A Learning Experience

Last week a student made an appointment to make some pendants for herself and friends.  She came prepared with the design and the colors were already chosen.  It sounded like an easy project and as I laid out the process choices for her the decisions came quickly. Until I discovered I did not have the correct shade of green she wanted and needed.  A compromise was made using frit instead of a solid piece of glass.  The size was to be a 1 1/2 inch circle.  Again no problem.  A square fused will become a circle. We all know glass  melted will draw into itself to a thickness of 1/4 inch. 

All goes well using the cut pieces and the frit to finish the design.  Added a piece of clear, waited till the next day to fuse.  I fused the pieces and though they fused well, they were still square-ish!!!   I stared in disbelief. Where were the circles? What happened?  I have done this so many times with nice round results.

Hours later I realized three layers were used and of course it was already a quarter  of an inch thick.  I went to work grinding and shaping and when it looked more rounded I refired. Better, but not round enough. If this was for me I would have adjusted how I was going to use the pieces.  But this was a special personal project by a customer.  After the disappointment we discussed ways to make it into a circle.  She has access to a powerful grinder and before redoing the project she is going to try and grind it into shape.  If it works, I will then fire polish the circles.  Otherwise she will start over and use different materials like glass paints or powders.  Or let her try cutting small circles.

I learned I need to remember all factors when teaching and guiding and not get hung up on providing the correct sizes and colors that were asked for while forgetting the basics.

Changes coming

Yes, changes are coming.  And as with most changes I am not sure how they will end up.  Since Eric retired he expressed a desire to start learning about fused glass and work with me in my studio.  I have often asked for his opinion about color or balance.  It is important to get a critical eye to spot a weak  design or to express an option I did not think of, because I work alone it is easy to lose perspective.  These are the reasons I call for his help and he has shown he has a good eye.  Just as he takes great photos his sense of balance and compisition can be used designing glass art work too.

This is the problem, where can we both work?  The studio is small and because of that I do most of my larger and messier work in the warmer months when I use the patio outside my studio. We would like to work year round and vacation or take time off whenever we want. We need a new space. Do we move, convert a room in our house near the studio, or finish off the garage? We are exploring all these options as I get ready for Silicon Valley's 25th year Open Studio.  I remember all those years participating as a looker and sometimes buyer.  Thinking someday I will offer my art work. I hope to have some answers by the end of May.  In the mean time more work and clean up and sorting to do by the opening on Mother's Day weekend  May 7 and 8.  I am signed up to show on the first 2 weekends so you have 4 days to stop by and visit my site.