Glass, just as soon as it comes out of the furnace it comes to life. In this intro to glassblowing class, students will learn the fundamentals of glassmaking. Students will learn how to gather from the furnace, work the glass with traditional glassmaking tools and learn how a glass studio works. Students will learn the basics of blowing tumblers, cones, bowls, spheres, and traditional techniques of glassmaking.

Create sculptures and replicas of natural and imagined objects in Pâte de verre (glass paste) using non-traditional methods for kiln-forming at low temperature without using investment molds. Learn special modeling techniques, how to address technical challenges, and low-fire glassmaking. Techniques taught include Pâte de Verre, kiln-forming, mold making, cold-working, and a hot-sculpting demo.

Using borosilicate glass, we will create delightfully detailed sculptural objects at the torch. By studying objects of interest carefully, we can break them down into their parts and recreate them as glass sculptures. Instruction and demonstrations will cover project planning and patternmaking, glass rod construction, bridging, armatures, solid-sculpting, and a taste of non-vessel sculptural tube-working will round out the course.

This intermediate class is not for beginners. Through a comprehensive review of basic procedures, this workshop will examine the essential “cause and effect” principles of working hot glass. Students will repeat daily skill drills, mastering one skill before moving on to the next. Daily demonstrations of advanced hot sculpting, garage work, color powder application, discussions, and bit work will prepare students to make their own projects.