5 Day Glass Sculpture Course: Exploring the Nature of Form

'Exploring the Nature of Form' opens up a whole new avenue in glass. Go from first principles to producing your first three-dimensional glass sculpture, an original piece that is a joyful interaction of colour, light and form. No previous glass experience is required. Just a love of glass and working with your hands!

Over 5 days we will create 2 sculptures, one set within the other, freeing yourself up to create highly original work of art. Previous students have made: a bird nestled in a flower; a figure seen within a boat; a dynamic aquatic scene of sea urchins and jellyfish; a budding chrysalis within a leaf.

Charonne teaches her original method of combining clay with lost wax sculpture. This is very much a hands-on course in the artist’s studio, interspersed with informative sessions on different ways of making refractory molds, how to control firing schedules to achieve the aesthetic you are looking for and an overview of different mold making materials. For an immersive creative retreat, accommodation is available in the artist’s home, a converted whisky distillery with the comforts of modern living.

Please come with a sketch book to initially work through design concepts on paper. Places are limited to 4 students per course, so that everyone will enjoy some individual tuition.

• What We'll Explore
• Outcomes
• What's Included

• • Making an open glass casting with clay
    

  • Using wax to incorporate detailed textures into the piece

  • Hand crafting plaster molds

  • Formulas and approaches to working with glass, plaster and rubbers

  • Firing schedules

  • Colour flow in glass casting

• • 1 glass sculpture in the kiln (work to be collected 1 week later*)

  • Understanding of material processes

  • Techniques for repairing/refining your model at different stages in the creative journey
    

  • Formulas and Kiln Schedule 

• • All basic materials, including mold making material, tools and 1 billet colour Bullseye Glass
  • Scrumptious homemade soup and bread each day, catered by Rae Jackman, who specialises in vegan recipes using fresh, local ingredients

* Work can be safely packed and posted for an additional cost. Note, courses need a minimum of 3 to run.