It covers learning how to gather out of the furnace, how to operate and employ the tools and equipment safely and how to make simple vessels. This class focuses on the development of fundamental glassblowing skills including the applying of color, working with a partner and understanding how to operate Glass Axis equipment. This class can be repeated until the artist feels prepared to rent the studio. The workshop covers pulling colored canes, beginning with straight cane progressing to twisted zanfirico, and assembling rods into a vessel. Students focus on the Italian technique of adding one or more hot bubbles to another bubble to produce a multicolored stripe.
Students make unique flameworked beads.
Techniques will include basic bead shapes, tooling, dot application and stringers. Beadmaking is an excellent way to experience the qualities of glass without the heat. This workshop is for those who have experience making beads and now have questions about precision and detailing techniques. In addition, Goldstone, stringers, latticino, pixie dust application and non-traditional shapes, like buttons and marbles, will be covered. Murrini offers additional decorative possibilities to the beadmaker.