A Glass Sculptor or artist can turn the 'impossible' into 'possible' when it comes to making glass objects. But the high demand for glass collectibles these days doesn't seem to match the number of people making them. Although techniques in making art glass has been around for centuries, even now, glass artisans can be counted by hand.
That's because glass isn't a very easy material to work with. Rather, the use of this substance in art can even be questionable: with its translucent beauty and obvious fragility, it's a paradox in itself. Surely artists can use other materials which are easier to craft or transform. There is wood, clay, metal, cloth, paint, and even stone. However, there's just something about this substance which can only be described as 'ethereal'.
The Making of a Masterpiece
Ever since the refinement of many glass-making methods, most modern artists use a combination of traditional and contemporary processes to produce their artworks. There are basically two main categories for fashioning glass: hotworking, which involves fire; and coldworking which doesn't involve any heat at all. Glass artists are free to use either of these, or combine one or two of the processes to make their art.
What makes a masterpiece complicated is the long and arduous ways in which these methods can be combined. One artist named Margot Gotoff for example, uses her knowledge of both clay and glass to make beautiful objects. She starts by molding her design onto clay which takes months, depending on the intricacy and detail. A rubber cast is then wrapped around it, coated with wax, and then filled with fine broken glass pieces. Margot then works to melt the glass inside the mold until it fills the entirety of the space. The approach that she's using takes a lot of time and several steps before the piece is ready to be polished. Only when she is more than satisfied with her glass sculpture will she move on to her next creation.
Being so near heat and the constant stress of transforming glass with great precision can take its toll on a master. Another great artist uses a different technique though – a coldworking process which involves repeated use of cutting, polishing, and grinding. This artisan uses a lathe (a machine for smoothing and shaping wood or glass) to create his original art glass items. He starts with colored lead glass (which could come in numerous little pieces depending on the concept he has in mind) that he will laminate with optical glass. This turns it into a wonderful refractive tool that when struck with light creates brilliant rays similar to a prism. Since he doesn't use hotworking processes, his works take weeks upon weeks before completion. It's definitely very challenging to transform glass without fire – it's more vulnerable and could easily break if the artist isn't careful.
The Paradox is Reborn
One thing that binds all glass sculptors together is their unending passion, determination, and patience when it comes to working with this odd material. It's still a wonder why glass is so captivating – but as long as these artists are willing to share their talent, glass will continue to flourish and beautify homes for years to come.
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