Photographing Glass Art--the Challenges and the Rewards

When Wendy and I first opened our shop on etsy, we took out our camera, shot some clear straight photos of each piece, and loaded them up. Then we sat back and, well, nothing happened. I began to notice that our photos didn't look like most of the other photos on etsy, so I began to read some of the tips for taking photos.

Photographing glass is a special challenge because of the reflection. How do you get a head-on shot of glass without any glare? And without buying lots of fancy equipment? My answer--practice! And find a good place to take the photos.

Here are some examples of recent photographs I took of our work:

Hanging Bud Vases

I like this photo for a couple of reasons. I think the colors look good together. I like how the S's line up, and I like the diagonal lines of the bud vases (experts say diagonal lines create a more dynamic photo). I took this photo on a bench just inside my front north-facing window. This spot provides indirect light so I don't have to use the flash. I put the vases on an off-white sheet to provide a neutral, bright background so the eye is focused on the vases. I did have to lighten the photo in PhotoShop, but the colors are true to the actual vases. Oh, and I rotated the photo so it looked like they were hanging, which is how they will look on someone's wall.

A Summer Sail

I like this photograph because of the sharp contrasts between the white and black which also really highlights the bright, sharp colors of the bowl. The contrast also highlights the unusual, fun shape. Also, the angle is different, providing a view that's a bit unusual. The bowl lines up diagonally, too, for that dynamic look.

Welcome Sunshine! Warm Orange, Yellow, and Red Fused Glass Tiles

These tiles warm me up just looking at them! The secret is to use orange fused glass--I have two shades (one is more of a tangerine). 

Mixing these colors a la Josef Albers, I found such pleasing combinations. My mother is sure to love them, too--she is definitely a "summer." Enjoy!

To see our full line of custom fused glass tiles, please visit our website: www.OmegaArtDesign.com and click on "Custom Fused Glass Tiles."

I Love a Martini Fused Glass tiles

Based on the color theory of Josef Albers, these tiles remind me of the olive in a nice, cold martini. Refreshing yet sophisticated. I love how the tiles look so different depending on how they are mixed with different colors.

We can make these tiles in just about any size: 2" and 4" are standard.

To see more of the Albers tile collection from us, go here: www.OmegaArtDesign.com and click on "Custom Fused Glass Tiles."

New Fused Glass Sculpture: "Spring!"

This is another result of Wendy's recent spring break--a beautiful fused glass sculpture bursting forth with leaves, rain, and pieces of dichroic glass. The unusual half-moon shape looks sharp in the iron stand. Here's the link to our etsy shop to see this sculpture and more: "Spring!" fused glass sculpture.

Fused Glass Classes for Beginners Offered in Snohomish, Washington

Wendy and I are announcing our first fused glass class in Snohomish, Washington:

Glass Fusing 101 (3 hours)

In this introductory class, you will learn the basic techniques of making fused glass while creating flat fused glass pieces yourself. Possible projects include:

• coasters,
• tiled box (box costs extra),
• decorative wall piece such as an animal,
• sun-catcher,
• cross,
• backsplash tiles, or
• mirror frame.

Make pendants and magnets with scraps!

We provide all materials, including fun extras such as frit (small glass chunks), fiber paper, glass paint, and stringer for unique designs. Class size limited to 6.

Your pieces will be available for pick-up within one week of the class.

Date: Sat., May 1, 2010

Time:  10:00 am – 1:00 pm Price: $65

Teachers: Judy Macauley and Wendy Clark, fused glass artists and members of the Arts of Snohomish Gallery

Just one opening left for the May class.

My "Starry Night" Fused Glass Plate featured in blog

Yesterday, LUCE DI VETRO featured my "Starry Night" fused glass plate in her blog, "Ode to Blue." Check it out: http://odetoblue.blogspot.com/2010/04/etsy-mini-archive-blue-glass-4510.html.

 

Wendy's Fabulous Fused Glass Tree Sculptures

Today it's Wendy's turn to shine as an artist. She just took her spring break, and boy did she go to town on the fused glass artwork! I love the one featured here. She drew her whimsical Maple tree on clear glass using black glass paint, added lines of black and dark blue stringer and three squares of dichroic glass, then fused it onto a sheet of opaque white glass.

This glass sculpture stands 10" high and 7" wide in a black iron stand. Here's the link to the etsy listing: "Black & White Maple." 

Artists' Reception in Snohomish on April 10 for Two Fine Artists

This month, the Arts of Snohomish Gallery presents two of our members, Tatayna Deynega and Sakae Ouchi. They are both talented painters with very different styles. One is from Russia and the other is from Japan, but both have made their way to the Pacific Northwest to our gallery.

Join us on April 10 for the reception! Here is the link with more information: Arts of Snohomish Gallery

Seattle Tile Store Now Carries Our Fused Glass Tiles

We are so excited to announce that Art Tile Co. is now carrying our very own custom fused glass tiles.

Art Tile is a great store, located in the Maple Leaf community of Seattle. Currently, we have three different designs featured there with plans to provide them with more. This is going to be an exciting new phase in our business!


Art Tile Co., Inc.
http://www.arttileco.net/
8511 Roosevelt Way NE
Seattle, WA 98115  
(206)523-3032

Evoking the Southwest with Fused Glass Tiles

We have this lovely turquoise blue glass that takes on any number of "looks" depending on the colors we pair it with. Here, as soon as I added the red and orange glass, I was back in the Southwest: in Albuequerque, searching the skies for the hot air balloons; in Santa Fe, wandering the rich art galleries; in Phoenix, delighting in each new cacti and succulent.

The picture is of a pendant I made that spurred me on to envision it as a wall tile. I had fun playing around with the possibilities: what would it look like surrounded by solid turquoise tiles? what about red or orange tiles?
See some of the variations of this tile and others on our website: www.OmegaArtDesign.com

Flowers on Your Wall? Hanging Bud Vases in Fused Glass

Brighten up a dreary spot in your home with some flowers--hang them right on the wall! These bud vases have a copper wire hook for hanging and a holder for flowers and water.

I make them from translucent glass, and each one has pieces of dichroic glass for added sparkle. They sell for $28 each from our etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/OmegaArtDesign

Good Enough to Eat Miniature Cakes (made from Fimo)

Look what I found on etsy.com today! This is NOT a real cake.

Stephanie, the artist, lives in Paris (yes, I'm jealous), has a degree in architecture (more jealousy), and speaks three languages fluently (OK, now I just want to be her friend). Well, her miniature cakes, cupcakes, pies, and other goodies are adorable. And amazingly real. She is one talented lady.

Here is her etsy shop: PetitPlat

Swirls, Dots, and Hearts--Oh My!

How much fun are these? I start with a 4" square of black glass and add nine carefully cut squares of bright glass, filling the space perfectly. Then I build up. I stack another, smaller square on top and add the Zippity-doo-dah--a heart, a dot, or a swirl (which I make using glass stringer and a blowtorch--fun!).

I want each top to retain its shape and feel, so I fuse these in a tack fuse cycle. That means I take my kiln up to about 1350 degrees only (as opposed to the full fuse temperature of about 1460).


Finally, I use E6000 epoxy to attach the tile to a wood box, and now you have a gorgeous box perfect for jewelry, mementos, treasures, or anything special. These make great gifts, too. See our etsy selection here: Wood Boxes.

We're Going to the Dogs! Great Dog Art

Today, in honor of Rex The Rat Terrier, I'm bringing you great dog art. I'm choosing my favorite print, "Patience," created by Danielle and Derrick of Studio 1212, an etsy shop.

I think they really capture the personality of dogs with their prints, using simple lines that reveal the essence of the breed. Visit their shop, and see if you agree: Studio 1212.

Fused Glass Class Leads to Very Cool Art!

Every once in a while Wendy and I teach a fused glass art class. (We keep saying we need to do it more often.) One of the benefits to us is seeing what our students create. I have to say this bowl is one of my favorites.

This was made by a young woman who was fascinated by frit. She began with the canoe-shaped clear glass then began creating her design on top of it using orange, yellow, and blue frit. Then she put a sheet of clear glass on top and added the black swirls in more frit. She added the dichroic glass touches last of all.

This bowl took two fusings: the first, at 1485 degrees, fused all the layers into one solid piece, while the second fusing slumped the piece into the bowl.

All in all, a cool project that we would never have thought of! Yay students!

Albers Pendants Posted on Etsy!

I just finished posting a selection of my Albers pendants on etsy, grouping them according to color. I have two groups posted right now--a cool group, featuring blues and greens with a tad of black thrown in, and a warm group with reds, yellows, and oranges.

Each pendant has a silver-plated bail epoxied onto the back so you can put it on your favorite chain. I have a 14" chain and a 16" chain that I wear depending on my neckline.

The pendants are just $18 each. Check them out on our etsy shop! http://www.etsy.com/shop/OmegaArtDesign

Adorable Crocheted Birdy Rattles on etsy

When I saw these, I knew I just had to put them on my blog. Aren't they adorable? I love the bright colors and the beautiful crocheting. This woman is talented!

Here is her shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/BornWithIt

Whimsical Ceramic Fish with Personality!

My artist friend, Jennifer Bruley, makes the most adorable ceramic fish, each one different, each one infused with personality plus. Just look at the one I got from her . . .

His name is Stevy, and he's a gorgeous teal color. I walked into the art gallery one day, and there he was, looking at me, saying, "Take me home!" Now he's sitting on a shelf with several pieces of glass art, happy as can be.

Jennifer shows her work at the Arts of Snohomish gallery in downtown Snohomish. Write to me if you'd like to see her work, and I'll have her contact you!

Pendants Complete! Inspired by Josef Albers

You saw the photos of these pendants before firing, now here they are all fused, cooled, and ready to attach to silver bails (for hanging on a chain).

The first group is the "complementary" group, using knowledge of the color wheel's complements (red-green, blue-orange, etc.).



The second group is my "cool" group, with like colors chosen based on Josef Albers' color combinations.










And the third group is my "warm" group, with the yellows, oranges, and reds that Albers put together so beautifully. (I did sneak in a bit of aqua.)


Voila! Wearable art! (The pendants are from 3/4" to 1 1/4" and we sell them for $18 each. I'll post many on our etsy page.)

Fabulous and Fascinating Lino Block Art by Myrna Woder

Last fall, I turned 50. It was a BIG event, and I told my husband we had to go SOMEWHERE. He took me to the wine country of Oregon, and we stayed at the historic Hotel Oregon in the heart of McMinnville.

There, right outside our room was a huge piece of art that I thought was a pen-and-ink drawing. When I looked closer, I saw it was a lino block that had been carved. I've carved lino blocks before--you know, for Christmas cards. So I know the time and planning involved. This artwork was stunning.

A further search around the hotel, and I found yet another very cool piece, featuring two old women.

The subject matter fits the hotel perfectly because these images are obviously taken from some old photos or postcards. They really bring you into the historic feel of this hotel. (I only had my cellphone with me, so the pictures are small.)

The artist is Myrna Woder, and I couldn't find any information about her on-line. So if you've heard of her, let me know!

Here's the hotel info:

Hotel Oregon

310 N.E. Evans Street
McMinnville, OR 97128

Local: (503) 472-8427
Elsewhere: (888) 472-8427
info.hoto@mcmenamins.com

Inspired by Josef Albers, Color Theorist

We make pendants, and we like blocks of solid colors. A friend of mine, Jim Schindler, saw them and said, "Those look like Josef Albers' work." Now, I didn't know Josef Albers from Joseph and Mary, but I went right home and googled him. Jim was right! (Check out The Josef & Anni Albers Foundation website.)

Albers was fascinated by the ways that colors interacted with each other. A lot of his work involved various shades and hues of the same colors and complementary colors. I offer for your enjoyment (or criticism, as the case may be), the pendants that are, even now, firing in the kiln.
I created a batch that involved cool colors--the blues and greens--

and a batch with warm colors--reds, yellows, and oranges.

Then some have complementary colors--red and green, orange and blue, for example.

I'll post photos one they are all fused and looking good. Thank you, Josef Albers!

NEW! Custom Glass Tiles Fresh from our Kiln

How fun are these? Handmade tiles in my very own design, ready to install in a kitchen, bathroom, or even around the fireplace! I'm loading them onto our etsy site now, and soon I'll have them all on our website. This is just the beginning of my career as a tile artist--I've got lots more ideas, and I can't wait to try them all!

See the entire line on our etsy site: http://www.etsy.com/shop/OmegaArtDesign

A Favorite Shop: Cotton Monsters on Etsy

I just stumbled upon this shop today on etsy, and I love these monsters! They are bright and whimsical and just plain fun. This little "Mini Bottomfeeder" is one of my favorites.

Here's the site: Cotton Monster Shop

The Frank Lloyd Wright Glass at the Phoenix Biltmore

I finally made it to the Phoenix Biltmore, my very first visit to a building that Frank Lloyd Wright designed (well, I did go to the bathroom inside NYC's Guggenheim Museum, but I don't think that counts). I treated four women to the high tea there and played checkers on a giant outdoor checker game, but those are other stories. This story is about the glass.

There it was, inside the lobby as promised-- Wright's beautiful stained glass window that an art enthusiast said my glasswork had reminded her of. It is gorgeous. Full of color and life and flow. Wright used the Saguaro cactus as his inspiration as well as the colors of the desert.

The whole hotel exudes Wright. I love how he designed every little piece of it, from the lobby furniture to the lighting. The lighting fascinated me. You know how just about every hotel has some chandeliers or table lamps or overhead lighting of some sort? Well, Wright didn't just choose lighting fixtures that "fit into" his design. The lights are an integral part of the design itself.

There are vertical pillars, made of concrete (I'm assuming), appearing to be blocks stacked on each other with a repeating design on the face of each.
The lights--amazing!--are part of the pillars. He took the same design of the concrete and repeated it for the light covers. So the lights are subdued, embedded in the pillars. I'll see if I can find a photo somewhere so you can see it . . . if not, be sure to put this site on your to-do list. It is well worth the visit.