Beautiful paintings done entirely with custom blended glass frit, sheet and stringer
WHAT ABOUT THE BUBBLES?
Glass bubbles
When I first started visiting glass artists I heard about all the ways and the great extent they would go thru to not have bubbles. I asked what the problem with bubbles was. They kinda looked at me with this weird grin like they were thinking "oh boy, we have got another newbie here". I asked them if they were trying to make flawless glass why not just buy the commerially available kind?
I've been a craftsman all my life, using various media, mostly wood, and now glass. I highly value the craftsman's touch and I think it is way more unique to have the subtle little "flaws" that happen when a real person creates something rather than a machine. I like bubbles! It shows that the piece is hand made. That's why you might like to purchase a piece. You connect with the craftsman and get to share a little bit in his vision, let alone help preserve the rich tradition of craftspeople.
glass bubbles are beautiful
Air Bubbles Trapped in Art Glass
Bubbles are created when a little bit of air is trapped in applying the many pieces of frit and maybe sheet glass. What once was a speck enlarges as the temperature in the kiln goes up. Hot air expands and really hot air as in 1500 degrees REALLY expands. The craftsman's job is to understand the bubbles and to work with them so that they contibute to the piece and don't get out of hand.
Glass bubbles or Champagne bubbles?
Think about Champagne and all those bubbles. I betcha no one ever asked the champagne maker to get rid of the bubbles. He would thought they were nuts, what champagne without bubbles? Are you crazy. It is the same with custom glass. Let's toast!
