Cubes 1

The first 'dimensional' piece I made on the course was a 4 inch cube to my own design standing on a cut off corner.

Once I established my home studio this piece led to more three dimensional pieces that I refer to as my 'Cubic' series. So far there are four designs in the series, worked on at different times and interspersed with other designs.

Cubic 2 was a fairly obvious development, with four corners shaved off.

Part of the fun of working with glass is seeing the effects of light on the piece.

 It is light that brings the work to life.

The body was made in transparent glass with textured green swirls, while smokey grey originally used in Cubic1 was used for the corner panels. When I revisit this design I will use stronger colours to see how it changes the look.

During the course I had planned to make a large piece with all bevels, 4 inch squares and triangles. I'm not sure if I lost the triangles or did not purchase them, as I was selecting quite a bit of glass at the time. Anyhow, Cubic3 now has the square bevels and art glass triangles. The triangles were made from smokey grey and strong wispy blue.

 

While working on the piece I discovered that it looked quite good standing on one of the triangular sides.

An incidental effect is the depth of image provided by the mirrored base.

Bevels add extra dimensions to the light that is transmitted and refracted through the sculpture.

On first sight Cubic3 does not look like a cube. However, imagine that the beveled glass, base and open top are the faces of a 6 inch cube, then cut off all 8 corners to give equilateral triangles.  

I have also been playing with different ways of treating the solder seams. In Cubic1 the solder joints were cleaned and polished. However, the bright silver lines tend to be visually dominant and detract from the glass.

The next step is seen in Cubic2 with the application a copper patina (also used on its contemporary, the three dimensional star). This is an improvement on polished silver, and seemed very good at the time.

Black patina was used on Cubic3. When first applied this is a dead matt black, but finishing compound brings up a deep polish that can be so reflective as to appear silver. Neither was the finish that I was looking for.

Cubic4 came about as an amalgamation of the last of the suspended sculptures and the Cubic series. In fact it is the only true cube! I had set up a cutting jig for the last of the suspended sculptures and cut more two inch squares that were needed. After finishing that piece I decided to try something simpler - so built a cube with a lift off lid. The lid was made from two pieces of glass, laminated together. The glue joint showed in the clear glass so, having just invested in a fusing kiln, I decided to try a fused lid.

  
With this piece I arrived at a suitable treatment for the solder joints that complements the glass. The solder joint is cleaned then polished, copper patina applied and buffed, then black patina is brushed on and quickly washed off. Once dried it is cleaned and polished with two coats of finishing compound. The result is close to weathered bronze with a polished finish.

A simple star

After the complications of constructing the last suspended sculpture I decided to do something nice and simple.

A traditional star using bevels. Just foil the pieces and pin them down on the board for soldering . . .

Rather than apply a patina the solder has been left silver, polished with finishing compound to delay tarnishing. Occasional applications of wax polish will keep the shine.

Even in a simple two dimensional piece beveled glass can provide pleasing shapes and throw an array of highlights, making a delightful suncatcher.

A collection of suspended sculptures throwing highlights into the room.

Suspended Sculptures 1

I find that working on one project usually triggers ideas for more designs. To this end I keep a sketch book devoted to ideas for glass projects. Often, what is eventually made is in itself an evolution of the idea in the sketch book.

My final project on the course was a three dimensional star constructed from square bevels.

While working on it I could see a number of possible developments, primarily by using coloured glass and by changing the shape of the component pieces.

My next step was a combination of the two, using coloured glass in 'kite' shapes that kept the 90° angle for the core of the sculpture.

This resulted in a more obvious star shape, but with the same basic structure. I used wispy amber glass for the vertical arms and a transparent amber with surface texture for the other arms. I also treated the solder with copper patina to get away from the bright silver lines that distract from the colour and texture of the glass (but would all to soon become a dull grey).

 For me the pleasure of glass is seeing it changing the light that shines through it.

The projected sunlight in this image enhances the texture of the glass surface.

A week or two later I decided to extend the basic design using coloured glass squares and bevels. A simple jig was set up to cut a selection of coloured two inch squares (which incidentally inspired another cubic design).

While quite simple in concept this piece proved something of a challenge to construct. I really need a bench vise with a swivel head to hold the pieces for soldering. As it was I made do with the two salvaged computer hard drives, blocks of wood, card and push pins. These enabled me to position the work to keep the joint being soldered horizontal.

The two bevels throw highlights, enhancing the projected colours.

The solder has been treated with a more complicated patina, using copper and black, to give an antiqued finish. While holding the piece and polishing I was reminded of my sextant, with its selection of square coloured filters that could be pivoted over the telescope lens and horizon glass to protect the eyes from the full strength of the sun.

Fantasy in Glass 2

Weeks 3 and 4 of the course were for a three dimensional project. Treece had shown us samples and patterns during the first two weeks, so we knew where we were heading. None of the three who turned up for the third week used one of the class patterns, but all came with our own ideas.

Treece is an expert with decorative solder and ornamentation

At first Treece could not understand my pattern, but then became quite enthusiastic about it. It was a simple cube, standing on a cut (or truncated) corner. This time we had to buy our own glass, so I was overwhelmed by the choice in the shop. 3D or dimensional work is usually done using the copper foil technique. My cube was finished and ready to take home after staying on a bit longer than the scheduled time. I had thought of the sculpture as a candle holder, but was warned that the top would trap heat and might crack the glass.

I needed something for the last week. A web search found an interesting little 3D project. This seemed a good idea as I was not sure if there was a different technique when using bevels. No pattern this time, just the idea in my head and six nice shinny clear square bevels. Unfortunately, Treece came across to see what I was doing just as I realised that I had tack soldered a piece in the wrong position and was melting the joint.

Teaching studio

Figimodo checking my tool kit while I foil a bevel

Eventually it all came together in the correct order, giving a nice little 3D star.

Was the course worth it?
Most definitely, FIG is the place to learn stained glass techniques with a knowledgeable and enthusiastic team. I left each of the last two sessions with glass and tools to set up a basic home studio.

Fantasy in Glass 1

A search for glass working courses in Toronto led me to Fantasy in Glass. I chose their courses from their web site; it's informative with a slightly offbeat sense of humour.

They list a number of courses and seminars, but most had gone by the time we got to Toronto. However, the Beginner Course for stained glass was running in November so I signed up for the four Wednesday sessions.

First impression on going in to the shop was WOW. Colour (or on this side of the Atlantic "color") and light, lots of beautiful colours from all the glass on display. Being early I just wandered around the displays feeling somewhat overwhelmed. Looking at the tools confirmed that these guys were different in a good way - a display of soldering irons carried a note "we do not recommend this iron as the manufacturer no longer gives a warranty" or words to that effect.

In fact everyone at Fantasy in Glass is so friendly and helpful, they also know glass and their products inside out. Its a pleasure being in the shop.

The courses are run in the basement, a clean and pleasant working space with benches and necessary power tools for students to use. Treece was our teacher, and radiated enthusiasm for glass as an artistic medium. Only five students allowed for plenty of individual help.

After a short introduction we were practicing the technique of cutting glass. Don't tap the glass after scoring, that's just covering bad technique (Hum, that means at least one guy giving demos on You Tube would benefit greatly from a FIG glass cutting course). Having tried different glass cutters those of us without our own basic hand tools had to purchase them; I opted for the easiest way by getting the FIG tool kit that even included bandaids.

We then selected a pattern and some glass for a suncatcher, (all materials provided for the first two projects) and dived in to the Tiffany technique of using copper foil and solder. Having done some silver soldering in the past I tried to get all my joints to touch. Not really necessary, as I saw when Treece demonstrated soldering.

By the end of the day we each had a suncatcher to take home with bright silver solder beads. Lesson #1; opaque glass is not really suitable for a suncatcher, but looks good in reflected light. This picture was taken directly into the sun to show the texture of the glass.
As a footnote, the day was so intensive that I ate my packed lunch on the bus going home.

Week two was lead came work, again we had a choice of patterns, either all straight lines or one with a couple of simple curves. I chose the curves so as to learn more, and picked transparent glass this time. Once the glass is cut to the pattern everything is so much quicker with lead, but can not be as delicate or intricate as with copper foil. Again, by the end of the day we each had a panel to take home. The course is very much supported 'hands on' learning.

I did go away feeling a bit worried about the windows I had restored all those years ago as I used solder with a flux core (not recommended) however the following week Mikey reassured me that they would not have fallen apart. Its just quicker and neater to apply flux and then solder.

In the Begining

Someone said, if in doubt, start at the beginning and continue until you get to the end.

The problem is, where to begin - as an architectural student? perhaps.

Working with glass? probably.

Somewhere over 40 years ago I lived in an old farm house in England. The windows were old, and made of small pieces of glass held together by lead strips. Some of the small panes were broken, which made my bedroom cold in the winter. Not knowing anything about working with lead I repaired the windows by removing the broken pieces and replacing them with new glass while still in the frame.

Sometime later my father, an architect, had a client who was renovating an old country house and needed the windows restored. "Sean did ours, ask him." These windows were in a far worse state, with thin, probably weathered and eroded lead came. I removed every window from its frame and rebuilt it with new lead. In those days the local hardware shop stocked the lead but I had to find out by trial and error how to work it.

 My life moved on, but I have always been fascinated by glass, light, and reflections.

View from Orkney home

Tug seen on the Caledonian Canal

Evening light

Kinlochaline Castle - reflections and seaweed

For more of my watercolours go to:
 http://www.etsy.com/shop/HAMNAVOE?section_id=12568160

Last summer at a local craft fair on the Isle of Skye I saw some fused glass and decided that this could make an absorbing winter project that would draw together my artistic and technical interests. While still sailing I looked for suitable courses to take during the winter in Toronto. There were two organisations offering glass courses within reach of our house. Judging by their websites Fantasy in Glass seemed the best.