Sunflowers... add a dimension

I have done many sunflower pieces in the past -- I love sunflowers (almost as much as pelicans!).  I generally make these in a 3-D format using stained glass wrapped in lead came.... and plated with nickel on completion.   My intention now is to add a dimension to these by curving the petals and leaves in my kiln - to make them more realistic.
Step 1 will be to come up with a rough sketch of the design.  It need only be a rough approximation -- to indicate size and location of elements of the piece.  Each piece of glass will be cut freehand - so no pattern will be used.
Here is the rough sketch...

The circle represents the brass ring that I will use as the base for the piece.

Check out new pics in the gallery!

Tempered Bowl/dish drape experiment

Well, it was worth a try.  I think the piece was a bit too thick to actually drape nicely all around.  However, it turned out to be an interesting shape, which I think I will use somehow...

Dragon and Wizard win an award!!

The Dragon and Wizard won "Best Stained Glass" category
at the Prairie Art Show last night.  Whooopeee!!!!

The tempered glass bowls are ready

I am pleased with this deeper bowl.

This is a bit shallow -- may reslump in deeper mold.
Have a thought to experiment with a drape on this one.
It might fall apart -- I'll display the result!

Making a Tempered Glass Bowl

Our patio table top was destroyed in a storm last fall.  I salvaged the little glass cubes, cleaned them and hope to create a couple of unique bowls from them.  I arranged the glass pieces on thinfire in my kiln -- in 2 circles -- 13" and 10 1/2"-- which will fit 2 bowl molds I intend to use.  The glass will be subjected to a full fuse schedule in the kiln overnight and hopefully will retain texture, but be fused together.  We'll see....

Dragon and Wizard are done

The end has come.  The piece has been foiled, patina'd and polished.  Will still need to paint the frame.  Have a look.

Dragon and Wizard

Back to the Wizard and Dragon

Finally home from winter sojourn and getting back to the Wizard and Dragon - still sitting on my work table.  I'm pretty happy with the fused piece.  Next step is to plan the foreground and background.  The foreground needs some rocks -- and because the Wizard is standing on one and the Dragon is behind some -- needed to create some perspective.  I did this by fusing 2 layers of glass together to create thicker rocks or by foiling together 2 or 3 layers.
Now for the background.  It has taken a few days to cut and fit the pieces together.

Next step will be to finish the background and border, install the zinc frame, foil and solder all the pieces together -- and finally to patina the copper seams with black patina and polish the finishe piece.