Blog Archives

Krazy Kiln Kasting

6/28/2014

It's been awhile since posting anything... No haven't fallen into my kiln yet, or glued myself to the floor with plaster.. I have been super busy, perhaps even a little overkill with what I have been creating... As most people who work with glass, and especially casting know- You can do everything right and still not have a favorable outcome... That's why there is strength in numbers, and I always like to over produce, because sometimes something doesn't turn out, or during the coldworking process it breaks... And yes, even packing up for a show as had some mishaps!
Hope to turn out a few pieces, and for those who read my last post.... The piece that was too large had to have the investment material shaved off, making it structurally weak and a failed casting... oh well, lesson learned after many hours of work..

make it work

6/20/2014

Woke up at 2am- with a freshly embedded nightmare of a glass installation gone wrong. Which prompted me to start thinking about my projects, and the logistics of what needs to happen in the next 10 days. Got up and placed one of my larger investments in the kiln... IT DOESN'T FIT!

Ok, no time to panic.... Options, options start problem solving..

I'll make it work... However, this is a "coffee moment", it's 2:30 am and I'm up for the day... Wish I knew the 5 people on my stats who read my blog between midnight and now are- I'd be calling them for ideas!

Excuse me while I kiss the sky

6/19/2014

Today, had a break in the weather... Enough time to invest two fairly large sculptural pieces outside... My body hurts, still covered in a plaster/silica concoction- Yet thankful for the sunshine..

Today was a Shit day.... and that's all I have to say about that.....

6/17/2014

June 11th, 2014

6/11/2014

Glass has many optic qualities. It can magnify, distort, bend and reflect light.

My favorite aspect of glass, is that it can be transparent ....

Today was a day of clarity!

Properties of Glass:
Transparent to Opaque
Refractive Index: 1.470 to 1.700
Specific Gravity: 2.30 to 4.50
Mohs Hardness Scale: 5 to 6
Dispersion: .009 to .098
Fracture: Vitreous Conchoidal

I think if Chuck Lopez was reading this chart; he'd get a kick out of it ;) He's always helped me with my kiln schedule questions and would give me the scientific explanation to why glass does what it does.

Will Tuttle's work

6/9/2014

For those of you who haven't experienced working with the medium of glass, I can tell ya one thing.. It's very difficult!
Will, who I met to casting glass, transferred to flameworking and spent the last year in the studio at Pratt mastering this skill. I would like to honor his dedication. Will~ ya kick ass! :) Love your work!

Harvesting concepts

6/8/2014

I spent the whole day working, and thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it... It's been a bitter sweet month thinking that I might have to give up what I love... :(

Then I came up with an idea, a wickedly good Idea....... I'll start fusing and casting glass panels for architectural design! So registered on the "Houzz" website and I'm going to start making large scale contemporary panels... This will help diversify my business, plus I think the housing/building market is finally picking up.

So here's the plan Stan... If anyone would like a big ass piece of fused or cast art glass let me know! Since I'm building a portfolio of commercial and residential glass. I'll only charge for the materials.. I also have access to a sandblaster so the possibilities are endless.

Seriously folks, the panels are easier than the sculptural work I do...

Going to try a few experiments in the kiln- I'll post that soon, along with the art I've been working on.

Below are some examples of what can be done with glass as a design material.. Amazing!

Driving on "the hill" + glass = bad idea

6/5/2014

Rolling in my van on Capital Hill today I noticed I had a bunch of glass shifting around- Some mine, some students, and some from friends. Yikes! No one cut me off on I-5, or I'll be a bloody mess!

My friend Will Tuttle traded me some of his glass art. Could have spent hours digging through all his beautiful flameworked marbles, beads and little cup stands. So cool! I'll be posting some pictures of his work when I have some time. Until then, I'll string one of his glass beads on a cord and think about how to incorporate it into a unique piece of jewelry for myself. Thank you Will!

On another note, Lifeforms Show is opened at The Merwin & Wakeley Gallery, in Illinois.

I just checked out the show catalog, and am truly humbled by the skill of glass artists that are represented in the show with me.

Lifeforms Link

I had some dreams.......

6/3/2014

Carly Simon made famous the phrase "clouds in my coffee" as a metaphor about a deceitful lover, and not being able to see the truth through the clouds.
Today, I found "The Sun" in my forgotten cup of coffee. I believe that to be some fantastically bizarre and symbolic coincidence!

Going forward, may we always find the sun instead of clouds in our coffee! :)

A summers crescent moon

6/2/2014

Gazing at the moon this evening thinking of all the things I need to do tomorrow. It's sometimes hard to slow down and enjoy the small details, such as a glowing crescent smiling at you!

Going to see the Gaffer Girls and their furry faced kids to pick up some casting crystal, hope the traffic gods are with me because I might try to get to Pratt and coldwork a crystal sheep I promised a friend in December. Yes a little late, however not forgotten!

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