Frit may be tiny, but make no mistake, this little powerhousecan make a huge, positive impact on your glass artwork. The beauty of frit is in its flexibility. I love to push that flexibility every chance I get.
There are always several ways to approach any glass fusing project. But if you can incorporate frit of some sort into that project, you’ll have something unexpected that is unquestionably more engaging. And as self-serving as it is, we all want to dazzle people with our art.
Next time you’re brainstorming how to build your project, consider replacing some or several design elements with frit. Play with different sizes; use mosaic, course, medium, fine and powder. Each size has its own unique visual characteristic that you will love after firing. Work with several shades of the same color such as light amber and medium amber to create a three-dimensional quality. Repeat the same color such as red in both transparent and opal glasses for greater contrast.
Let’s dive in!
1 Go Overboard!
Strengthen your design by incorporating a subtle complimentary pattern in the background. When making the Flowering Tree, I cut a leafy tree limb stencil out of stiff paper. I then sifted soft green powders over the stencil to add the delicate woodland setting behind the flowering plant. The addition of the soft foliage unifies the overall project and makes it distinctly more appealing. The great thing about stenciling a design is that each piece you make will be slightly different and therefore each one has unique beauty.
2 Go Deeper!
Consider increasing the attraction of your work by repeating the same pattern on both the base layer and the top layer. Simply sift powders over a stencil on the base layer. Then turn the stencil ¼ turn and repeat the pattern on the second layer. Stack the layers to create a new, more elegant design. This quick little trick is a terrific way to increase visual depth and ramp up the sophistication of your artwork.
3 Lighten Up!
Give your design a light source and you’ll have an immediate winner. With frit you can do it in a snap. Select frit in multiple shades of the same color. Use both transparent and opal versions of every color in your palette. Then gradually spread the frit working from light to dark. Blend the colors as you go for an even more engaging flow. This painterly technique rapidly transforms flat, lifeless images into lively three-dimensional masterpieces.
4 Set the Mood!
Making a sherbet colored tropical sunset, a magical starry night or mysterious mist cloaked meadow is easy with frit. Think about how such enchanted places make you feel. Think about how they draw you in, tempt you to stay and make you wonder what hidden treasures wait for you just out of sight. Now take that feeling and make it tangible by mixing different colors of frit and you’ll create energetic settings that speaks out loud.
Showing how to use frit to fill gaps.
5 Attention to Detail is Huge!
Next time your cut glass design doesn’t fit as accurately as you’d like, do what I do. Throw in a zinger. Fill that nasty crevice or inconvenient hole with frit in a color that contrasts the cut glass around it. No, you’re not fudging a mistake. You’re making something new, adding detail and highlighting the more important characteristics of your design.
You Got This!
Frit may be small, but its applications are huge. Use it in small or even large doses and try new techniques for unlimited artistic possibilities.
Except from my Painting with Frit Video.
Painting with Frit with Lisa Vogt Video
Want to learn more? Check out my Painting with Frit video.
Join me and take your glass fusing to the next level!
Join me for this intense workshop held in my private studio. Wesley Chapel, Florida, 4-Day, Hands-on, Class size is limited to 4. All class materials re included.
In this class, you’ll push the boundaries art glass imposes. Students will explore innovative approaches to design and combine multiple advanced techniques to construct original art that reflects their own personal style. You’ll enjoy: the one-on-one instruction, making multifaceted projects, the well-equipped classroom, and the intimate class size.
You’ll love the concentrated, in-depth study and creative momentum you’ll gain while actively producing, nonstop for four consecutive days. You’ll leave class with a working knowledge of kiln operation, custom project specific firing guides, and the inspiration you’ve been craving to go bigger and do more elaborate works of fused glass art!
It’s thrilling to see your artistic vision come to life. I had the idea for Envy pinging around in the back of my mind for several years before I actually had the time and ambition to build it. I imagined a fluid, freestanding piece of art with strong lines and peek-a-boo windows on the wings.
Lime green and grenadine red were the colors I wanted to use from the very beginning. In my mind’s eye, the finished artwork had a dramatic sculptural form I’d never seen before. When it came time to produce a new video, it was the perfect opportunity to challenge my skills and see if I could actually build what I’d only dreamed of.
The pattern I envisioned had a striking linear quality. I felt the best way to achieve the pattern was by arranging narrow strips of glass on edge. This thick type of assembly would also give the art depth, plus physical and visual weight. All of which are proven to increase the value of fused glass artwork.
I was sure cutting and assembling this number of strips would take considerable time. The slumping mold I had in mind didn’t exist. I knew I’d have to make a custom form to slump the fused glass over.
Getting the exact finished shape, I wanted would be a gamble. There were no guidelines or instructions to follow. I was entering uncharted territory. If I couldn’t create the shape I wanted I didn’t want to pursue the project. The project’s success was dependent on the finished shape. And therefore, it made sense to make a test piece. Sure, I’d waste clear glass. But if it worked, I’d be slumping the time consuming patterned blank with confidence. And that made the extra effort worthwhile.
Envy slumping mold drawing as seen in Advanced Glass Fusing with Lisa Vogt Video.
I began by setting up the slumping mold. It was made with an assortment of heat retardant materials. I stacked kiln posts and fire bricks on the floor of my Skutt clamshell kiln. I then draped 1” thick fiber blanket over the posts and bricks to make a wavy shape. Next, I cut double thick clear glass to match the size and shape of the intended artwork. The glass was then placed on the mold and heated to a slumping temperature. The resulting piece was too shallow. It didn’t have the deep contours I was looking for. I rearranged the mold making it taller on one side. The slumping program was adjusted to have a longer hold. This would increase the contact the glass would make with the fiber blanket. I cut a second piece of double thick and slumped it over the mold. This one came out exactly the way I wanted. It was time to build the patterned blank, fuse it and slump it over the mold.
Envy as seen in Advanced Glass Fusing with Lisa Vogt Video
I was excited when I opened the kiln. There is was, my dream piece looked just like I’d imagined. It was a relief to have made something that had haunted my mind, unfinished for so long. After the piece was unloaded and put on display a curious thought came to mind. The artwork was so familiar, it had been part of me for years. I found myself wondering if I’d seen it somewhere before other than in my head. It came out so perfectly that I didn’t know if I liked it. Fusing and slumping advanced projects usually results in some variation of my original idea. Often rendering results that are surprisingly better than expected. But this piece was identical to my vision. I didn’t know how to feel about this realization. Was it artistic maturity that lead to my success? Was the piece interesting? I’d seen it in my head for so long I didn’t know. I work in my studio alone. The only feedback I get during these total immersion sessions is from my family. And they think I’m getting carried away again. Which I am. My neighbors think I’m the mad scientist at the end of the block. I am.
It was only after I had some distance from the piece that I began to appreciate the complexity of the accomplishment. Now, I intend to expand on what I learned. I’m driven to design and build more intricately shaped pieces of art that are up until now, only dreams.
Adventurous exploration of this level is what makes each one of my advanced glass fusing workshops a new experience. My students learn from my horrible failures and benefit from my sweet successes.
Advanced Glass Fusing with Lisa Vogt Video Projects
I’m a proud lifelong learner happy to share my expertise. I compare artistic journeys, like the one I embarked on to make Envy, with climbing Mount Everest. I climbed to the top one step at a time, so my students can arrive by helicopter.
Are you ready to take your glass work to new heights?
Advanced Glass Fusing Class, 4-Day, Hands-on Workshop, April 29 – May 2, 2025
Advanced Glass Fusing Class, 4-Day, Hands-on Workshop, April 29 – May 2, 2025
Imagine yourself HERE!
Join me and take your glass fusing to the next level!
Join me for this intense workshop held in my private studio. Wesley Chapel, Florida, 4-Day, Hands-on, Class size is limited to 4. All class materials re included.
In this class, you’ll push the boundaries art glass imposes. Students will explore innovative approaches to design and combine multiple advanced techniques to construct original art that reflects their own personal style. You’ll enjoy: the one-on-one instruction, making multifaceted projects, the well-equipped classroom, and the intimate class size.
You’ll love the concentrated, in-depth study and creative momentum you’ll gain while actively producing, nonstop for four consecutive days. You’ll leave class with a working knowledge of kiln operation, custom project specific firing guides, and the inspiration you’ve been craving to go bigger and do more elaborate works of fused glass art!
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 because 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 a 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?
Check out my Simple Pleasures video. In this video I show you step-by-step how I come up with my design ideas and how I execute them. Plus, I share my project specific firing guides that I’ve developed and tested to ensure you have success. You’ll love this artistic technique and the striking projects that are included in the video. Watching flat glass go from a lifeless single color to a radiant color blends and washes is amazing.
Join me and take your glass fusing to the next level!
Join me for this intense workshop held in my private studio. Wesley Chapel, Florida, 4-Day, Hands-on, Class size is limited to 4. All class materials re included.
In this class, you’ll push the boundaries art glass imposes. Students will explore innovative approaches to design and combine multiple advanced techniques to construct original art that reflects their own personal style. You’ll enjoy: the one-on-one instruction, making multifaceted projects, the well-equipped classroom, and the intimate class size.
You’ll love the concentrated, in-depth study and creative momentum you’ll gain while actively producing, nonstop for four consecutive days. You’ll leave class with a working knowledge of kiln operation, custom project specific firing guides, and the inspiration you’ve been craving to go bigger and do more elaborate works of fused glass art!
The term creative slumping has a broad range of potential directions. Isn’t that awesome! We have a huge array of handling techniques to feed our ever curious artistic spirit, and challenge our glass crafting skills. For me, creative slumping means taking ready-made molds and using them in ways that result in extraordinarily unique 3-dimensional forms. The great thing about this approach is that super simple ideas applied in combination often make the most exciting pieces of art.
How do you get started?
It’s about looking at your materials with fresh eyes. Because of past experience, you easily envision the outcome of using your favorite molds. But what happens if you place the fused glass on the mold in a different direction? Or maybe next time cut your glass in a different shape? Better yet, use two molds at the same time for a single project. How will that alter your results? The answers are in test pieces.
Nothing goes to waste.
Clear glass is the least expensive glass. When I’m in the mood to experiment with creative slumping I start by planning my project shape. Then I cut that shape out of clear glass. I fuse two pieces of clear glass together, so I have the same thickness I would later when I transition to color glass. Then I test fire the fused glass over my mold configuration taking notes every step of the way. If my results are unexpected or undesirable I try again. Once I have the look I want, I repeat the process with color glass. I keep the clear glass samples that are successful for reference in the future. The ugly samples are broken into mosaic size pieces and used as filler in my cast projects.
If I can’t waste glass who can?
I do a lot of testing. I figure if I can’t afford to waste glass considering how much teaching I do, then who can? I cut the glass, fire the kilns, and make the mistakes, so you don’t have to. Plus, I’m stubborn. I like a challenge. When a project goes wrong, it becomes a personal mission to figure out how to make it right. And I love sharing my processes and giving you the information needed to be successful the first time.
Want to learn more?
That’s what my video Creative Shapes is about. Showing you step-by-step how I come up with my ideas and how I execute them. Plus, I share my project specific firing guides that I’ve developed and tested to ensure your success. If that isn’t enough to convince you to try new shapes, the video projects are striking. Watching flat glass go from a lifeless single plane to a glistening, energetic sculptural work of art is amazingly satisfying.
Join me and take your glass fusing to the next level!
Join me for this intense workshop held in my private studio. Wesley Chapel, Florida, 4-Day, Hands-on, Class size is limited to 4. All class materials re included.
In this class, you’ll push the boundaries art glass imposes. Students will explore innovative approaches to design and combine multiple advanced techniques to construct original art that reflects their own personal style. You’ll enjoy: the one-on-one instruction, making multifaceted projects, the well-equipped classroom, and the intimate class size.
You’ll love the concentrated, in-depth study and creative momentum you’ll gain while actively producing, nonstop for four consecutive days. You’ll leave class with a working knowledge of kiln operation, custom project specific firing guides, and the inspiration you’ve been craving to go bigger and do more elaborate works of fused glass art!
Fusing glass is amazing. We fusers cut glass and super heat it to make cool designs all our own. Solid colors make bold projects, but once you start playing with frit and see all the new and exciting possibilities, you’ll be eager to add this small material to all your big projects.
Frit is crushed fusible glass. Oceanside Compatible frit comes in 5 grain sizes: powder, fine, medium, course and mosaic. Each size is available in 8.5 oz. jars. Each frit size has unique visual characteristics that you can push to ramp up your fused glass projects. Let’s go over the many possibilities one size at a time.
Powder
Powder has the silky consistency of confectioners’ sugar. It appears smooth and has uniform color coverage after fusing. Powder can be used as filler between cut glass pieces, to add shading, to add patterns and even as a repair tool. I use powder when I want super strong color saturation along with multiple color blends.
Shere Power by Lisa Vogt
Shere Power is a great example. Wherever I wanted tight control over my line quality and solid color saturation, I used cut glass to represent the design. The cut glass was fixed to a clear base glass with fuser’s glue. The glue keeps the pieces from moving when applying the frit. Once the glue was dry, I poured powder frit between the pieces and blended the colors with a wide, dry paint brush and a palate knife. The blended powders give the art a beautiful painterly quality that dramatically contrasts with the solid color fields surrounding it.
Other fun uses include using powder to add shadows to a solid base color. Apply medium and dark green powder on top of light green glass to add shading to your design. Or sift the powder over a stencil to add a crisp and intricate pattern to your project.
One of my favorite uses for powder is to fill inconvenient gaps between my cut glass pieces. Think of it like grouting tile. It’s easy and affective. Work a small amount of powder into the gaps with a narrow paint brush. For added pop, use a bright color that contrasts your design’s color palate.
Powder Pros: It’s fast and easy to create subtle or dramatic color blends that support your specific creative vision. Adding shading and pattern is a snap.
Powder Cons: Cleanup is time consuming. The powder requires meticulous cleanup to ensure the surrounding solid glass color isn’t muddied. After removing any excess power with a brush, I go over the surface of the glass with the corner of a damp towel or a damp Q-tip depending upon the size of the surface area being cleaned.
Paradise Palm by Lisa Vogt as seen in Painting with Frit Video
Tips for working with powder.
Don’t be skimpy when you use powder frit. For bright vivid colors, it’s necessary to fill the space between your cut glass pieces to the top edge, in effect making the frit 1/8 inch thick.
Be daring and use high contrast colors, they display better in the finished piece.
Opal glass colors tend to have a more dramatic effect than transparent colors.
Know your glass colors. Powder frit specifically, looks lighter in the jar than the actual glass color. Light blue and dark blue look the same just as transparent light green and opal dark green look the same. If you’re not sure of the intensity or opacity of a powder, look at a larger size frit like, medium or course. Or find a piece of sheet glass with the same color code number, compare it to the frit and the frit color and shade will be obvious.
Powder in high concentration, like in a casting mold, looks milky after fusing. If you want to use powder in a mold, layer it with clear in medium, course or mosaic size frit. Using this technique will improve the transparency of the cast glass project.
Bird of Paradise by Lisa Vogt as seen in Painting with Frit Video
Fine Frit
Fine frit has the consistency of granulated sugar. It appears grainy, like small uniform dots after fusing. Like powder, fine can be used to fill gaps between cut pieces of glass. The larger grain size makes it faster and easier to clean up than powder. Fine is also great for shading when you want a slight textural look to the shadows.
Fine Pros: Cleanup is fast and easy. In the same application, it takes less material to do the same job with fine than it does with powder. Fine is a great filler to use between larger frit. It gives you complete color coverage and prevents the base glass from peeking through.
Fine Cons: Color blends within this same size have a grainy appearance after fusing.
Tips for working with Fine.
Use both transparent and opal glasses for greater visual depth and to create shading.
Use fine frit together with other frit sizes to produce visual textures.
Parrot Fish by Lisa Vogt as seen in Painting with Frit Video
Medium Frit
Medium frit has the texture of course sand. When fused, medium frit retains the sand-like visual appearance. I use this size frit when I want to fill in larger areas with strong color quickly. It can also be used to create shading and color blends provided you welcome variations in the coverage which depend on how much frit or how little frit is applied.
Medium Pros: Medium frit provides you with quick, easy coverage of large areas with strong color saturation.
Medium Cons: This frit has a grainy look, and the base glass may peek through the frit unless your layer is thick.
Tips for working with Medium.
Use both transparent and opal glasses in combination for greater visual depth and to create shading.
Use medium and fine frit together for new color blends and to add visual texture.
Graffiti Bowl by Lisa Vogt as seen in Painting with Frit Video
Course Frit
Course frit has the consistency of small pebbles. The pebble look remains after fusing. This frit is great for filling large areas where you want visual texture to contrast solid fields elsewhere in the project.
Course Pros: Course frit covers a lot of area fast, and it leaves an appealing pattern behind after firing.
Course Cons: The base glass will be visible between this larger size grain.I fill in around course with both medium and fine frit to intensify the color and hide the base.
Tips for working with Course.
Use both transparent and opal glasses in combination for greater visual depth and to create shading.
Use fine and medium frit together with course to produce pleasing textures.
Horse by Lisa Vogt as seen in Painting with Frit
Mosaic Frit
Mosaic has a wide variety of glass shapes and sizes within the jar. This frit leaves a vein-like impression after fusing. I use mosaic size when I have a lot of space to fill and when I want to create an organic pattern.
Tips for working with Mosaic.
Clear glass layered on top of a color dilutes the color below. It’s like adding water to paint. I like to put clear mosaic pieces on top of select elements in my work to create subtle, lighter variations in the original glass color.
During assembly, glue the mosaic pieces down with fusers glue so they don’t move when you fill in the spaces in between.
Use both transparent and opal glasses in combination for greater visual depth and to build interest.
Use fine, medium and course frit to fill gaps and produce interesting color combinations and exciting textures.
Fairy Tail Forest by Lisa Vogt as sen in Painting with Frit Video
Put it all Together.
Frit is a terrific medium for making landscapes or other images where you want to create an engaging depth of field. In nature, objects in the distance are lighter in color, and they visually have less detail. When making landscapes, I use the different frit sizes to emphasize those subtle differences.
I use powder to render the sky because I can get smooth, gradual color changes. I use fine frit to create the tree line and other filler foliage in the distance. The grain size stands out in front of the powder and yet doesn’t compete with the foreground. Medium frit works well for the mid-range elements that require more intricate detail, like bushes or flowers. Course frit is well suited for objects in the foreground, such as flowering plants or sweeping trees. These design elements carry more visual weight and tie the design together. Mosaic frit is great for specific up-close subject matter like a path or bridge. These solid, recognizable focal points lure the viewer into the design.
Oceanside Compatiblefrit comes packed in 8.5 oz. jars. For the larger sizes like course and mosaic you may consider crushing your own frit. The advantage to working from the jars though, is you have uniform sizes within the jars and one single color throughout. Plus, there’s no risk of contaminants like dirt or metal shavings that are present when you crush your own glass. Personally, I prefer to jump right into the design and fabrication phases rather than spend time swinging a hammer and sifting glass.
I hope this round-up entices you to start incorporating frit in your new work. It’s such a versatile and easy to apply material. You will love the creative flexibility it affords.
Want to learn more? Check out my Painting with Frit Video.
Join me and take your glass fusing to the next level!
Join me for this intense workshop held in my private studio. Wesley Chapel, Florida, 4-Day, Hands-on, Class size is limited to 4. All class materials re included.
In this class, you’ll push the boundaries art glass imposes. Students will explore innovative approaches to design and combine multiple advanced techniques to construct original art that reflects their own personal style. You’ll enjoy: the one-on-one instruction, making multifaceted projects, the well-equipped classroom, and the intimate class size.
You’ll love the concentrated, in-depth study and creative momentum you’ll gain while actively producing, nonstop for four consecutive days. You’ll leave class with a working knowledge of kiln operation, custom project specific firing guides, and the inspiration you’ve been craving to go bigger and do more elaborate works of fused glass art!
