530-412-3630 info@tonistahoe treasures.com
530-412-3630 info@tonistahoe treasures.com
Glass Fusing Steps
Sketching the Idea
Sketching the Idea
Sketching the Idea
1. When I have a new dea or sublect, I sketch several designs on paper. When I'm happy with one, I enlarge amd sketch my design onto paper that is the size of the glass piece I'm making.
Choosing the glass
Sketching the Idea
Sketching the Idea
2. Often I'll experiment with color and effects by making some test pieces. Once I know how the glass colors will work with one another, I begin the large piece.
The Base Layer
Sketching the Idea
The Next Layers
3. I first fuse the background glass pieces, usually a clear sheet with a colored glass overlay. However, many of my pieces are made of several different colors, all of which need to be cut to fit together before firing. This blue background piece has a powdered glass pattern stenciled over it before being fired.
The Next Layers
A Second or Third Fusing
The Next Layers
4. Once the background is fired, I cut and sand pieces to make individual parts of the picture. Often these pieces are special ones I've had to pre-make by combining glass elements in a seperate firing.
The Final Details
A Second or Third Fusing
A Second or Third Fusing
5. I enhance some of my art by painting details, like the veins in leaves or facial details. I may add small bits of "frit" or broken glass to my pieces, like the centers of flowers. Sometimes I use a drummel tool to etch patterns in the glass before it's fire
A Second or Third Fusing
A Second or Third Fusing
A Second or Third Fusing
6. Once I am pleased with the piece, it is placed in the kiln and fired. Large pieces, those over 20 inches, take about 26 hours to fire.
Cold Working
Cold Working
Cold Working
7. Sometimes a piece needs a bit of sanding or grinding on the edges so it will fit better into a stand. I grind the edge on my grinder and hand sand it to smoothness.
Discoveries
Cold Working
Cold Working
Experimenting with paints, frit (small shards of thin glass), glass powders and other materials causes effects I never anticipated! This is part of the joy of glass fusing and learning!