All Workshops Offerred Through
Kiln Formed Glass Workshops
“Essentials I” Introduction to Glass Fusing – 8 hours
Learn the fundamental techniques required for fused glass art. Glass compatibility and related physics, firing schedules, cold work, kiln operation, and other important topics will be covered. Students will experience three kiln runs while working with multiple types of fusing products including ceramic fiber, adhesives and dichroic glass. Additionally, students will be taught the basic operation of kilns, grinders, saws, lapidary grinders, and other tools necessary for the production and finishing of glass art. Students will create their choice of projects including jewelry, and a wind chime, nightlight, or small clock.
“Essentials II” Introduction to Glass Design – 8 hrs.
Create multiple effects in your fused glass art in this hands-on workshop. Students will experience glass as a basis for representational and abstract design working with various types of materials including glass powders, ground micas, metal inclusions, frit, stringer, rods, glass paints and shard/confetti. Students will create their choice of glass art projects including a picture frame, mirror, clock, or wall art. This workshop focuses on design, embellishment, and artistic expression using glass as a canvas.
“Essentials III” Introduction to Functional Glassware/Plate making – 8 hrs.
Learn slumping theory and the techniques required to create functional glassware including plates, bowls, and platters. Students will design and fuse a blank, which will then be cold worked, and subsequently slumped into a functional glassware mold. Topics covered include: slumping vs. draping, mold preparation, firing schedules, and annealing. This workshop focuses on developing technical mastery of shaping glass in a kiln environment.
“Studio 101” Studio Equipment Training & Maintenance – 8 hrs.
Learn the basic operational skills that will allow you to become comfortable with all of your studio equipment. Programming a digital kiln controller, basic troubleshooting, simple repair, and weekly maintenance are all topics that will be covered for kilns, grinders, lap wheels, wet belt sanders, saws, and more. Additionally, there is discussion and demonstration of preparation techniques for firing, special electrical issues, controlling and determining temperature variations, test firing and more. No pieces will be fired.
“Hot Stuff” Pot Melts/Aperture Pours, Pattern Bars, Vitrograph – 16 hrs.
Discover "hot" new ways to incorporate twists, turns, lines and designs into your fused glass. This two-day workshop is perfect for intermediate fusers who are ready to make the artistic leap beyond the ordinary. As a compliment to basic kiln-forming techniques, students will explore creating pattern bars and pot melts using frit, stringer, rod, and sheet glass. Additionally, students will learn to manipulate molten glass threads directly from a vitrograph kiln. Come prepared to experiment and take home a wide variety of components that can be used for future work.
“Frit Happens” Frit Forms and Powder Wafers – 16 hrs
This workshop includes the best that frit has to offer! Students will work with glass powders as well as fine, medium and course frit to create unusual projects with new dimension. Frit allows design options not available in other forms of glass. You’ll gain the know how to create specialty tiles, bowls, light fixtures, plates, and more. Be prepared to break from your normal glass routine and think outside the sheet, and inside the jar!
“Liquid Glass” Kiln Casting, Combing & Hot Manipulation – 16 hrs.
Working at high temperatures has never been so exciting! In this “liquid glass” workshop, we’ll manipulate hot glass to create your choice of projects including tiles, paperweights, clocks, trivets, bowls, and more, using kiln casting and high firing techniques. Students will experience strip cutting, raking, sandblasting, dam preparation, color mixing, mold filling and cold work including the lapidary wheel. This workshop focuses on developing technical mastery of liquefying glass in the kiln environment.
“Intermediate Seminar” - 24 hrs.
Carving, Weaving, Part Sheets, Powders,Working Deep, Mold Making, Casting, Combing, Cold work (WBS, Lap wheel, Saws, Sandblasting)
Students will learn a variety of intermediate and advanced techniques which will then be incorporated into several self-directed projects. Projects will include working time in and out of the classroom. Extensive cold working techniques and professional finishing will be a strong focus. Techniques presented will include but are not limited to Bullseye’s Painting with Light techniques, designing Part sheets for functional glassware, Glass Weaving & Glass Fabric Design, Color Reactions-the good, bad, and ugly, Precision Cutting Systems, Stack Firing/Working Deep, Dam building, Kiln Carving, Mold Making, and more. Throughout the seven week seminar students will work with small, medium and large kilns, wet belt sanders, lapidary wheel grinders, sandblasting equipment, glass saws, and more. Seminar participants will have access to studio equipment throughout the course to complete their projects. This 24-hour seminar concludes with dinner, critique and a public student show.
Learn the fundamental techniques required for fused glass art. Glass compatibility and related physics, firing schedules, cold work, kiln operation, and other important topics will be covered. Students will experience three kiln runs while working with multiple types of fusing products including ceramic fiber, adhesives and dichroic glass. Additionally, students will be taught the basic operation of kilns, grinders, saws, lapidary grinders, and other tools necessary for the production and finishing of glass art. Students will create their choice of projects including jewelry, and a wind chime, nightlight, or small clock.
“Essentials II” Introduction to Glass Design – 8 hrs.
Create multiple effects in your fused glass art in this hands-on workshop. Students will experience glass as a basis for representational and abstract design working with various types of materials including glass powders, ground micas, metal inclusions, frit, stringer, rods, glass paints and shard/confetti. Students will create their choice of glass art projects including a picture frame, mirror, clock, or wall art. This workshop focuses on design, embellishment, and artistic expression using glass as a canvas.
“Essentials III” Introduction to Functional Glassware/Plate making – 8 hrs.
Learn slumping theory and the techniques required to create functional glassware including plates, bowls, and platters. Students will design and fuse a blank, which will then be cold worked, and subsequently slumped into a functional glassware mold. Topics covered include: slumping vs. draping, mold preparation, firing schedules, and annealing. This workshop focuses on developing technical mastery of shaping glass in a kiln environment.
“Studio 101” Studio Equipment Training & Maintenance – 8 hrs.
Learn the basic operational skills that will allow you to become comfortable with all of your studio equipment. Programming a digital kiln controller, basic troubleshooting, simple repair, and weekly maintenance are all topics that will be covered for kilns, grinders, lap wheels, wet belt sanders, saws, and more. Additionally, there is discussion and demonstration of preparation techniques for firing, special electrical issues, controlling and determining temperature variations, test firing and more. No pieces will be fired.
“Hot Stuff” Pot Melts/Aperture Pours, Pattern Bars, Vitrograph – 16 hrs.
Discover "hot" new ways to incorporate twists, turns, lines and designs into your fused glass. This two-day workshop is perfect for intermediate fusers who are ready to make the artistic leap beyond the ordinary. As a compliment to basic kiln-forming techniques, students will explore creating pattern bars and pot melts using frit, stringer, rod, and sheet glass. Additionally, students will learn to manipulate molten glass threads directly from a vitrograph kiln. Come prepared to experiment and take home a wide variety of components that can be used for future work.
“Frit Happens” Frit Forms and Powder Wafers – 16 hrs
This workshop includes the best that frit has to offer! Students will work with glass powders as well as fine, medium and course frit to create unusual projects with new dimension. Frit allows design options not available in other forms of glass. You’ll gain the know how to create specialty tiles, bowls, light fixtures, plates, and more. Be prepared to break from your normal glass routine and think outside the sheet, and inside the jar!
“Liquid Glass” Kiln Casting, Combing & Hot Manipulation – 16 hrs.
Working at high temperatures has never been so exciting! In this “liquid glass” workshop, we’ll manipulate hot glass to create your choice of projects including tiles, paperweights, clocks, trivets, bowls, and more, using kiln casting and high firing techniques. Students will experience strip cutting, raking, sandblasting, dam preparation, color mixing, mold filling and cold work including the lapidary wheel. This workshop focuses on developing technical mastery of liquefying glass in the kiln environment.
“Intermediate Seminar” - 24 hrs.
Carving, Weaving, Part Sheets, Powders,Working Deep, Mold Making, Casting, Combing, Cold work (WBS, Lap wheel, Saws, Sandblasting)
Students will learn a variety of intermediate and advanced techniques which will then be incorporated into several self-directed projects. Projects will include working time in and out of the classroom. Extensive cold working techniques and professional finishing will be a strong focus. Techniques presented will include but are not limited to Bullseye’s Painting with Light techniques, designing Part sheets for functional glassware, Glass Weaving & Glass Fabric Design, Color Reactions-the good, bad, and ugly, Precision Cutting Systems, Stack Firing/Working Deep, Dam building, Kiln Carving, Mold Making, and more. Throughout the seven week seminar students will work with small, medium and large kilns, wet belt sanders, lapidary wheel grinders, sandblasting equipment, glass saws, and more. Seminar participants will have access to studio equipment throughout the course to complete their projects. This 24-hour seminar concludes with dinner, critique and a public student show.
Metals Workshops
Introduction to Precious Metal Clay – 8 hrs.
Have you ever wanted to work with silver but thought it might be too difficult, time consuming or expensive? Now you can, using Precious Metal Clay® (PMC). PMC consists of microscopic particles of silver or gold suspended in an organic binder to create a pliable material with a consistency similar to that of modeling clay. PMC can be worked with fingers and simple tools to create a vast range of forms. When heated to a high temperature, the binder burns away and the metal particles fuse to form solid silver. PMC assays as pure silver that can be sanded, soldered, and polished like conventional materials. Students will learn the techniques to create multiple pieces of handcrafted silver art jewelry.
Precious Metal Clay + Glass – 8 hrs.
PMC3 is formulated to fire at lower temperatures than PMC standard or PMC+. For this reason you can combine PMC3 with fused glass to create spectacular jewelry. Most importantly, at the PMC3 firing temperature the integrity of your original glass piece is maintained. In this workshop we’ll use multiple techniques to create silver and dichroic glass pendants. Students will learn the necessary firing schedules and differences in using PMC3 with glass.
Basic Soldering & Setting - 8 hours
Novice jewelry makers will learn the basics of soldering metal jewelry items and bezel setting cabochons and stones in sterling silver. Students will experience applying solder, firing a micro torch, removing fire scale, polishing, and more. Soldering jump rings will also be demonstrated. This invaluable workshop will empower you to make your own small jewelry repairs and get you hooked on creating your own personalized pieces.
Textured Metal Jewelry – 4 hrs
All bead and wire enthusiasts who want to create their own focal pendants with matching earrings need to grab a hammer and join us for a smashing good time! Students will learn to work with sterling silver, brass, and copper sheet, wire, and blanks to create pieces that can be added to embellish your beadwork. Special emphasis will be placed on developing textures, color variations, and polishing.
Have you ever wanted to work with silver but thought it might be too difficult, time consuming or expensive? Now you can, using Precious Metal Clay® (PMC). PMC consists of microscopic particles of silver or gold suspended in an organic binder to create a pliable material with a consistency similar to that of modeling clay. PMC can be worked with fingers and simple tools to create a vast range of forms. When heated to a high temperature, the binder burns away and the metal particles fuse to form solid silver. PMC assays as pure silver that can be sanded, soldered, and polished like conventional materials. Students will learn the techniques to create multiple pieces of handcrafted silver art jewelry.
Precious Metal Clay + Glass – 8 hrs.
PMC3 is formulated to fire at lower temperatures than PMC standard or PMC+. For this reason you can combine PMC3 with fused glass to create spectacular jewelry. Most importantly, at the PMC3 firing temperature the integrity of your original glass piece is maintained. In this workshop we’ll use multiple techniques to create silver and dichroic glass pendants. Students will learn the necessary firing schedules and differences in using PMC3 with glass.
Basic Soldering & Setting - 8 hours
Novice jewelry makers will learn the basics of soldering metal jewelry items and bezel setting cabochons and stones in sterling silver. Students will experience applying solder, firing a micro torch, removing fire scale, polishing, and more. Soldering jump rings will also be demonstrated. This invaluable workshop will empower you to make your own small jewelry repairs and get you hooked on creating your own personalized pieces.
Textured Metal Jewelry – 4 hrs
All bead and wire enthusiasts who want to create their own focal pendants with matching earrings need to grab a hammer and join us for a smashing good time! Students will learn to work with sterling silver, brass, and copper sheet, wire, and blanks to create pieces that can be added to embellish your beadwork. Special emphasis will be placed on developing textures, color variations, and polishing.
