Lisa Vogt Art Adventure Blog

Glass fusing is more popular than ever. The originality and quality of work I’m seeing in galleries, on websites and in our fusing groups is amazing. With so many enticing techniques to try it’s tempting to copy other artist’s work.

We all want guarantees that our limited time, hard work and expensive materials will produce dependable, beautiful results every time. And so, we play it safe and continually make the same reliable projects. Or we take the easy route and reproduce other’s work that we find attractive.

But, it doesn’t have to be that way. You can develop your own individual design style. By applying a few simple concepts, your finished work and the time spent creating it will be more rewarding and exciting.

1. 1 Be Original!

It’s all be done before you argue. How can I be original, you ask? Yes, it’s all been done. But even the simplest techniques seen through your special artist’s lens and executed with your skilled hands can produce all new results.

To advance beyond routine projects begin by examining art that you admire. When you see a piece of art that really speaks to you, study it. Reduce your admiration down to the most basic attribute of the art. What really captures your interest? Is it the color, the shape or the imagery? Take that feature, hold on to it, then put it aside temporarily. Look at another piece of art. Identify the specific characteristic that you find attractive and put that feature aside temporarily. Do this for a third piece of art. Study it until you know exactly what trait appeals to you. Then take those three characteristics and combine them and you’re guaranteed to design your own original art.

2 2 Shape Up!

One of the fastest and easiest things you can do to make your art stand out is to give it a unique shape.

The most common shape for fused glass projects is the square. Primarily, because it’s economical, there’s no waste. And, because there’s very little cutting, it enables you to get right to the fun stuff, building the design. It’s also popular with beginners and hobbyists with basic cutting skills. By moving away for the square, you immediately increase the visual value of your work.

The rectangle is popular for the same reasons. If you change the shape of your square or rectangle, even slightly, you’re sure to engage the viewer longer.

The circle is traditionally a very pleasing shape. It requires a higher skill level to cut and therefore is more unique. But it also benefits from innovative thinking and a fresh approach to the perimeter shape.

How to come up with new shapes?

I like to draw quick, no obligation sketches on note book pages. I resist the urge to self-edit or limit the creative flow. The pencil just glides over the paper making a mess of the previously clean white space. The first few sketches usually resemble familiar, safe shapes and designs. But once those are out of my head, suddenly there’s room to be more creative.

All new shapes begin to develop.

During these exercises I’m free to draw the impossible.

I then take bits and pieces from the shapes that I find interesting and remix them to create my own new, project profiles. And sometimes, if I’m lucky, I even manage to figure out how to build the impossible ones.

3 3 Combine Fusible Techniques

Exceptional glass art work is never made with one step or one technique. Really exciting pieces are designed with substantial planning that brings an unexpected pairing of components together. Combining different techniques adds depth to the visual complexity of the art which further engages the viewer.

Putting it into practice.

The beauty of this approach is the techniques don’t have to be super difficult to have a positive impact on your new work. We all have our favorite, trusted, go-to techniques. Start there.

Using a complimentary color scheme, make three individual pieces, using three different methods. Cut the pieces up. Reinvent their roles in your art. Move them around. Change the composition a few times. If nothing thrills you, set them aside and let your creative subconscious have a turn.

Don’t force the grouping. I find that once I relieve the pressure to solidify a design, one presents itself. And the new composition is usually one that I otherwise would never have thought of. In cases like this, I believe the physical, readymade pieces guide and influence the discovery of innovative designs. Try it. You’ll be amazed how this abstract assembly opens your mind to fresh ideas.

Trust yourself.

Design with confidence. Resist the impulse to compare yourself or your work to others. Instead, blaze your own trail and don’t look back. Take pride in your individuality and what you contribute to the craft.

Take risks to further develop your personal design style. Nurture your unique artistic perspective and your creative spirit will flourish.

Happy fusing,

Lisa

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Upcoming Webinars and Hands-on Class

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

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

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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.

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

Exceed your expectations! 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.

2 NEW Videos are here!

Fun and Fanciful Fusing with Lisa Vogt New Video DVD. Make new project shapes, design with vibrant colors and get excited about fusing again!

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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.

We usually know the key subject or focal point of a fused glass project from the very beginning. You enter the studio with the intention of making a piece with a sail boat or a geometric pattern. It’s that basic plan that fuels your creative actions. Making the subject is easy. But don’t stop there.

What about the background?

The background is equally, and possibly more important than the subject. How the background is handled can dramatically improve the power and appeal of a work of art. A good background enhances the focal point. It reinforces the subject with images or shapes that establish setting or create a mood that further support the artist’s specific visual goals.

Last month, at Glass Craft & Bead Expo in Las Vegas I had the pleasure of working with several creative students in my Fusing Art Design class.

We did a fun group exercise.

We built a fused glass design together. I went around the room and asked each student to contribute a random design element. The exercise quickly illustrated the dramatic impact the background has on a design. It showed how the addition of simple, complementary elements can sway the design direction. And how the choices we make can produce unique, exciting designs. The spontaneity of the student’s additions combined with their diverse interests and individual styles resulted in a fun and funky design.

This exercise was so impactful inside the classroom, I thought it might be of value outside the classroom as well.

Evolution of a Design

The first student contributed the shape of our project, a square.

The next student added the focal point, a cat. Being in a classroom situation, with limited time, I drew the cat from behind to minimize the detail.

The following student suggested the setting. She placed the cat in Las Vegas. I drew a simple slot machine into the design. Of course, our cat has a winning spin with three mice.

I then asked the next student what pattern we could add to reinforce the Las Vegas theme. She offered dollar signs which worked beautifully. I increased the line size on the dollar signs to further enhance our design motif.

A cocktail was suggested next. I added a martini glass with an olive.

The cheese wedge, and puffy purse were drawn in to add balance to the design composition.

At this point, we decide as a group that the design had enough elements. If during fabrication, we thought it needed more detail we’d select patterned or textured glass to add more visual interest.

This design was drawn on my computer using the Glass Eye 2000, from Dragonfly Software. https://www.dfly.com/

This cat design is fun, but not revolutionary. However, the free-style design approach that evolved from this exercise has enormous potential. It clearly emphasizes the power of spontaneous thinking and how we can use it to develop our own original works of art.