Lisa Vogt Art Adventure Blog: July 2018

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Making Fused Glass Sinks and Large Bowls

Artists are the most generous people I know. We love to share our passion. We all want to make a more dramatic and memorable impression with our art. One of the bests way to accomplish this is to go bigger and make large scale pieces that stand out in the crowd.

But going bigger can be scary. You must invest more time and material. And there are more design decisions to make. It’s a huge commitment and you want guarantees that the finished piece will exceed your expectations. Following are some fundamental tips that’ll greatly increase your success with all your fused glass artwork.

1 Measuring the Slumping Mold

It seems trivial, but this is where most craftsman go wrong. Everyone wants to make the largest fused glass disc possible. They then measure the mold from the outer rim to the outer rim and cut their glass circles accordingly. They wrongly assume the glass that rests on the top rim of the mold will follow the center of the fused glass disc as it slumps into the mold. The problem is the glass on the flat rim drags.

Therefore, it does not fall into the mold evenly. The result is a bowl with uneven height in the side walls. A lopsided bowl can be avoided simply by measuring across the inside of the mold and then cutting the glass ¼ to ½ inch smaller than that measurement. Yes, the bowl is slightly smaller. No one will notice. They’ll be too busy admiring your beautifully crafted, uniform bowl with even side walls all the way around.

2 Durability is in the Design

When going larger it’s important to design your art in such a way that the glass thickness is uniform throughout the entire piece of art. If you design the round disc with two glass layers on one side and four glass layers on the opposite side, you’ll have unbalanced mass. This can cause the finished piece of art to break due to the stress of supporting its own weight. Instead, plan your design execution in advance to ensure you have the same number of glass layers across the entire disc. Small accents pieces decorating the top aren’t a concern, provided they’re added in moderation.

3 Let it Shine

The beauty of glass is its transparency, and the attraction of glass fusing is our ability to mix transparent and opal materials, to create various color combinations and an infinite number of intricate patterns. The wonderful thing about going large is the extended size of the creative canvas. With more room, you have more opportunity to expand your design ideas and make a dynamic statement. So rather than fumble through, take time to plan a well thought out design. Consider including pre-tacked or fused glass components for added interest. Mix both transparent and opal glass to increase visible depth. The possibilities are endless.

4 Do Your Best Work

Don’t cut corners. No excuses. If you think to ask, “Should I recut or redo this?” My answer is, “Yes.” The more time and effort you put into each step will greatly improve the overall quality of your finished pieces. Fabrication and execution are equally as important as design esthetics. If you implement this approach, every piece you produce will be a masterpiece.

5 Fusing and Slumping

Slow it down. Larger usually also means thicker. You’ll dramatically increase your firing success rate by slowing down both the fusing schedule and the slumping schedule. I fire my large pieces at 300 degrees per hour and hold several times on the way up to 1465 degrees to fuse, and 1220 degrees to slump. I anneal the glass at 960 degrees for 180 minutes, for both fusing and slumping, and then slowly drop the temperature down to room temperature. By being conservative with the firing schedules, I achieve consistently beautiful results every time. You can too!

Excerpt from Make a Fused Glass Sink Webinar

For more in-depth information on making sinks and large vessels, join me for my next webinar. All the pro tips and tricks will be revealed. Plus, you’ll get my custom firing guides for fusing and slumping sinks and large bowls.

Let’s get together and make sinks in my Make a Fused Glass Sink webinar this Thursday, August 2, 2018.

I hope to see you there,

Check out my sink video!

Make Fused Glass Sinks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHJhqNSpM6M

Happy fusing!

Lisa

Follow my blog for more tips and tricks!

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

Author Website https://lisajvogtcom.wordpress.com/

Twitter https://twitter.com/lisajvogt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lvogt_originalsinglass/

Upcoming Webinars.

Let’s get together and fuse glass!

It’s LIVE. Ask your questions. Get immediate answers.

Join me and learn how easily you can make the sink of your dreams.

Make a Fused Glass Sink Webinar

Thursday, 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

Creating a stunning dichroic glass sink is easy when you know how! In this comprehensive Webinar, Lisa will guide you step by step through the time-tested processes she uses to make large-scale, functional vessels. You'll learn safe handling techniques for cutting oversized circles, how to fuse and slump thick pieces to retain consistent bowl height, plus trade-secrets for worry free drilling.

In addition to fabrication know-how, you'll receive a complete supply list, specifics on kiln requirements, source information for the slumping mold and drill kit, as well as helpful installation tips. With all the professional tricks revealed, you'll gain the confidence and knowledge needed to make your own dazzling beauty.

There's more! In addition, Lisa demonstrates how to make a glittering dichroic sink. Lisa will also show you how to make a cast glass sink from nipped glass pieces dichroic bits and frit. Plus, you'll be guided through the various cold-working steps she uses to finish the cast glass sink edge to a glamorous, professional, quality polish.

Fusing with Frit Webinar

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

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

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
YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhOifd7wukk
Facebook www.Facebook.com/LisaJVogt

Author Website https://lisajvogtcom.wordpress.com/

Twitter https://twitter.com/lisajvogt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lvogt_originalsinglass/

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!