in between other project firings. Up until now my project development steadily moved forward without getting any special attention. Now that I documented my creative process it has even greater instructional value for me and by extension you. That’s exciting!

Let’s start at the beginning.

I purchased 2 new 5-inch ceramic fluted mushroom drape molds that I had never used before. I wanted to make flowers not mushrooms. I purposely did not consult the manufacturer’s directions. I wanted to developed my own shape without being influenced by what everyone expected to get using the mold. Right or wrong. Easy or hard. I’d learn what worked for me along the way.

I measured the molds and cut clear glass circles based on my experience with drape molds. The first circles were 6 inch. (I use clear fusible glass for my testing because it’s the least expensive glass.) I draped the glass using a firing guide I wrote, based on my years of experience. The results were disappointing. The glass draped like a bad taco shell, plus the glass blank was too big. It looked nothing like a flower or a mushroom!

Try again.

I cut a new clear glass circle to 5 ½ inch and I designed a five star shape that loosely resembled a flower. I adjusted my firing guide and tried again. I fired 5 unsuccessful sets of clear glass. I grew tired of my inconsistent results with the plain clear glass, but I didn’t give up.

I reshaped my flower design and added frit to give the clear glass color. I also added notches to separate the petals. I adjusted my firing guide again adding more and longer hold times. The new flower shape with the color and notches worked great. I wasn’t totally unhappy with the draped shape of the round glass either. I thought, if I added pattern and color, maybe I’d actually like the round pieces as mushroom caps.  

The increase in hold times caused the flowers to stick to the primed ceramic mold. On the next firing I cut ThinFire fiber paper to size and placed it between the glass flower and the mold. It worked like a cushion and prevented the glass from adhering to the ceramic mold. I finally had success and draped flowers I really liked.  I also really liked the addition of color to the mushrooms caps. Instead of plain and boring, they are lively and bold.

Now what?

My next challenge was to figure out how to display the draped flowers and mushroom caps artistically and safely. I’ve had good luck bending and shaping thin copper tubing in the past. It’s flexible yet sturdy and it’s easy to cut with pliers or a hack saw. I cut a piece of tubing to length then flatten about 1 inch of one end with a hammer. Then I glue the flat area to the glass with E6000 adhesive. It works great and I love the curvy flower stems I’m able to create.

I took the mushroom caps to my home improvement store to look for something to make study stems. I tested the fit on 8 inch nails. The head of the nail fit perfectly inside the mushroom cap. I liked the length and thickness of the nail with the draped glass. The proportions were pleasing, and the silver color added interest. Back in the studio I glued the mushroom caps to the nails with E6000. Overall, I’m very happy with the outcome. The flowers and mushrooms are welcome bright, cheerful additions to my garden.

This is just the beginning.

I’m not stopping here. Everything I learned during this lengthy process will be put to good use in the development of my new Premium Video Membership projects. I’ll keep blazing new trails and bringing you along for the ride. We’ll learn and nurture our artistic spirit together, while having fun making amazing new pieces of art.

Flower & Mushroom Cap Include Vlog 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 &13

Happy Fusing!

Lisa & Niki

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Pattern and shape are two of the simplest elements that can easily be manipulated to dramatically increase the appeal of fused glass art. By adding unique patterns and building new shapes you can draw the viewer in and lock their attention tight. In the end, isn’t that our goal, to inspire people with our art?

You’ve enjoyed success making the usual plates, bowls and vases following practices and guidelines laid out by the experts. But the element of surprise and the thrill of the unexpected success has gone missing. If you find yourself blindly staring at the glass wishing for inspiration, then it’s time to break the rules. Make art that excites you again.

Before you run wildly through your glass studio, be sure to set this excursion up for success. Start by studying finished art that you find attractive. Define what it is about the piece that appeals to you. Is it the shape, the colors, the pattern, or the design? Take that element and put it aside temporarily. Maybe loosely sketch it out on paper for quick reference later. Do this for three individual pieces of art.

Small details can have a huge impact on the visual appearance of your art.

Don’t underestimate the power of minor changes to customary pieces. When trying to navigate a new territory, you’ll have the greatest success if you take what has worked for you in the past and then expand on it to create something all new and unexpected.

Here’s how to get started.

Anchor the viewer’s eye with an interesting pattern. Unexpected bubbles are usually considered undesirable. But when made into a uniform design, bubbles can add a whole new dimension to the glass art. Designing with bubbles is a terrific way to add decoration and a little sparkle. Light dances inside the tiny dome shapes which increases the appearance of depth and the overall intricacy of the finished piece.

Here, I’m using stringers to establish the pattern. They’re placed even distances apart in two directions on a base glass and then capped with clear glass. The cool thing about this technique is the assembly method dictates the placement, size and shape of the bubbles. If the openings between the stringers are square, then the bubbles are round. Rectangular openings result in oval shaped bubbles. While triangular openings give you tear drop shaped bubbles.

Making small, 2” x 2” test pieces will give you an opportunity to try unusual color combinations. It also builds confidence because you know what to expect when you go bigger. The best part of this technique is the possibilities for imaginative designs are endless. Try it. You’ll be blown away!

Sculpture romances the viewer.

Sculpture romances the viewer. It pulls them in like a magnet. Give your art unique shape and the viewer will be hooked. With so many fusing materials at your disposal, it’s never been easier to get creative with your art’s profile. The easiest way to get funky shapes is to drape fiber material over an existing slumping mold. Give the fiber paper exaggerated contours by tucking kiln posts or fiber board between the mold and the fiber.

You can also achieve new shapes by combining different ceramic or stainless-steel slumping molds together. Some of my most exciting pieces have been made this way.

If you’re shy to jump in, build a sample out of clear glass. Make the sample the same shape, size, and thickness as the intended project. Clear is the best choice because it’s the least expensive glass. And you can see through it to see where the glass rests on the mold assembly. Then you’re able to adjust the final piece as needed. Plus, there’s no waste. The clear sample can be smashed and used for casting filler. It’s a win, win.    

The wonderful thing about this technique is every piece of glass slumped has a one-of-a-kind flare. They’re making your own personal original. Now that’s exciting! 

Get crazy and combine both techniques and you have a showstopper. The biggest drawback to this in-depth approach is the amount of time necessary to plan an exceptional project. True, not all projects warrant this much effort. But if you work in stages on a few, you’ll find the outcome is extremely rewarding.

Design developer.

Take it a step further and create your own design. Go back to the three pieces of art you studied earlier. Take the three elements that attracted you and combine them with a unique pattern and a sculptural shape. Now you’re on the threshold of greatness!

These are just a few examples of breaking the rules. If you’re ready to rush into your studio, excited about the possibilities, don’t stop here. These techniques have great potential for expansion in so many directions. Take them and run and set your imagination free.   

For more advanced instruction check out my Sculptural Fused Glass Video.

Check out my video: How to Create & Retain Texture to learn more.

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Happy Fusing!

Lisa & Niki

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No Waste! That’s just one of the many great things I love about glass fusing! Even the tiniest piece of glass is usable/fusible.

It takes a lot more glass to build elaborate designs with intricate shapes than it does to build designs with simple square shapes. With the rising cost of material always in mind I want to get as much use out of my sheet glass as possible. Rather than let the cost of material inhibit my creative direction I trust in the process. While fabricating the project at hand I keep an eye out for interesting new design ideas that develop along the way.

Octopus Tray

This flowing octopus design is an amazing example of how to repurpose cut offs. The movement of the tentacles combined with the vivid blue background and painterly quality of the frit make it so fun to build.

When I have a design idea in mind I draw the pattern without limitations. Then I decide on the best fabrication method to achieve the artistic look I want. I enjoy cutting glass by hand with my pistol grip cutter. I actually use my saw as little as possible and save it for deep cuts that would otherwise be impossible. But the ring saw was my tool of choice to get the smooth, graceful shapes I believed would bring this design to life.

The sweeping glass curls cut from the background of the octopus were prefect for a new complimentary design. I love the octopus tray for its whimsical design and its striking color. It’s a one-of-a-kind and should be appreciated as such. I wanted to created something different with the cutoffs, something equally as exciting and unique.

High Contrast Colors Get Attention

When approaching this piece I felt the distinctive shapes of the dark blue curls would carry the design. All these pieces needed was a simple, uncluttered field to perform their magic. I love the way the sweeping tentacles appear to come from behind and embrace the white glass. It contrasts the Octopus Tray where the design originates in the middle and spreads to the perimeter. The high contrast colors combined with the graceful shapes elevate the elegance of the finished piece of art.

In the future, when you’re looking for inspiration look no further than your scrap bin. There’s a literal gold mine of ideas just waiting to be discovered. Get cutting!

This Octopus Tentacle Tray is the newest project now available with my Premium Video Membership. You’ll enjoy seeing how easy it is to make. Not a member but still love this piece of art? No problem. It’s also available as a single video download.

Happy Fusing!

Lisa & Niki

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You have choices when it comes to how to fire your projects. Different temperatures will result in different project characteristics. My goal here is to give you the tools to make educated decisions when selecting your firing method so you have greater control and more satisfying results. 

Fusing Defined

Fuse: To heat glass pieces in a kiln until they melt together into one piece.

Glass Fusing Process Temperatures

Full Fuse

Full Fuse 96 COE 1465°F (796°C) 90 COE 1480°F (804°C). Full fuse is the most common firing method. At this temperature the assembled glass project pieces melt together to form one smooth piece with visible, but not tactile, seams. The project has a smooth surface and round, shiny edges. I choose this temperature when I’m making decorative and functional artwork where I want a smooth, uniform surface.

Contour Fuse

Contour Fuse: 96 COE 1425°F (774°C), 90 COE 1400°F (760°C). A contour fuse is a fired look between full fuse and tack fuse. At this temperature the glass layers are fused, and the edges are soft and rounded. The project surface has both visible and physical texture. I use this temperature when I want to create a decorative project with physical texture that increases the surface area to reflect more light.

Tack Fuse

Tack Fuse 96 & 90 COE 1365°F (742°C). At this temperature, the glass pieces stick together. The project edges will be square and shiny. Design elements will retain their texture but are generally not sharp to touch. This is a great temperature for suncatchers and other ornaments where you want a light firing that really sparkles.

Combine Techniques

You can fire a project to a full fuse for the smooth rounded edge quality. Then refire it to a contour or tack fuse temperature with additional design elements on top for a unique and dazzling look.

My Building Process 

Most of my work is assembled with the two layers, plus accent method. I refer to the bottom layer as the base and the second as the design layer. The base layer and design layer are the same shape and size. The base layer is often a single piece of clear, but not always; sometimes it’s made up of cut pieces. The second design layer can be a single piece of glass, but often, its pieces fit together to make a specific pattern or design. The third accent layer is minimal, and it usually consists of small fusible elements that enhance the design theme. I choose to build this way because I get consistent results time after time. The finished size and shape of the artwork is predictable. The pieces come out of the kiln with beautiful, rounded edges and a consistent thickness that is both attractive and durable.   

It’s All Good   

Keep in mind, there’s no single right or wrong way to make any project. Personal preference, design style and function should all play a role in helping you decide which approach is best. The objective is to consciously choose your firing temperature based on a solid understanding of the results.  

Excerpt from Glass Fusing Terms as seen on my website.

For more in-depth instruction check out my videos.

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Happy Fusing!

Lisa & Niki

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You’re wondering why is this subject important? You’ve likely had success working some element of shading into your pieces and that’s great. However, you may not know about the seldom discussed advanced techniques experienced artists use to produce more sophisticated compositions. With thoughtful planning, you can apply these simple techniques and drastically increase the richness of your work.      

When creating shading, it’s natural to reach for black frit or black glass. Black efficiently separates the foreground from the background. Black is also great for outlining your subject. However, there’s a better solution that adds richness to your scene.

When you use black to make shadows it creates a visual hole in your work. This void pulls the viewer’s attention away from your composition. For this reason, I use black as little as possible. I apply it with purpose for specific details in my designs. Instead of black, I use very dark blue, chocolate brown, deep purple or ruby red to make shadows in my pieces. I select the dark color that best suits the color scheme in my artwork. Using powerful high contrast colors adds velvety depth and an incredible richness to the setting.

How to create shadows with color.

Wine Glass as seen in my Simple Pleasures Video

Here I used dark blue to establish the linear details that translate into a grape vineyard behind the wine glass. The deep shadows the blue color creates, give the scene a relaxing late afternoon mood. The border is dark purple which mimics the color of grapes and wine.

Octopus Tray as seen in my Premium Video Membership

Here I used dark red to make shadows on the underside of the octopus tentacles. This application also makes the tentacle visually round and full. Dark red also worked beautifully to outline the octopus body and place it in front of the tentacles that curl behind its body. The only black in this piece is the eye detail.

Fairy tale Forest as seen in my Painting with Frit Video

There’s no black in this lush scene. The dark shadows in the trees and along the path are made with dark blue. The shadow cast on the woodland path is a combination of purple and dark amber frit. Get creative with your color combinations to build up dark recesses that make your highlighted details pop.

Winter Landscape as seen in the winter issue G.P.Q. Magazine Jan 2023

In this piece of art, black is limited to the lines on the tree trunks. I selected muted tones to create a quiet, calm, and relaxing setting. The shadow under the trees are created with medium purple frit. It simultaneously gave me depth and softness which I wanted to portray in this winter scene.

Welcome Fall as seen in my Premium Video Membership

When making this seasonal piece I wanted to maintain a warm yet rich color palette. I used a small amount black in the word welcome and in some of the letters that spell out FALL. When it came to adding shadows to the pumpkin, I used orange opal frit. The contrast is subtle but effective. I’m pleased with the stylized design and the inviting warmth it adds to my home.  

You got this!

Don’t worry about missing black. Once you substitute colors for black, you’ll love the effects you’re able to create. You’ll be amazed how switching to dark colors transforms your art and brings it to life.

Artists take what they see and make it new.

We take an ordinary scene and turn it into something new that reflects our sense of drama and whimsy. Using rich colors, instead of black, is a fabulous way to push designs in any direction you want to establish a personalized mood and tone. Give it a try. The possibilities are endless. You’re only limited by your imagination.

Watch the video here.

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Happy Fusing!

Lisa & Niki

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