Breaking Rules is So Much Fun!

You’ve enjoyed success making the usual plates, bowls and vases following practices and guidelines laid out by the experts. But the element of surprise and the thrill of the unexpected success has gone missing. If you find yourself blindly staring at the glass wishing for inspiration, then it’s time to break the rules. Make art that excites you again.

Before you run naked through your glass studio, let’s be sure to set this excursion up for success. Start by studying finished art that you find attractive. Define what it is about the piece that appeals to you. Is it the shape, the colors, the pattern or the design? Take that element and put it aside temporarily. Maybe loosely sketch it out on paper for quick reference later. Do this for three individual pieces of art.

Small details can have a huge impact on the visual appearance of your art. Don’t underestimate the power of minor changes to customary pieces. When trying to navigate new territory, you’ll have the greatest success if you take what has worked for you in the past and then expand on it to create something all new and unexpected. 

Pattern and shape are two of the simplest elements that can easily be manipulated to dramatically increase the appeal of fused glass art. By adding unique patterns and building new shapes you can draw the viewer in and lock their attention tight. In the end, isn’t that our ultimate goal, to inspire people?

Here’s how.

Anchor the viewer’s eye with an interesting pattern. Unexpected bubbles are usually considered undesirable. But when made into a uniform design, bubbles can add a whole new dimension to the glass art. Designing with bubbles is a terrific way to add decoration and a little sparkle. Light dances inside the tiny dome shapes which increases the appearance of depth and the overall intricacy of the finished piece. 

Here, I’m using stringers to establish the pattern. They’re placed even distances apart in two directions on a base glass and then capped with clear glass. The cool thing about this technique is the assembly method dictates the placement, size and shape of the bubbles. If the openings between the stringers are square, then the bubbles are round. Rectangular openings result in oval shaped bubbles. While triangular openings give you tear drop shaped bubbles. 

Making small, 2” x 2” test pieces will give you an opportunity to try unusual color combinations. It also builds confidence because you know what to expect when you go bigger. The best part of this technique is the possibilities for imaginative designs are endless. Try it. You’ll be blown away! 

Sculpture romances the viewer. It pulls them in like a magnet. Give your art unique shape and the viewer will be hooked. With so many fusing materials at your disposal, it’s never been easier to get creative with your art’s profile. The easiest way to get funky shapes is to drape fiber material over an existing slumping mold. Give the fiber paper exaggerated contours by tucking kiln posts or fiber board between the mold and the fiber. 

You can also achieve new shapes by combining different ceramic or stainless steel slumping molds together. Some of my most exciting pieces have been made this way. 

If you’re shy to jump in, build a sample out of clear glass. Make the sample the same shape, size and thickness as the intended project. Clear is the best choice because it’s the least expensive glass. And you can see through it to see where the glass rests on the mold assembly. Then you’re able to make adjustments to the final piece as needed. Plus, there’s no waste. The clear sample can be smashed and used for casting filler. It’s a win, win.  

    

The wonderful thing about this technique is every piece of glass slumped has a one-of-a-kind flare. They’re your own personal original. Now that’s exciting!  

Get crazy and combine both techniques and you have a show stopper. The biggest drawback to this in-depth approach is the amount of time necessary to plan an exceptional project. True, not all projects warrant this much effort. But if you work in stages on a few, you’ll find the outcome is extremely rewarding. 

Design developer. 

Take it a step further and create your own design. Go back to the three pieces of art you studied earlier. Take the three elements that attracted you and combine them with a unique pattern and a sculptural shape. Now you’re on the threshold of greatness! 

These are just a few examples of breaking the rules. If you’re ready to rush into your studio, excited about the possibilities, don’t stop here. These techniques have great potential for expansion is so many directions. Take them and run, just not naked, and set your imagination free.    

Are you ready to take your artwork to the next level?

Learn how easily you can immediately apply these concepts to your work to take it to the next level. Join me for my upcoming webinar, Fusing for the Adventurous, TODAY Tuesday July 24 for more in-depth fusing tips and tricks that’ll get your work noticed. 

Excerpt from Fusing for the Adventurous Webinar

Happy fusing!

Lisa 

Follow my blog for more tips and tricks! 

Artist Website www.LisaVogt.net
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Upcoming Webinars.

Let’s get together and fuse glass!

TODAY!

There’s still time to register! 

Let’s hang out. It’s LIVE. Ask your questions. Get immediate answers. 

Fusing for the Adventurous Webinar

July 24, 2018

https://www.glasspatterns.com/glass-patterns-quarterly-store/product/1211-fusing-for-the-adventurous-with-lisa-vogt-july-24-2018.html

This webinar is packed with new advanced techniques that’ll excite your creativity. Break the rules. Design with bubbles. Add drama with pattern. Think outside the box. Play with shrinkage. Go sculptural. Design with open spaces. Learn how to design unique stands. See the value of experimenting. Get tips for working with color. Get tips to expand your artistic style. Get project specs and my personal firing guides. All this plus personalized instruction in the comfort of your home.

You’ll get excited about your work again!

Make a Fused Glass Sink Webinar

August 2, 2018

https://www.glasspatterns.com/glass-patterns-quarterly-store/product/1212-make-a-fused-glass-sink-with-lisa-vogt-august-2-2018.html

Fusing with Frit

September 20, 2018

https://www.glasspatterns.com/glass-patterns-quarterly-store/product/1228-fusing-with-frit-with-lisa-vogt-september-20-2018.html

Are you a hands-on learner? 

Now Registering!

Advanced Glass Fusing 4-Day, Hands-on Workshop

November 6-9, 2018

Gain knowledge! Build confidence! Get inspired!

Join me for this in-depth workshop held in my private studio.

Wesley Chapel, Florida, 4-Day, Hands-on, Class size is limited.

Seating is limited. Register here: http://www.lisavogt.net/products.aspx?id=477

In this intense, 4-day workshop you’ll utilize the many advanced techniques today’s successful glass artists are using to elevate their work from craft to fine art. This all-new program is ideal for ambitious glass fusers ready to go bigger and explore more in-depth kiln forming techniques. 

Learn at home at your own pace. Instructional Videos are here!

Available here: http://www.lisavogt.net/shop.aspx?id=40

Check out my new writer’s blog.

Lisa J. Vogt

Writer – Instructor – Artist

Relationships fascinate me, and so I have another blog dedicated to the weird and wonderful ways we interact with each other