Results of the Patty Gray Advanced Fusing Workshop

As promised, several of the completed pieces from Patty Gray's week-long workshop at D&L Art Glass Supply in Denver.  Patty is an outstanding teacher and I would recommend her classes to anyone at any level in glass fusing.  D&L was also a perfect host and provided excellent  class space and support (shameless plug but true!).

Patty Gray at D&L Art Glass in Denver

I have had the tremendous opportunity to study under Patty Gray all week in Denver.  These are some examples of fused pieces that come out of her class.  These are all in various stages of completion.  I will post the final product once they are done, including a "roll up" vase.

Hand-Painted Rectangular Bowl in Hi-Fire Spectrum Glass

Spectrum hi-fire glass produces beautiful slumped pieces.  I like to use it with hand-painted pieces that illuminate the art as if it were backlit with a bright floodlight.  You have to fuse it very slowly with a bubble squeeze schedule or else it will bubble up.  I also do the hand-paintings separately and then fuse then to the larger piece in two fusings.  This also minimizes bubble entrapment.

Christmas Ditties

It is finally snowing here in western Colorado and with it comes holiday cheer!  I bought this quaint 8" mold from Slumpy's and have had so much fun with it.  The inner tree is done in aventurine green glass, rimmed with cherry red transparent and capped in clear thin.  Once it was fused, I flipped it over and added dichroic trimmings and re-fused.  Finally, the piece was slumped into the mold.  Fun and festive!  Yes!

Draping Bullseye

My new mega-kiln allows me to do large drapes and slumps.  I had some gorgeous Bullseye fracture/streamer glass and millefiori from another piece that I fused into an 18" draped vase.  Although it is a larger piece than I am used to working with, it finished in a graceful form and bold color.  I do love working in Bullseye Glass!  Someday when I grow up to be a successful glass artist, I can work exclusively in Bullseye.  But for now, it is the exception, not the rule.

The Holiday Gear Up

My new studio is finally operational and I am diving full on into the holiday season.  These are a few of the glass castings ornaments that I am presently making for sale on Etsy and at the Midland Arts Gallery.  Please visit my Etsy link if you are interested in purchasing some of my holiday glass!

Go Saints!

Wavy fused bowl in streaky black with dichroic stringers and amber fleur de lis accent

Amber clear with bejeweled confetti accents and fleur de lis streaky black center

As promised, a "Saints" themed bowl and platter for a Slidell non-profit fundraiser.  Sorry for the sub-par photo quality.

Expanding the Shop

Not only am I expanding the studio, I just received my new Evenheat GTS23-13 kiln!  I can now do large fusings and drapes.  My horizons have just expanded 10-fold.  I also wired it with a dedicated circuit so now more power failures.  Nothing worse that a tripped breaker right in the middle of annealing.  I just have to figure out how to move a 200 lb. kiln into place.....

Back to Work (again)

Indigo Blue Sys 96 Glass with Rainbow Leaves Dichroic Maple Leaves

The move is finally complete (although my studio is in chaos!) and I am back to work.  I just pulled this out of the kiln--a commission piece made with transparent indigo blue glass embellished with dichroic-rainbow-leaf patterned maple leaves.  I hope it captures the season as fall turns into winter.  Two more commission pieces are in the works so check back in a few days for all you Saints fans!

Moving On Up--The Gallery

Exciting news!  The Midland Arts Company has invited me to show my fused glass art and glass mosaics at their gallery on East 3rd Street in historic downtown of Rifle, CO.  I will be displaying my painted, fused plates and fused bowls, along with small mosaic mirrors (when I get them completed).  I am so grateful to the artists at the gallery for allowing me the opportunity to show my work.  Thanks guys!