Day 4 of the 5 day Facebook challenge
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Flights of Fancy and Imagination
Tag: fused glass
Sapphire and Moonstone Bowl
Hot out of the kiln this morning! The second in my Birthstone Series: Sapphire and Moonstone for September. It measures approx. 8 1/2 diameter by 2 1/4 deep and features iridized glass in both sapphire and clear as well a sprinkling of dichroic on top. An alternate shot appears at the bottom of the post:
And a close up…
As usual, for my kindred, Cube’ster spirits interested in how things work I present a sketch of the process. Being quite literally unable to let precious, gorgeous remnants go to waste, first comes the re-purposing of scrap glass:
Next the “gemstones” (technically referred to as “frit balls”) are formed in the kiln. It took several firings to get all the colors done that follow:
After which they are fused together to render this:
Then another round of firing in a mold to slump into the bowl shape:
I am grateful to always be genuinely surprised and delighted by these outcomes. Although this glass is System 96 (because that’s what I had on hand), I thank the folks at Bullseye for sharing this technique on their website (http://www.bullseyeglass.com/).
Success with the Kiln-Pressed Glass Technique!
In my last post, the first of the year, I promised to do and THEN talk about it. After several months of home renovation which put both my in-home studio space AND my garage workshop (and ME) out of commission I am FINALLY putting the pieces back together . So without further ado I bring you — drum roll please:
This 10″ diameter, vibrant bowl was created using the “Kiln Pressed Glass” technique generously shared online at http://www.fusedglass.org. This multi-step, high temperature process is decidedly NOT for the faint of heart but the results are rewarding. To my knowledge there is no other way to get this watercolor effect in kiln-formed glass. For kindred spirits interested in process a picture(s) is worth a thousand words…
DAY 1: First comes the cutting and the weighing.
After cleaning the glass bits they’re set up in the kiln. Diameter starts at less than 6 inches:
And here’s the “pressed” part: loads of weights are stacked ON TOP OF THE GLASS. Yes, what you see above is indeed UNDER this:
With breath held and fingers crossed, the lid is closed and the firing cycle is programmed. Target temp is 1500 degrees with a lengthy hold. Entire cycle lasts nearly 24 hours. The result is over 8 inches in diameter, nearly 3 inches larger than the start:
But wait, there’s more…
DAY 2: After soaking to remove stuck on kiln wash, coldworking both surfaces with diamond hand laps then re-coating the kiln shelves and curing those (WHEW!) comes more glass cutting, cleaning and weighing (see step one) and THEN…
DAY 2 1/2: back in the kiln with the additional glass for the second firing:
It, too, is completely covered with loads of weights:
The next day…
The piece that started at somewhere between 5 1/2″ – 5 3/4″ is now 10 1/2″D with an overall thickness averaging just under 1/4″ according to my trusty calipers.
DAY 3: Next the piece went back into the kiln for a “Fire Polishing”: a lower temp and less lengthy process but basically adds a work day to the project. This provided a glossy top surface and a satin bottom (see pics at end).
DAY 4: Time to slump. The piece was centered and leveled on a bowl mold inside the Jen-Ken fiber kiln. Now when riding my motorcycle I endeavor to keep the shiny side up. But in this case I decided to go shiny side down and satin finish up top:
DAY 5: Here’s what I got when I opened the kiln:
And here are alternate snapshots of the finished piece which hopefully show at least a little the glossy exterior vs. satin interior finishes I achieved:
I am thrilled with the results and can’t wait to see how this technique will figure into my craft as a whole. Thanks for reading and stay tuned, Cube’sters!
New Work: Water, Water Everywhere…
Hey Cube’sters! Just finished a new piece today. It’s an 8″ x 8″ x 3/4″ deep “sample piece” I’ll ship tomorrow for an out-of-state juried exhibit. If I am chosen to participate I’ll go into production to make the required additional 19 original works within my chosen theme: “Water, water everywhere…nor any drop to drink”. My installation will be a visual reminder of the vital role that water plays in all our lives and a reminder that although approximately 3/4’s of the Earth’s surface is covered in water roughly a billion folks still lack access to a clean source. Because glass is neither a solid nor a liquid it behaves differently when exposed to different temperatures so it serves as a perfect representation for water, which also changes forms depending on temperature and conditions. And as you know I’m a metal-head in many senses of the word; the blue color and bubbles within the glass resulted from thin copper being fired between the layers of glass. The sides are covered in silver leaf and I’ve also included some re-purposed shim stock for that industrial feel. So without further ado, here are a couple of pics:
Here’s to Artwork Cubed meeting Art Squared! Stay tuned for the results and wish me luck!
Latest “Tattoo” Custom Artwork
This challenging and fun piece was commissioned by a new friend. The symbol that is fused into System 96 glass is based on an original tattoo designed by her husband. Here’s the finished piece as hung in her home and a pic of the tattoo. Also check this link for larger images to see more detail: Custom Art It’s 8″ x 8″ x 1 1/2″ overall. Kiln formed glass is 6″ x 6″. Thanks, Sarah C. and see you soon!
ALICE E. SHEPHERD 
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