Lately, I've been on a process kick: enhancing existing skill sets as well as learning new ones. Well, thanks to my friend Janet, a very talented glass artist, I am learning the ways of "the melt". Needless to say, working with glass is very different from my usual creative endeavors. You see I'm kind of a control freak, so whether I'm crocheting, weaving, painting or sewing I tend to spend hours laboring over minutiae. The only process I undertake on a regular basis that is not steeped in anal retention is spinning. And even spinning is not as free and intuitive as I have found glass to be (in the TWO times that I've explored the medium in Janet's studio/home). I'm not exactly an expert, but I am definitely on my way to becoming an enthusiast! Here are the results of my glassy tinkering so far (see below).
A few glass tiles (these are all approximately 2-2.5" square)...
The firings vary a bit as the two tiles above are more "melty" looking than the one's below.
The one below is my favorite tile yet. Janet is going to show me how to make a metal setting for this one. Yay!
I also made a few pendants...
Overall, I really like the immediacy of this process. I can throw together some simple compositions and watch them magically transform in the kiln. It's so gratifying! I also really love the depth of color in the glass itself. I have so many ideas dancing about my head for possible uses of glass in my textile work. Can you say glass buttons???
