Sunday, March 27, 2016

What if…


Pen and Ink Study

So many clever discoveries begin with those two simple words-what if. They pave the way for exploration, experimentation and spontaneous self-expression. My most interesting, complex and unique pieces of art have developed from this perpetual curiosity, an interest in seeing what new project can be made by combining new techniques.

Recently, my attention was drawn to a crumpled sheet of paper as it sailed in increasingly large, carefree circles down an empty street. Beyond the graceful beauty of its feather light ascent, I wondered if it carried away an important message that would soon be lost, left unseen in a dirty gutter. I wondered if it could capture that weightless freedom and the romantic mystery of the unknown message in glass.

What if…

What if I scribble a pen and ink style drawing on a single layer of almond glass? What if I then manipulate the smooth, flat surface, like the wind, and give it an unbalanced shape? Would it stir imagination; would it inspire a story like the runaway scrap had? It’s questions like these that bring about change and spur new approaches to one’s work.

You can tap into a bottomless well of ideas all your own. Allow yourself to take a new tangent without the burden of perfection looming over your shoulder. Blaze your own trail; follow every twist and turn to its natural end. Enjoy the journey. The destination will take care of itself.

Happy fusing,
Lisa

Check out the Pen and Ink Study Video!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia3uoNDgVbc

Want to Unlock Your Greatest Potential? Join me for an advanced 4-day, hands-on glass fusing workshop in May. 
 
Here’s what students are saying about the workshop.

“Lisa is an exemplary educator who is passionate about her craft. She is highly organized and mindful of her student’s strengths and challenges. Best practices of teaching as well as craftsmanship were utilized throughout the workshop. Thank you for igniting my creative spirit to a whole new level.” -JoAnn

Now Registering!
NEW Advanced Glass Fusing Workshop with Lisa Vogt
May 10 – 13, 2016

Intermediate to advanced skill level.
Intense 4-Day, Hands-on Workshop
Lisa’s Private Glass Studio, Wesley Chapel, Florida
Register online today! Class size is limited to 4! 

Check out the Advanced Workshop Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRYwR__pcfo


Stand out! Striking glass work is the result of combining multiple, advanced techniques in innovative ways to produce exceptional art. In this comprehensive, 4-day workshop, Lisa will show you how to combine different methods of assembly to make original, fused glass art that will make you standout. Techniques include: the new 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. As if that’s not enough, kiln operation, how to make you own unique display stands and how to photograph your work are also covered.  

How it works.

Students select what they want to make from a wide variety of large-scale advanced project samples.  You’ll create your unique project using full sheets of glass (not scrap) using a color combination of your choice. You’ll enjoy pulling from Lisa’s well-stocked shelves of materials and working in her spacious, open-air studio at your own relaxed pace. Students will complete several, multi-process projects in class. You’ll leave the workshop with a working knowledge of kiln operation, project specific firing guides, an empowered level of confidence and re-inspired artistic creativity.  



What you will do in this workshop: You’ll learn how to select inspiring color palates, design standout art that reflects your own style, work with full sheets of glass in colors of your choice, be encouraged to combine new advanced techniques and complete numerous large-scale pieces of art. And, you’ll leave with an enthusiastic new level of confidence in your flourishing creative talents.
    
What you won’t do in this class: You won’t wait in line to use a tool, bump elbows in a crowded workspace or make boring knick-knacks.  

Here’s what the students are saying about the workshop.

“Lisa is an exemplary educator who is passionate about her craft. She is highly organized and mindful of her student’s strengths and challenges. Best practices of teaching as well as craftsmanship were utilized throughout the workshop. Thank you for igniting my creative spirit to a whole new level.” -JoAnn

“Loved everything about this class.” -Joni

“Great workshop. I learned so much. You were wonderful to work with.” -Erika

“My favorite part about the workshop was the creative flow between the instructor and the participants. Lots of positive feedback and encouragement. Lots of attention to detail.”

“What surprised me about the workshop was how many completed projects we were able to make during the workshop.” 

“My least favorite part about the workshop was having to leave! I loved everything about this intense and interactive workshop.”

“My favorite part of the workshop was using stock glass instead of scrap.”

“What surprised me was that we could work on anything we wanted to and everyone could be working on different projects.” 

“My favorite part of this workshop was making Fire & Ice. What surprised me about this workshop was the amount of projects we accomplished.”


Register online today! Class size is limited to 4! 

 


Upcoming Classes and Webinars

Advanced Glass Fusing
Combine innovate advanced techniques to complete numerous large-scale pieces of art.
May 10-13, 2016
Wesley Chapel, FL

NEW Take it to the Next Level
Take your glass art to the next level through the use of uncommon technique pairings.
June 13-14, 2016
D&L Art Glass Supply, Denver, CO

NEW Breaking Through with Lisa Vogt
Design thoughtful, exhibition quality work in this in-depth 2-day class.
June 15-16, 2016
D&L Art Glass Supply, Denver, CO

Make a Fused Glass Sink Webinar
Lisa will guide you step-by-step through the time-tested processes she uses to make elegant glass sinks.    
May 24, 2016

Fusing with Frit Webinar
Learn how to achieve gradient blends and subtle shading with frit.
July 7, 2016

NEW Upscale Fusing Webinar
Learn how to combine cutting-edge techniques to add dimension and volume to your work.
July 26, 2016
July 28, 2016

NEW Creative Slumping Webinar
Learn how using molds in new ways, offers numerous exciting opportunities to produce unique forms.
August 30, 2016
September 1, 2016
 

Glass Patterns Quarterly Webinar Link

Friday, February 19, 2016

Charity Auction

Let the bidding begin! 
Pride in Colors is now up for auction. Jump on it! The auction ends tomorrow. 
https://m.charityauctionstoday.com/m/auctions/equality-florida-s--143/items/prideincolors-2303

Monday, February 8, 2016

Getting Fired Up!




Free-Flow technique by Lisa Vogt

If you’re wondering why this girl, the one who usually has plenty to say and share, has been quiet lately; it’s because I’ve been blissfully pushing fused glass boundaries in my studio. 

As an instructor, I strive to encourage, inspire and nurture my students. But every so often, I crave the freedom to follow my own imaginative path; to seek out exciting new methods for making fused glass that I can bring to the classroom. The rewards of concentrated study go beyond improving and expanding technique. The in-depth focus gives me a fresh perspective for creating unique designs and the limitless possibilities bring the novelty back to my job. Novelty is always welcome, since I’ve been wielding a glass cutter for more than 25 years. 

Every new year I attempt to make some small improvement; I don’t adapt well to rigid new year resolutions. Instead, weaving the changes in gradually, slowly increasing their frequency, gets lasting results. This year, to expand my horizons, I’m trying to do ordinary, routine things differently. For my first shake up, I traded in my old-school Mr. Coffee pot for a Keurig coffee machine. I didn’t think I’d like the one-cup-at-a-time philosophy. But as it turns out, I love the convenience and all the wonderful coffee flavors that are readily available. The next big change came at a high-class salon where I entrusted my wild hair to a talented young cosmetologist who I’ve known since she was 18 months old. I simply asked her to, “modern me up.” After a quick assessment of my disobedient mane, she suggested that I embrace my curls. As you can see from my new profile pics, I took her advice. Now, my hair and I are in that happy place and getting along better than ever.  

Free-Flow technique by Lisa Vogt

Out in my studio, I applied the same attitude and made a conscious effort to be open minded in my thinking and flexible in how tasks were completed. The results were amazing. New project ideas flowed freely, they flooded my head faster than I could keep up. In the middle of the night, I’d jump up out of bed to scribble rough designs on scraps of paper so they wouldn’t be forgotten. 


Going into this artistic mission, I had a master plan with specific goals. It was my intention to blend glass colors to make cross-mixes with subtle shading and soft color washes. I wanted to create effects similar to those you’d see in blown glass, but make them in a kiln. Also, I wanted to design complex pieces of art with stimulating patterns and then shape those pieces into graceful, sculptural forms.


The sophisticated artwork I envisioned required multiple firings. It took time, perseverance and patience to stay organized through the many stages of fabrication. But my effort was rewarded. I learned so much and have really exciting new techniques to share. The most fascinating being my innovative Free-Flow process in which I manipulate glass in the kiln to produce amazing color blends and mixes. I also discovered creative new ways to incorporate advanced techniques like weaving, combing, and embossing into my projects. 



It goes without saying, not all of my pieces turned out well. In fact, some really UGLY _hit came out of my kilns. When that happened, I stuck to the original plan and started over. Some pieces were made as many as five times before they were acceptable. In those cases, I can really explain what NOT to do or what will happen if you move forward anyway. You know who you are. 

This failed drop out was adopted by friends.

There was one good constant though, something valuable was learned from every single firing, whether the outcome was deemed a success or a failure. 

This failed bird cage looked like a bad rib cage. It became a dumpster Frisbee.

I’m really excited about sharing the many new concepts and techniques I learned during my concentrated study. Students taking my classes can look forward to building on this new material and my newly enriched insight as it relates to the workshop.  

Super UGLY! I don't know what I was thinking... It's still waiting for a good home.

For every one of my beautiful pieces you see there are several ugly misfits you’ll never see. I experiment, so you don’t have to. 

Are you ready to do things differently?
  
Let's fire it up!

Lisa
PS If you’re wondering what happens to the ugly misfits, some find homes with sympathetic friends, others are dumpster Frisbees and the rest have a place in the artist’s “private collection.” 

www.LisaVogt.net
Lisa@LisaVogt.net
For updates https://www.facebook.com/LisaJVogt/?ref=hl
For free tutorials https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKLC1hPWbP6Vzgx2Te9tg-g
News from the Studio Newsletter www.LisaVogt.net

Upcoming 2016 Classes

Cast Away
Think big, think heavy, think glass casting, think easy! Yes, easy! No messy molds. With just a few readily available materials you can add the intriguing element of visual and physical weight to your work.
April 1, 2016
Glass Craft and Bead Expo
Las Vegas, NV

Fireworks
The ultimate advanced technique glass fusing class.
April 2, 2016
Glass Craft and Bead Expo
Las Vegas, NV

Fusing Art Design
Ordinary to extraordinary. Learn how to elevate your work from “craft” to “fine art.”
April 3, 2016
Glass Craft and Bead Expo
Las Vegas, NV

Advanced Glass Fusing
Combine innovate advanced techniques to complete numerous large-scale pieces of art.
May 10-13, 2016
Wesley Chapel, FL

NEW Take it to the Next Level
Take your glass art to the next level through the use of uncommon technique pairings.
June 13-14, 2016
D&L Art Glass Supply Exclusive
Denver, CO

NEW Breaking Through with Lisa Vogt
Design thoughtful, exhibition quality work in this in-depth 2-day class!
June 15-16, 2016
D&L Art Glass Supply Exclusive
Denver, CO