Glass Fusing and Slumping Weekend

Last weekend I taught a fusing and slumping weekend, students are talked through the basic principles of fused glass then introduced to a series of techniques throughout the day, including kiln carving, using metal inclusions, glass dilution and the different ways of layering glass to achieve different results.

Students hard at work on 

A steady hand needed to assemble in the kiln!

work ready for firing!

In the final project of the weekend students have the opportunity to incorporate any and all of the techniques they've learned in creating unique fused glass dishes, the results can be seen below.

If you'd like to sign up for a class follow the link below

Glass Fusing courses a Creative Glass Guild

What's next? Why not try further fusing CLICK HERE to check out the course! 

Life Drawing

Today I thought i'd share some of my life drawing's with you all.
I hadn't been doing much drawing last year and missed it, so I decided to do something about it and joined the life drawing class held at Bristol Grammar School. Details Here  Its a fantastic class, very informal, your left to get on with it yourself, with guidance if needed.  With a choice of models and time frames each week.

Traditional Glass Painting Course

Today I just wanted to share with you some of the fantastic work my students created on the Glass painting course last weekend.
On the course I teach the traditional methods of glass painting, we start with learning how to mix the paint, this is key to a successful piece as if you have the wrong consistency of paint on your palette it will effect the way you paint on your glass.

First up is Tracing, using fine sable hair brushes, you copy the basic lines of the image onto the glass. These lines are then strengthened. Areas of solid black are then filled in through a process known as flooding, Sticks and scrubs are used to tidy up the image, then the piece goes in for its first firing.
Once the trace lines have been fired into the glass its possible to work over the image with matting techniques to build up definition and 3- dimensionality. ( This stage cannot be done on the same day as the pieces need to be fired overnight)
The afternoon is spent looking at matting techniques, and mark making. With a brief look at silver stain and enamels.

                                                                                   

                                                                                                   

Ruth's fantastic fish was painted on waterglass, with details picked on with silver stain.

Wonderful bumble bee by Justine

Pieces after firing

Dates for your diary

I'll be teaching on the following dates at Creative Glass Guild, Bristol

Glass Painting Taster Day
Sunday 28th April 2013
Saturday 8th June 2013
Saturday 17th August 2013

Fused Glass Jewellery Taster Day

Sunday 17th March 2013
Saturday 25th May 2013
Saturday 27th July 2013

Fused Glass Jewellery Weekend

13th & 14th April 2013
29th &30th June 2013
7th & 8th September 2013


Visit www.creativeglassguild.co.uk or call 0871 200 33 89 to book you place now!

Glass Resolutions

Happy New Year!!!!!

So it is a new year which means it is time for resolutions. I got a little waylaid last year by moving to a new city and job, but now i'm 'nested' as it were in my new house/job/life, I can finally throw myself back into my artwork.so this year is all about productivity and expanding Simon Alderson Glass.

Hopefully by the end of the month I shall be reunited with my kiln, which means I will have more freedom to experiment and create. So exciting times ahead! To the right is a preview of what I have been working on recently, playing with reactive glass, which is something I've never really played with before, but it has such fantastic possibilities.

In other exciting news I'm now going to be teaching the Stained Glass Painting Taster Day at Creative Glass Guild, check out my teaching dates below or CLICK HERE to view more details and book your place now!


And finally for those who haven't seen them yet, the panels I made last year were finally installed, and I never got around to blogging a picture so here it is below.

Course Dates for next couple months:

  

Glass Painting Taster Day

Sunday 24^th February 2013

Sunday 28^th April 2013

Fused Glass Jewellery Taster Day

Saturday 19^th January 2013

Sunday 17^th March 2013

Fused Glass Jewellery Weekend

13^th & 14^th April 2013

Restoration and Courses

Well just a quick update to share with you what i have been up to lately seen as how I am a terrible blogger. Here's some pics of restoration work I did with Creative Glass Works. Below the middle panel has been repainted, with Bristre Brown, and yellow and orange silver stain.

Images: Edward Jones, Creative Glass Works

Above four diamond lights were reproduced by sandblasting, painting and staining flash glass.

Currently working on a few ideas of my own at the moment to, yet again revolving around birds, Magpies in particular as they seem to be following me around lately. So i have been doing a lot of saluting!!!!

Finally some dates for your diary

I'll be teaching fused glass jewellery taster days on the following dates at Creative Glass Guild, Bristol

20th September 2012
11th October 2012
22nd November 2012

Weekend Course

8th - 9th December 2012

Visit Creative Glass Guild Here for more details and to book your place!!!

Wildlife Artist of the Year 2012

So I'm very pleased to announce that thanks to Erithacus Rubecula (above) I have been shortlisted for the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundations Wildlife Artist of the Year 2012
The shortlisted artists, from the worldwide competition, will display there work alongside three generations of the Shepherd Family at the Mall Galleries London between Monday May 21st to Saturday 26th May 2012. Be sure to pop along and check it out!!!!! 

Sales from the exhibition contribute to the very worthy cause of the DSWF raising awareness and saving the lives of the worlds endangered species.

For more details CLICK HERE!

New beginnings....

How terribly neglectful I have been! it has indeed been a while since last I blogged, but with good reason as I have been on the move! Having traversed about 300 miles I now reside in the South West. A new job meant a life changing decision to move to Bristol! I've been here about 8 weeks now, and so far it's great! Whilst I love my native North East there are so many more opportunities down here! Bristol has a fantastic creative / cultural scene, and I look forward to diving in and exploring it further.

And the new job I hear you ask? It's with Creative Glass Guild. At last the 'day job' is in a field I love, just to be surrounded by all that glass everyday is so exciting I just want it all!!!! Already learnt a lot from the other great staff, and just wish I could play with the stock all day instead of packing it, but it's good to be able to share my skills and knowledge with customers and have had the opportunity to expand my skills. just the other weekend I took part in the Photograph your Glass course. So I now know how to use my camera properly, so be on the lookout for better photos from me! (as above)

In the Easter week I returned North to finish off the panels I had started in the last post, here's one pair leaded and cemented (terrible phone camera pic) Alas there now not going to be installed for another month or two but, they are finished, so hallelujah! 

So what's next...........