Lisa Vogt Art Adventure Blog

Friday, May 12, 2017

As seen in Go with the Flow Video DVD

Secrets to Making Stand Out Art Revealed

Excerpt from Breaking Through-Making Exhibition Quality Art Class & Video DVD

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

I’m sure you’ve noticed the dramatic increase in outstanding, professional quality fused glass artwork being made by your fellow artists. You admire their originality and the advanced skills it takes to produce such striking art. But then you find yourself wondering what makes them so special? Why aren’t your pieces getting noticed?

What’s missing?

To answer that question, we first have to consider what makes artwork stand out. There are two key features that make artwork exceptional. The two elements are, unique form and dramatic imagery. Design your projects with these basic concepts in mind and you’ll immediately see an increase in the desirability of your work.

As seen in Breaking Through - Making Exhibition Quality Art

Unique Form

Shape up! Move away from the simple square, rectangle and circle. These shapes are tired. They have their place when making a production series where minimizing material, fabrication, and labor costs is essential for profit.

But if you want your work to rise to gallery status, give your artwork an unexpected or brand new shape. This elevates your fused glass from a practical or functional container, to a glamorous, three dimensional, fine art sculpture.

Get creative, combine slumping molds to make one-of-a-kind shapes. Use fiber paper or fiber board to change the profile of your fused glass. You’ll quickly find,the possibilities are endless.

As seen In Painting with Frit Video DVD

Dramatic Imagery

What makes a painting memorable? They’re generally rectangular in shape, so what makes one unforgettable? It’s the subject matter, of course. Taken a step further, it’s the artist’s distinctive composition, their unique way of interpreting the focal point and the special way the scene in rendered. Give the viewer a fresh look at something familiar and they’re hooked.

There are several ways to engage the viewer and hold their attention longer with your subject matter. Render a recognizable subject in a surprising way. Use unexpected colors or add props, like a hat on a dog or a tutu on a cat. Include an interesting background that enhances the subject. Place your focal point in an unusual setting. Put a flower on the moon. Or, put the moon on a flower. Visualize a composition that extends beyond the rectangular limits of your glass canvas. And then build it with an enthusiasm that shows.

As seen in Breaking Through - Making Exhibition Quality Art Video DVD

The Winning Combination

Combine both unique form and dramatic imagery and your work will rise above the rest and get noticed. It’s easy. Start simple with the basic shapes and add your own twist. Put notches in a square, put curves in the straight edges of a rectangle, give your circle a freeform shape. Then reshape the fused glass by slumping or draping it on a combination of molds and other kiln furniture. There are no rules. Just make it your own and you’ll come out a winner.

Once you integrate these design concepts into your work, you’ll be amazed how quickly your work rises to a higher level of sophistication. And in the process, thinking in a broader scope will open the door to all new, exciting possibilities.

Happy Fusing!

Lisa

For more pro tips join me at Glass Quest or learn from home with my video DVD.

Excerpt from Breaking Through-Making Exhibition Quality Art Live Presentation and Breaking Through Making Exhibition Quality Art with Lisa Vogt, Video DVD

Glass Quest 2017

Breaking Through-Making Exhibition Quality Art Live Presentation

Glass Quest 2017

May 26, 27 & 28, 2017

West Palm Beach, Florida

There’s still time to register!

For more info http://www.mcmow.com/glass-quest-2017/

A weekend of education, inspiration and engagement for glass enthusiasts of all types. Incredible networking opportunities, as well as overall engagement in the evolving world of art glass education & advocacy! Meet & partner with other glass artists as we push the boundaries of Glass as a Contemporary Art Form!

As seen in Upscale Fusing Webianr

Back by popular demand

Upscale Fusing Webinar

July 25, 2017

https://www.glasspatterns.com/glass-patterns-quarterly-store/product/1122-upscale-fusing-with-lisa-vogt-july-25-2017.html

Advanced Glass Fusing Workshop

September 26-29, 2017

4-Days, Hands-on,

Wesley Chapel, Florida

Here’s what students are saying about the class.

We got right to work within the first 10 minutes. It was 4 very intense days of working on advanced techniques and fusing. The best part was we chose what we wanted to learn and Lisa taught us how to make it. -Beth

In the recent 4-day workshop Lisa shared her space, methods, approaches to work, advanced tools in such a welcoming way along with the limit of 3-4 students. This gives you so much one-on-one time with an expert of glass fusion which makes it easy to absorb info, ask questions and work to have successful projects that you love.-Regina

Having a small number of students in the class allowed us to each pursue different projects and therefore, see a variety of processes rather than if we all had to make the same pieces. As Lisa, would talk with a classmate we would continue to work on our pieces but at the same time, listen, take notes or watch what she was showing someone else. The ease of learning in this fashion was remarkable. -Ginger

Advanced Glass Fusing Workshop

November 14-17, 2017

4-Days, Hands-on,

5 Reasons Why YOU Will LOVE this Workshop!

1 One-on-one instruction

2 Step-by-step guidance to develop your own design style

3 Individualized project program - make what inspires YOU

4 Four full days of hands-on creating and fusing

5 Unlimited possibilities

Friday, May 5, 2017

Blue Drop Out Vase Made Easy

Excerpt from my 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.

Drop out mold do’s and don’ts.

As the glass falls through the mold it stretches. As it stretches, the side walls in the vase become thinner. If they become too thin the project is very fragile and may not be able to support its own weight. To prevent this, the fused glass is made with five layers of glass. The five layers of glass are contained with fiber paper during the fusing process to maintain the desired size. Without the fiber paper the glass would grow. We’d lose our size, shape and thickness needed to make a successful vase.

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 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.

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.

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

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

Excerpt from my Creative Slumping Webinar

See it on YouTube Video

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

Want more innovative ideas?

Join me Tuesday for my Creative Slumping Webinar!

There’s still time to register.

As Seen in Creative Slumping Webinar,Tuesday

Creative Slumping Webinar

May 9, 2017

https://www.glasspatterns.com/glass-patterns-quarterly-store/product/1093-creative-slumping-with-lisa-vogt-may-9-2017.html

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.

Meet me in West Palm Beach!

Glass Quest 2017

May 26, 27 & 28, 2017

West Palm Beach, Florida

For more info http://www.mcmow.com/glass-quest-2017/

Back by popular demand

Upscale Fusing Webinar

July 25, 2017

https://www.glasspatterns.com/glass-patterns-quarterly-store/product/1122-upscale-fusing-with-lisa-vogt-july-25-2017.html

Advanced Glass Fusing Workshop

September 26-29, 2017

4-Days, Hands-on,

Wesley Chapel, Florida

You’ll love the concentrated, in-depth study and creative momentum you’ll gain while actively producing, nonstop for four consecutive days.

Push the boundaries art glass imposes. Explore innovative approaches to design and combine multiple advanced techniques to construct original art that reflects your own personal style. Enjoy: the one-on-one instruction, making large scale projects, the well-equipped classroom, and the intimate class size.

Advanced Glass Fusing Workshop

November 14-17, 2017

4-Days, Hands-on,

Wesley Chapel, Florida

Inspiration! Knowledge! Confidence! Get the tools you need to create exceptional glass art here. You’ll love the concentrated, in-depth study and creative momentum you’ll gain while actively producing, nonstop for four consecutive days.