Glass classes in your businesses

[Susan Robinson]

One thing that creates this problem is that the artists who really are good at glass tend to migrate to larger work and treat the smaller stuff with disdain.
....
In the last 5 years I have found 2 other glass artists who focus exclusively on small pieces. I know there are more out there, but we haven't found them.
To sum up, as long as the emphasis is on"bigger is better", we will continue to have the "dichro blob" taught as ARTistic small glass. It will be taught by 6 month wonders who really have no idea how to fuse.
One last thought. i have painted "jewelry courses" with a broad brush. There are many fine courses taught about glass jewelry. These are however in the small minority compared to the myriad of crap being taught out there.

rant rant rant.


Barry

right on!
I strongly relate to this, I'm another still working pretty much exclusively jewelry/small. I like it. Getting into pattern bar work now, and they're tiny (but not murrini) and will end up mostly in jewelry...

Susan

[Barry Kaiser]

[

right on!
I strongly relate to this, I'm another still working pretty much exclusively jewelry/small. I like it. Getting into pattern bar work now, and they're tiny (but not murrini) and will end up mostly in jewelry...

Susan

Susan,
I would love to see some of these. I do not have the patience for small pattern work, but I love the results. If you have any pics, please post them or email them to me.
Thanks


Barry

[Susan Robinson]

thanks Barry;
unfortunately the progress on those is at a standstill while my kiln is being hijacked for a project with a deadline, but when I get back to them and good results I'll post some pics.

Susan

[Raphael Schnepf]

I know some people who take a class and immediately turn around and offer that same class in their studios. Just one step above what Brock mentioned.

Raf
http://www.rschnepf.com

[Nicole Hanna]

I know some people who take a class and immediately turn around and offer that same class in their studios. Just one step above what Brock mentioned.

Raf
http://www.rschnepf.com

Very good point to mention Raf. I was a victim of one who did that! Made herself out to be an expert in the technique and then at the end of the class when not one person's project turned out she admitted she'd only taken one class and "still had some stuff to learn". I was too livid to even demand my money back...I had to leave to prevent what I was thinking of doing!
Beginning fusing classes is one thing, but if it's a more advanced technique, be very aware of who's teaching it and make sure they have the credentials to back them up. Looking back, I can see my first clue should have been that she only had one piece on display showing this technique...the one piece she did in the class she took, which turned out pretty good cuz she took the class from the person who developed the technique. Had she been proficient in it, she likely would have had several pieces as examples.
Like with anything...buyer beware!


Nicole

[dynamomelano]

Hello,

i am new to glass fusing and the class that I just took was not very helpful in terms of learning to use the kiln. Does anybody know about a good book about making glass jewelry?

Thank you,

Florence

[Lynn g]

Hi, Florence. "Glass jewelry" is a very broad term; can you give us some idea of what sort of thing you would like to do? If you're not sure, here are a few places to check out: the links for Aanraku and Hippos Eating Alligators at the top of this page. Also, Barry Kaiser and Mark Veit have some very recent posts up; if you check those out you will find a link to their websites/photos of their work. Also use the search feature at the top of the page to look for "glass jewelry" in the Photos forum. Browse through some of this work to help decide where you might want to start Then you can post a more specific question which will net you some helpful answers.

The first thing you should do, however, is learn the basics of fusing. Either find a better class with someone who both understands fusing and how to teach, and/or get yourself a good instruction book. (Brad's Contemporary Fused Glass: - see link above - is one of the best and most complete.) You need to understand how glass reacts in the kiln, whether you plan to make blobs (i hope not) or very advanced work or, like many of us, something in between those two extremes that is attractive and satisfying.

There's a world of things to do with glass. Jewelry can be a great place to start, and be warned: you WILL have fun!

[Arnold Howard]

I am just about ready to begin opening a weekend ceramics shop but want to add glass jewelry to my class list. It appears a lot of PYOP shops are starting to offer glass jewelry to their menu.

Shelly, you have received excellent advice in this thread. Here is something else to think about.

In 1990, we introduced the QuikFire kiln, which reaches 1000F in five minutes. Our marketing director, Charlie Noland, demonstrated the kiln at glass trade shows and even malls. This drew large crowds every time, because people were amazed at seeing red-hot glass. You could promote your class with make-and-take demos like Charlie Noland did.

Good luck with your endeavor.

Sincerely,

Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / http://www.paragonweb.com

[GlassOrchid]

Every year the Kindergarten and 1st grade class from our local Elementary school comes to our studio. The school abuts our property so they walk through our woods to begin their adventure. I give them a 15 minute show and tell about glass and show them maybe 20 different pieces from tack fused to cast to slumped to show them what can be done.... they get itchy after about 5 minutes but I pass around the stuff so they can touch it. Many of the 'sample' pieces are from a few of the magless exchanges, some are mistakes other students have made (or I have) and some are little things I've made over the years. I show them stringer, frit, cullet, dichro (a full sheet usually gets a 'wow'), art glass, rods etc...I show them raked pieces, slumped, cast pieces and glass 'paintings' as well.

I use prefired glass... scrap, dichroic and blanks... so they don't cut their little fingers. Many of the parents come too. This is the first introduction to glass making the children and parents ever have and I don't expect most of them (or any) to become glass artists but I give them an introduction to the breadth and depth of what is possible. Then they pile some glass on a square and go out to pump the water pump or feed the chickens... I fire the pieces, do the finishing and gluing and deliver the goods to the school in a few days. Some years we make a suncacther, others some magnets and once in awhile a little slumped dish. This year we made 4 stones and I made 2 into magnets and took the other 2 to make a small mosaic for the school hallway. To be honest the water pump is probably the highlight of their day... and this year we found a turtle in the road so we had that to show them.

My point? Even a 5 year old can have fun fusing. They make something easy and fun. They don't have to learn the ins and outs of the glass business or a lot of technique the first time. I don't anticipate them becoming a glass artist or pumping out their own blobs but you never know. However, I still give them a rundown on what is possible with glass and on safety... and I do it in about 15-20 minutes but I do talk fast. So even if you are going to offer a simple 'make this like this' class you can provide a solid foundation that even a 5 year old can understand.

From what the OP describes his customers are going to glaze over at the word 'anneal' or 'CoEfficiency' like mine do when my husband starts talking about 'f stop' or some other photobladyblahblah. Many have given good advice. If the OP is like me when I get my heart set on something then he/she is going to go ahead with this no matter what. What can they do to prepare? Take a few classes from several different people. Buy 3 or 4 or 5 books on fusing and make all the projects yourself so you have a good idea on making things and have a good set of samples to show people. Design the class to make something simple that you are comfortable with. Not everyone who makes a glass pendant is going to go into business; some just want to make something fun...... not everyone strives to or is capable of making the next American Masterpiece.....there is room for Jane Smith to make a pretty little pendant in the local ceramic shop. Just continue to grow so you are the best teacher you can be and good luck!!

~Nan

[imagesinthewind]

I'm interested in knowing if the OP has added glass fusing to the studio and how it might be doing.

I had to agree with those who said the fusing classes didn't need to be an in depth class all about fusing, but a fun hour or two making something for yourself or gifts.
Guests didn't need to know how to program a kiln, or OWN one in order to make some glass pendants.