Lisa Vogt Art Adventure Blog: Creative Slumping

Excerpt from Creative Slumping Webinar

My favorite thing about glass fusing is its limitless possibilities. Beyond the basics, there are countless ways to work with this medium and get surprisingly unique results every time. There’s always something new to try and learn.

Another thing I love about glass is the three-dimensional aspect. We have the power to change the shape of our art and take it from flat to fabulous. Drop out molds are great props you can use to express your artistic flare in exciting, new creative ways.

What makes drop molds different?

When fused glass is slumped into a typical mold, we retain the original design unchanged but now with a gentle three-dimensional shape. Whereas the process of reshaping glass by allowing it to fall through the hole in a drop out ring changes and adds to the visual features of the design. As the glass drops through the ring the design elements blend and stretch which gives the illusion of movement in the finished project.

As the glass falls through the mold it stretches. Because dropping glass adds detail to the pattern, I’ve found that when it comes to the vase design less is more. Keep the design simple. An over complicated pattern makes the vase look clumsy and heavy instead of graceful and light.

Drop Out Vase How-to

Drop-out-mold vases are tricky. Every kiln fires differently. The type of glass used and the way the project is assembled both affect the way the glass falls through the hole. Taking detailed notes is especially important if you want consistent results time-after-time.

Design Tip: Because dropping glass adds detail to the pattern, I’ve found that when it comes to the vase design less is more. Keep the design simple. An overcomplicated pattern makes the vase look clumsy and heavy instead of graceful and light.

To make the glass.

Cut five (5) 7-inch glass circles. Vary the design on the layers. Stack the 5 layers in the kiln on a primed or fiber covered shelf. Wrap the stacked glass with Thin Fire fiber paper and 1/8” thick fiber paper to maintain the desired thickness and shape during the fusing process. Hold the fiber paper ring in place with kiln posts.
Fire to a full fuse temperature using the guide below.

To Make the glass base and riser.

Base: Cut two 4-inch circles, one black glass, one clear dichroic glass. Stack and full fuse.
Riser: Cut two 1 ½ inch circles out of clear glass. Stack and full fuse.

Drop out mold set up.

The round, ceramic drop out mold is 9-inch-wide with a 5-inch-wide hole. Cover the mold top with 1/8-inch thick fiber paper. This keeps the glass from slipping off the mold as it drops. If handled carefully, the fiber paper can be reused over and over.

Support the mold with four, 5-inch-tall kiln posts. Cover the kiln bottom, below the glass with fiber paper.

Fire the glass to drop it through the mold using the firing guide below.

Kilns fire differently.

Test fire these guides. Take notes and make adjustments as needed.

Firing Guide – Full Fuse

Segment Rate Temp/Degrees Hold/ Minutes

1 300 1300 60*

2 300 1465 10

3 9999** 960 40

4 500 800 10

5 Let cool to room temperature

*This hold prevents bubbles from forming between the glass and kiln shelf.

**As fast as possible.

Drop Ring

Segment Rate Temp/Degrees Hold/Minutes

1 500 1200 30

2 200 1300 60***

***Peek at 30 minutes and again at 45 minutes to monitor the drop.

When the glass touches the fiber paper lined kiln bottom go to the next segment.

3 Flash Vent 1000 0

4 9999* 960 40

5 500 800 10

6 Let cool to room temperature.

*9999, As fast as possible.

**These firing guides are for System 96. They work equally as well with other COEs

Cutting the rim.

Cut the rim off with the 2-inch EverRun Sintered Diamond Slitter and Dremel. Grind and polish the rim. Glue the vase on the riser and base with E6000 adhesive.

Supplies & Materials

5 glass circles cut to 7-inch across

9-inch round ceramic drop out ring with a 5 inch hole

5-inch kiln posts

1/8-inch thick fiber paper

Thin Fire fiber paper

Tools & Materials

2-inch EverRun Sintered Diamond Slitter

Available at: His Glassworks www.hisglassworks.com

Variable speed Dremel with flexible shaft

Water source

Holding Tray

Grinder

See how this vase is made on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sThARy3e0V4

Excerpt from Creative Slumping Webinar

Webinars are a wonderful way to stay connected to other fusers and keep the creative flow strong between hands-on workshops. In this webinar, I show you how to use materials you likely already have in innovative ways to make new and unique shapes. You’ll be amazed at how simple combinations can transform ordinary shapes into sculptural works of art. I hope you’ll join me for this fun and informative live event.

Creative Slumping Webinar, Thursday, November 15, 2018

Register here: https://www.glasspatterns.com/en/glass-patterns-quarterly-store/product/1240-creative-slumping-with-lisa-vogt-november-15-2018.html

Wherever you are in your artistic journey, you’re doing a great job! Bravo!

Happy fusing!
Lisa

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Artist Website www.LisaVogt.net
YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhOifd7wukk
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Upcoming Webinar

Want more ideas? Join me in this fun and informative LIVE event!

Creative Slumping Webinar

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Register here: https://www.glasspatterns.com/en/glass-patterns-quarterly-store/product/1240-creative-slumping-with-lisa-vogt-november-15-2018.html

Back by popular demand! Join me for my upcoming Creative Slumping Webinar. In this detailed Webinar, I’ll reshape the way you slump and drape glass. See how thinking outside the box and using readymade molds in new ways offers numerous and exciting opportunities to produce unique forms. You'll also learn how to make your own graceful, free-form shaped molds from readily available materials with no laborious measuring or messy mixes needed.

Plus, there’s more...
We’ll take it one step further, I’ll show you how to use these different approaches, in combination, to transform ordinary projects into inspiring, sculptural pieces of art!

New for 2019

Are you a lifelong learner?

As a life-long learner myself, I know it sometimes takes a change of scenery, a challenging new educational experience and the encouragement of an experienced instructor to advance my skills and help me grow.

Are you ready to grow? This class is for you!

Now registering.

Advanced Glass Fusing, February 5-8, 2019

4-Days, Hands-on Workshop

My private studio, Wesley Chapel, FL

Register here: http://www.lisavogt.net/products.aspx?id=480

Striking glass work is the result of combining multiple, advanced techniques in innovative ways to produce exceptional art. In this comprehensive, 4-day workshop, I’ll show you how to combine different methods of assembly to make original, fused glass art that’ll make you standout. Techniques include: my Free-Flow, combing, weaving, embossing, advanced layering, designing artistic shapes, plus creative and deep slumping. You’ll also learn how to change the shape of thick, fused glass with various saws, slitters and drills. In addition, you’ll learn kiln operation plus how to make unique display stands.