Learn how to create beautiful fused jewelry using Bullseye glass, dichroic glass, frit, metals, etched stencils, and fusible decals. All materials are provided for in this class.
By the end of instruction you will have up to 10 pieces of beautiful glass jewelry to keep for yourself or gift to friends and family.
Jewelry will be fired and ready for pick up 1 week after class. Class size limited to 8. First-come-first-serve, so sign up now to reserve your spot!
Price: $65
Date: Sat., June 19, 2010
Time:2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Arts of Snohomish Gallery; Snohomish, Washington
Today was a day of hard work and cold, cold hands at the Arts of Snohomish Gallery in Snohomish, WA. Wendy and I are proud members of this artist-owned galler (I'm the treasurer), and today was the day to make the exterior shine.
Artists, husbands, significant others, Kiwanis members, and high school students all came together to weed flower beds, remove unwanted plants, plant new plants, and spread beauty bark to make the gallery's landscape beautiful.
I spent most of the day painting our corner sign--it was completely white beforehand, and I wanted to give it a Victorian feel while drawing the eyes of passers-by.
Our grand re-opening is next Saturday, May 1, 3:00 - 6:00 pm, so it you're anywhere near Snohomish, come on by! We are the Arts of Snohomish Gallery, 105 Cedar Avenue, Snohomish, Washington.
We love mosaics! Whether they are on the wall of an ancient Pompeiian villa or on the floor of a Seattle Banana Republic, mosaics appeal to something deep within us.
Using bits and pieces of fusible glass, I create my mosaics by carefully fitting together the pieces like solving a jigsaw puzzle. The colors need to coordinate, the shapes need to be interesting, and most of all, I need to be patient. The "grout" is really very finely ground glass called "frit."
Sometimes, I enjoy adding surprising details to my mosaics. The bowl above has bright lines of colored glass called stringer placed randomly on top of the mosaic.
The bowl to the left includes round dots of glass and a mix of translucent and opaque glass pieces.
The bowl below features stringer in the shape of swirls on top for something really fun.
I don't think I'll ever stop making mosaics, and fused glass mosaics keep offering me more opportunities to play!
Visit some of our mosaics for sale on our etsy shop:
Back in 2000, Wendy created two glass windows for her high school in Lynnwood, Washington. Using the Native American story of the crow and the sun as inspiration, she drew two large images then sandblasted the images onto glass that would become two windows into the computer lab.
This September, the brand new, $100 million Lynnwood High School opened. She and I visited there last week and were so excited to meet withe the librarian and see how her windows look in the new library. You see, when the architects were designing the new building, he insisted they include the windows, even though they are different sizes.
We are happy to report that the windows look great, and Wendy is a star!
Wendy saw how much fun I was having designing tiles, so she decided to join in. Introducing . . . Dots and Dashes.
Starting with an opaque white background piece, Wendy added a layer of clear glass on top and then her design of turquoise dots and black dashes in two thicknesses. These tiles are 4" x 4", and they can be made in many different colors. Complementary 2" tiles give you the option of mixing and matching for interest.
What I love about these tiles is that you can place them horizontally for one look or vertically for a completely different feel. Personally, I think they would look stunning in my shower, vertically of course, to simulate the water.
To see more of these tiles and our complete collection, visit our website and click on "Custom Fused Glass Tiles": www.OmegaArtDesign.com
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:
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.
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.
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."
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.
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
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."
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
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!
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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!
JUDY: Passionate about art from childhood, I love both creating art and admiring others' art. I've been a fused glass artist for two years, after teaching high school English for twelve years. I love playing with whimsical designs and free-flowing pieces, such as mosaics, as well as the geometric precision of pieces inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright and Josef Albers.
**************************************
WENDY: Art has always terrified me. The
self-inflicted pressures of creating something beautiful, perfect,
meaningful, and forever lasting is quite a toll to measure up to. Art
is often an intimate experience, easily allowing the uneasy feelings of
vulnerability. It is only in this journey of acceptance and finding the
courage to let go that allows that which is within to come forth. In
not only accepting the imperfect but appreciating and fully embracing
it, I am able to move forward with my work, freely relishing the joy
and freedom that creativity yields. It is this perpetual tug-of-war
between the controlled and wild freedom that my work teeters upon. Art
in any form is my passion, and it is my great pleasure to share it with
you.
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