A peek into the kiln... 
reveals beads waiting to be fired... 
...and here they are after firing! |
Glass fusion is one of three primary ways of hot-working glass and has existed as an art form since antiquity. The art of fusing glass involves cutting, arranging and then melting glass in a specially fabricated kiln. Through glass fusion, an artist can manipulate the final look of a piece by: differing the types of glass used (opaque, translucent or dichroic); juxtaposing different colors or patterns of glass; layering several pieces of glass to create depth of field; introducing other heat-resistant materials or metals in with the glass; or coaxing the glass into different shapes through the use of ceramic or stainless steel molds.
Glass artists today are blessed to have at their disposal a wide array of glass, materials and tools produced specifically for kiln forming. Journeywork purchases all its opaque and translucent glass from Bullseye Glass, a leader in the field of testing, producing and supplying glass for fusing to artists throughout the world. Almost all Bullseye glass is hand-mixed and rolled in its factory in Portland, Oregon, offering a wide variety of fusion-compatible sizes, colors and styles of glass.
Journeywork supplements its use of Bullseye glass with separate purchases of dichroic glass. The industrial process by which dichroic glass is formed causes it to reflect a different color than it transmits, giving it an iridescent quality that shifts color as the glass is viewed from differing angles. This same industrial process allows for the creation of patterns and bright, vibrant colors that remain in place even after the glass is fired. Covering dichroic glass with a layer of clear glass creates additional depth and enhances its iridescent quality.
Curious to follow a Journeywork piece from start to finish? Birth of a Suncatcher will walk you through the techniques, materials and steps Tamara employs in bringing a suncatcher to life.