Purple Pelican Art Glass: Oh Dear, now what....

Purple Pelican Art Glass: Oh Dear, now what....: Here I am out of the kiln... my fear re bubbles has been allayed -- there are none.  However, I clearly overdid the 'pixie dust' (mica) --...

Oh Dear, now what....

Here I am out of the kiln... my fear re bubbles has been allayed -- there are none.  However, I clearly overdid the 'pixie dust' (mica) -- making for a grainy surface.  Also the idea of  detail coming through from the first layer didn't happen.  What to do with it now.... I could dust it with clear grit and throw it back in the kiln to create a smooth surface -- then add detail.... or.... I kind of like the flip side... maybe I can do something with that....

 

I will ponder this .....

       

Unicorn - next step

This unicorn is stretching me to risky experimentation!!  Evil horse!
I started by painting on some white sparkly pixie dust (mixed the frit with Klyr Fire as medium), then added some black highlights - which don't show up very well in the pic...  This will be sandwiched between the 2 layers of glass.  Danger here is that the pixie dust is a resist and the individual particles will only bond to glass it is in direct contact with -- soooo I'm hoping I don't get a lot of big bubbles...

The second layer of glass goes on top -- secured a bit with hair spray.  Now I've added fine and powdered grit (glass) to add some color and shading (hopefully).  I will throw it into the kiln for a full fuse and keep my fingers crossed...

   

Unicorns and Mermaids

Unicorns and Mermaids have been competing for my attention lately.  Why on earth am I drawn to these 2 mythical creatures???  Perhaps it is the alluring long-told, mythological stories that appeal to me.  The grain of truth that weaves through the myths... cave drawings of unicorns; tales of sailors... tweaks my imagination.  Perhaps it is that both of these creatures entice with great beauty and destroy with wrath.  The lovely siren of the sea charms the sailors to their death.  The unicorn entices with its beauty - but destroys with ferocity all who approach - except the virgin maiden.  I like the drama of the story...
So, now.... how to express in glass???
I'm starting with the Unicorn, though ideas for a mermaid piece keep rising to the surface...

I have created an image of a unicorn.... cut it out twice in clear glass.   I have a notion to combine stained glass techniques and glass fusing.  I want the unicorn to protrude somewhat from the surface of the piece and so will fuse the 2 layers.  I want the unicorn to be somewhat luminescent -- and, although I'm not certain how to accomplish this... I will play around with a couple of possibilities.  One is to paint "pixie dust" - fine glass powder - between the layers of clear glass; then add details atop the glass with frit and paint... The setting is still emerging in my mind.  I will foil the pieces for the background and solder them together...

Prairies are special
I have been pondering the vast beauty of our wonderful Canadian prairie.... the endless vistas, the colorful patchwork fields, the big skies --- and trying to capture that essence in glass.

Many attempts -- a variety of techniques (some successful; some disastrous) -- a few successes...

 

Time to stretch a bit

I recently got the latest issue of the online 'Fused Glass Projects Magazine'.  A contributor, Gil Reynolds, described a process to create what he calls 'flow bars' -- a glass bar with a pattern running through -- something like the spiral pattern inside a jelly roll.  Sounds intriguing -- so worth a try.  The process involves suspending a stack of glass atop a couple of stainless steel rods suspended above a 'box' to collect the liquid glass.

Once the fusing was complete (about 24 hours later), the 'brick' of glass was sliced into strips using a tile saw.  I trimmed the pieces to align evenly and placed them back in the kiln. Because glass wants to be 1/4 inch thick, I dammed the piece to preserve its shape.

Now, what to do with the piece.  I decided to make a dish.  I used a clear base and arranged the elements of the dish on top.  Back into the kiln.

I love the way the clear areas allows light through to highlight the other design elements.

The final step was to slump the piece in a shallow mood to complete the dish.

Well since this worked quite well, I thought I'd try a larger and thicker set up.  The initial fusing went well -- but I had a rather hard time cutting the strips afterward.  I have a few intact strips and many colorful pieces -- so my challenge now will be how to use them.....

Summer is coming to an end

First chance I've had to sit down and think about glass for awhile.  Kids are back at school -- gardens are littered with falling leaves (hiding all the weeds!) --- so it's time to get back to work.
One of the many highlights of my summer was seeing my grandchildren 'getting into' glass.  My little entrepreneurial granddaughter (8 years old) and her brother (6 years) have been busy making night lights -- which have been selling well in my studio and in a local gift shop.

Here are a couple of examples of their exceptional creativity.













A Prairie scene that I had in a Winnipeg gallery sold over the summer -- and I have been asked to make another for a customer that missed out.

It is quite similar to the first one as requested....

Beginning the background

Adding some detail to the background
-then into the kiln for a full fuse

The foreground is done
separately and full fused as well.

The fused background gets more detail and is fused again.

A clear layer is sandwiched between the background
and the foreground and is full fused.

Finally the piece is draped over a mold and fired once again.


I  was recently asked to create a small heart-shaped grandmother's pendant -- with birthstone (colored glass) pieces to  represent six grandchildren.  I have posted pictures on my website.  Check it out at www.purplepelicanartglass.com

Back at it!

It has been a long time since I last updated this blog -- with a good excuse.  Since returning home from my winter home, I have been madly preparing for an Open House in my studio -- and in a moment of pure insanity -- agreed to open my garden to a Tour.  Needless to say, I am suffering the arthritic consequence of too much weeding and cutting glass.
The actual event was a screaming success!  We hosted at least 350 people.  My children were here to help and my husband was very busy in the outdoor kitchen baking pizzas in the bake oven and serving wine to the guests.  My sister was the official wrapper and money handler.  My children acted as greeters and refreshment servers -- as well as creating a huge number of pizzas for dad to bake.  My granddaughter, Signy (8 years), is a budding entrepreneur and artist herself.  She set up a special stand to display and sell the fused glass night lights that she and her 6 year-old brother created.  They sold all 20 of them -- and even got an invitation from a local gift shop owner to display them in her shop!

Here are some pictures of the set up for the event.

Thank you everyone! 

Yikes -- first post since March!  Back at home at the Lake -- gardens to weed - house to clean --- but back to work in the studio!  Open House in the studio in July -- work to do!

Started this piece at the Barn in Phoenix -- too many bubbles -- so I cut a big piece off - refired it to polish the edges -- and mounted the eagle above the piece -- hoping to add dimension....

I had started this Polar Bear piece before leaving for the winter .. still need to make a stand to display it...

I needed to take a break from fusing -- so thought I'd do a mosaic..... here is the result....

I am now working on another multi-layer Prairie scene....

Background. -- first fire..

Bkgrd - second fire...

Foreground....

I will layer a clear between for depth -- and see what happens.....