Studies in Powder: Colour, Components and Crackle!

Workshop Outline

Participants will learn and experience the versatility of working with glass powders in the kiln. Through this workshop, participants will:

• become familiar with the subtleties of layering and blending coloured powders
• develop a simple approach to test for chemical reactions and to expand their colour palette
• learn new ways to make design components, such as powder wafers and pattern strips
• learn new ways to create and use crackled texture using glass powders
• learn new ways to construct pieces through incorporating components and firing multiple times
• learn and practice ways of  finishing pieces using various cold-working techniques
• try new techniques for “painting with light”
• gain appreciation for the properties of glass and their practical application to firing and
  slumping glass in the kiln
• learn ways to reduce your business expenses by working with glass powder

Workshop Details

• Duration: 5 days, with a “social” the evening before the workshop starts, from 7:00 –9:00 PM,
  to meet fellow class participants and to have a tour of the studio before starting into the
  workshop first thing the next day
• Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM
• Location: home-based studio at 245 Vesuvius Bay Road on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia
• Equipment: 3 coffin kilns, 23” round kiln, several test kilns, wet belt sander, sand blaster; disk grinder; glass lathe; hand grinder
• Number of participants: maximum 6
• Cost: $925 USD, includes instruction, supplies, a comprehensive set of notes, and daily lunches ($400 deposit due one month after enrolling in a session with the balance due one month before the workshop start date)
• The class size is limited to 6 so that participants receive the attention required to help complete a number of high-quality pieces.
• The deposit is non-refundable unless we can find a replacement.

Workshop Structure/Projects

Each participant will make a series of small bowls to test and develop the workshop concepts and techniques. Each piece will be finished using appropriate cold-working techniques.

The first few days will involve building components, creating test strips and samples for a varied colour palette, and learning different ways to crackle glass. By day three we will be assembling projects. The last few days will be spent cold-working, completing projects, and extending the colour palette sample set.

Each day people will spend time on learning new techniques, working on finished projects, and developing a suite of test strips and colour swatches for later reference. Slide shows are used both to teach technique and provide ideas on how all this new information can be applied to glass projects.  Comprehensive notes are provided for most topics covered.

If people are interested, there are numerous additional topics that can be discussed in evening sessions. These include: moulds and mould making, building display stands, kiln carving, photographing glass, and marketing.