Making sculptured glass and blowing glass
with a torch using Borosilicate glass (Pyrex)
In the above picture, the sculptured
dragon and the pipe is made using the techniques demonstrated
in this workshop. Our instructor, used three coloring techniques
in this piece, fuming with silver, using lusters, and using fired
on gold.- Our goal for this workshop
- What we do in this workshop
- Pictures of projects demonstrated in these workshops
- About our classroom and equipment
- Other workshop information
- To sign up or get you name on our interest list for this workshop
Goal of this workshop:
To teach you how to use a
torch to turn glass into art or functional pieces. You will learn
how to work with Borosilicate (Pyrex) clear glass rods and colored
glass rods. This type of glass, as opposed to "soft glass",
allows you to sculpt medium to large pieces. This is because
Borosilicate glass is not as sensitive to cracking or breaking
while working larger pieces on a torch. This workshop is designed
for beginners as well as students who have taken other types
of torchworked glass. How far you can progress in this workshop
will vary from student to student. We accept beginners in this
workshop but of course any previous experience you have in working
glass with a torch will help you progress more quickly in this
workshop.
Some things we do in this workshop
This workshop is a fairly easy going class. Most students have no trouble achieving a fairly good level of expertise in the two days. There are many types of things that could be made. Don't be shy to ask the instructor to show you how to make a particular project like a humming bird or flower.
Workshop I (Two day Saturday and Sunday)
- Discussion of
- safety
- setting up your own workshop
- equipment, torches, and kilns
- Shaping Pyrex glass with a torch.
- making animals, dragons
- dolphins
- flowers
- any type of sculptures
- Blowing Glass with a torch
- Vessels
- Ornaments
- Pipes
- Coloring the glass
- using Northstar and Alchemy color glass
- fuming with gold and silver
Techniques shown in this workshop can be used to make the following projects.
hummers and flowers
characters, dolphins and flying pigs or anything you can imagine.
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Same pipe, different lighting.
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Our classroom and equipment
Our classroom and workshop area has perhaps the latest and most complete setup available anywhere. Each student has a well lit comfortable work area with plenty of room for working. Every Student gets to work on a double gas (oxygen/propane) torch like the National Torch, annealing kilns and all of the latest tools. Most important in a workshop like this, is ventilation. With so many large torches going at the same time, the quality of the air quickly becomes heavy which can induce headaches, difficulty in breathing and fatigue. Even one torch could cause this. Our area at Sundance has an excellent ventilation system keeping the air fresh. A note about temperature: because of the need for fresh air, the temperature of the work area will be the same as the temperature outside. California has pretty mild temperatures but occasionally it could be cold or warm depending on the season.
A note from Brian, the owner of Sundance: I remember taking a Torch working Workshop many years ago in a well known teaching studio in the San Francisco Bay Area from the biggest known lampworker. It was terrible, dirty and cramped. They stuck me at the end of a table on a rickety short stool with no elbow room. It was so cramped that the instructor couldn't reach me except for once during the entire 2 day workshop! Not only that, but I was taking the workshop with some pretty now famous people, a click group. So much for any attention for me. So much for my $385 fee! But I did have the best lighting, only because I was the closest to the grimy window. I've been told it hasn't changed. Actually I was glad for that experience. I was determined not to expose my students to that type of atmosphere in my teaching studio! I personally make sure our classroom and workshop area has the latest and most complete setup available. You will be guaranteed a well lit, ventilated workspace with plenty of elbow room and at half the price! And EVERYBODY gets and plenty of attention and the best instruction!
Compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges. If you are shopping around for a class, we have been told some "classes" are not organized. You throw down a few bills and are allowed to "hang out" in their studio and watch them work, and maybe you get to use a bench when open. OUR class is organized, showing you step by step from the beginning how to blow glass. Plus our instructor is there for you the entire time.
Most of our students are from out of town. There are nice affordable accommodations close by.
Other workshop information
Sundance provides:
- Space
- Knowledge
- Inspiration
- Basic Equipment (you can bring any of your own favorite tools if you like)
What you provide:
- Initiative
- Motivation
- Artistic Talent
- Materials usually between $20 to $100 - you will have the opportunity to purchase in class
- Any other specialized tools - you will have the opportunity to purchase in class
What to wear and bring:
- Cotton clothes that cover from the neck to the foot
- No open toed shoes (sandals)
- No loose clothing (we have a previous students baggy sweater with a big burn hole as a reminder)
- No loose hair, tie it back or wear a hat
- Bring your favorite sunscreen
- Bringing your lunch allows you to be able to work during lunch break.
- IMPORTANT - as described above,
the classroom may be hot or cold depending on the weather, so
be sure to bring cool and warm clothing just in case!
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Above our most productive student. Her weekends take home booty.
Some students take home almost nothing. It's all up to you.
Tuition:
- $235
- sign up with a second person and take 15% off both
- Paradise, California
The Studio is located at 1010 Bille Road, Paradise, CA 95969
Class Dates: Click Here
Class Times: Saturday and Sunday
- Paradise
- Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM
- Sunday from 9AM to 3 PM
Cancellation Policy: Full payment is required to hold your spot in the workshop. 1/2 or 50% of the fee is not refundable if you cancel or do not show for class. You receive a 20% discount if you choose to take the identical class at a later time within 6 months (only if that identical class is available).
The text books for this workshop are:
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