The Process

I start a piece with a design cut from sheets of glass, assembled, and fired in a kiln. I use a variety of materials to achieve specific effects:

• Frits (finely crushed glass) to create painterly effects

• Stringer (threads of glass) to create fine lines and details

• Rods to create details

• Crushed glass to create a mottled effect

Once assembled, the piece is fired to create the initial fused panel. The fused panel is then fired at least once more to create the final shape. Again, I use a variety of firing techniques depending on the piece: 

• Slumping fires the glass panel in a mold to create shallow pieces like plates, trays, and shallow bowls. Most slumped pieces require no additional work after the final firing.

• Drop molding uses a ceramic ring to create deeper pieces. Drop molded pieces must be sawn, sanded, and polished after (sometimes before AND after) firing. 

• Roll-ups involve collaboration with a glass blower to create cylindrical forms (“rollups”). The initial panel must be specifically designed and fabricated to be made into a rollup. Then, I work directly with the glass blower as the panel is rolled into the final shape. [Check out the Process on Youtube]