Glass

May 11-13

Introduction to Flameworking Techniques 

Melissa Fitzgerald / Beginner / $250 / Weekend Workshop / (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!)

Start with a solid rod of glass, and over the course of a few days, you’ll begin building a flameworking foundation.  Class will kick off covering safety in the flameworking studio; an introduction to the tools and equipment and shop set-up will also be covered.  Then turn on the torch and learn how to melt and manipulate the glass using heat, gravity and the centrifugal force from a steady rotation.  A number of objects will be made: figurines, pendants to marbles and more.  Students will also be introduced to borosilicate color and shown a number of different color applications.  Each day will begin with detailed demonstrations, and a number of techniques will be covered: air trap inclusions, dot application and surface work.  One-on-one attention will be given focusing on one’s own skill level.

 Melissa Fitzgerald graduated from Keystone College with a studio arts degree.  She traveled west, drawing inspiration from the vastly different surroundings. Although glass art was absent from her youth, her passion for it now compels Melissa to share her cumulative knowledge of the craft. She is currently on staff as an instructor at the Pittsburgh Glass Center and is a new visiting instructor at Touchstone.

May 25-27

New to the Flame

Karen Leonardo / $250/ Beginner / Weekend Workshop / (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!)

The New to the Flame class is designed for those who have never taken a bead class and would like to learn how to make their own glass beads. We will learn safety in the studio and how to use the equipment and tools properly.  Flame control is the most important part of flameworking, so we will concentrate on how to use the flame to make beads, including a discussion on oxidizing and reduction flames, and what they do to your glass.  We will learn how to pull stringers from glass rods, make twisties with two glass rods, and use frits and powders on your beads to decorate them. Bead shapes we will cover are round, barrel, square and cone beads. Our stringer and twistie will be used on dot and striped beads, whether melted in or raised. By the time you leave the class you will have discovered a new passion and know the basics of bead making.

Karen Leonardo has been a lampwork beadmaker and jewelry designer since 1996. She has written two books: Creating Lampwork Beads for Jewelry and Art Bead Jewelry "Seasons in Glass." She is known for her sculpted flower beads. She invented a glass tool line called The Leonardo Petal Pullers, which pull petals from glass rods to be used in sculpted glass flowers, and the new Leonardo Featherbone and Fishbone tools and the Leonardo Imprinters. Karen is the current regional director for the Mid-Atlantic States for the International Society of Glass Beadmakers (ISGB). Her accomplishments include honors in the art world, as well as the business world, with nominations and awards such as Pennsylvania Artist of the Year and The International Who's Who of Business Women and Entrepreneurs. She runs a successful lampwork website with her beads, jewelry, books and tools. Please visit www.leonardolampwork.com for more information.

June 25-29

Glass Beadmaking Basics 

Joy Knepp / Beginner - Intermediate / $475 / Weeklong Workshop / (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!)

Using glass rods and a torch as our paintbrush, students will create miniature works of art: glass beads. Basic techniques will be taught from lighting the torch to making a variety of bead shapes and designs including round beads, bicones and lentils, as well as sculptural shapes.  You will explore the magic of color in glass by encasing colors with transparent glass and using metals such as copper and silver in the glass. You will finish the week with a treasure trove of beads to make one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces. We will use 104 COE glass, (such as Meretti and Vetrofond), a variety of tools and other supplies such as copper and silver leaf, reduction frits,\ and enamels.

 Joy Knepp has been working in glass since 2003 and is a member of the International Society of Glass Beadmakers (ISGB) and the Three Rivers Glass beadmakers. She has an art and art education degree from Pennsylvania State University, and has been an art teacher for 22 years at the Shanksville-Stonycreek School District.

July 9-10

Embellish Your Beads with Surface Decorations 

Karen Leonardo / Advanced Beginner / $200 / Two-Day Workshop / (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!)

This course will teach you various surface decorations to embellish your beads. We will learn techniques such as pulled dots, feathering, raking and making various canes to draw flowers and leaves on your beads. You will discover what silver foil and silvered ivory can do to make your beads look more organic and stone-like. Stringer control is a very important part of beadmaking, and we will focus on how to control our stringer and use it effectively.  We will also use pixie dust, mix frits and powders and show how enamels can change the look of your bead by layering processes.  Learn how to use presses and shaping tools to create and expand your variety of bead shapes. By the time you leave class you will have a solid base of intermediate techniques to practice your new skills and start to develop your very own style at home.

 Karen Leonardo’s bio can be found under New to the Flame.

July 11-13

Sculpted Wildflowers 

Karen Leonardo /Beginner – Intermediate / $300 / Three-Day Workshop / (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!)

We will explore the wonderful world of sculpted glass flower beads and botanicals using various lampwork tools including the Leonardo Petal Pullers, Leonardo Petal Pressers, Leonardo Featherbone and Fishbone tools, the "ruffler" (wire forming jewelry tool), tweezers, picks, etc. Petal, tools and “rufflers” will be available for instruction. Bring the tools you use on a daily basis! Learn how to make various styles of sculpted lampwork flowers and leaves using soft glass. Bring a flower book and choose which flower you would like to make in class. Bring the glass for it and you will see the flower come to life in class. I have made wild violet, poppy, columbine, daisies and trillium, among other flowers. You will make handmade petal cane and any components needed to complete the flowers. Students need to have some torch experience, but experience with soft glass is not necessary.

Karen Leonardo’s bio can be found under New to the Flame.

July 16-20

Stained Glass with Traditional Leadwork 

Regina MacDowell / All Levels / $450 / Weeklong Workshop/ (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!)

The awe-inspiring art of stained glass will be presented and taught in its most fundamental form. With the use of very few basic materials --glass, lead, glass cutter and soldering iron--students will construct a substantial window of their own design using the same techniques that for centuries have filled the great cathedrals of Europe and historic buildings throughout the world. Be warned! This is the “real thing”--no copper foil, grinders or patterns permitted.

Regina MacDowell has been a practicing ecclesiastic glass artist for more than 20 years. Her training was completed in the European fashion, and she has constructed and deconstructed windows in churches, temples, businesses, entrances and foyers throughout the country. She lives with her husband, Jay, and daughters, Cecilia and Veronica, in Greene County, Pa., but she works alone and likes it that way. She has taught exclusively at Touchstone for about a decade.

July 30 - August 3

Terrain to Torch: Referencing the Natural World through Glass Objects

Melissa Fitzgerald / All Levels / $475 / Weeklong Workshop / (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!)

Look at a raindrop, twig, river stone or other natural phenomena and what do you see? This workshop will be an exploration of using the qualities of glass to reference the beauty of the natural world. Begin each day by putting on your glass goggles and exploring the outdoors. Students will spend the week immersed in the natural world and the flameworking studio. Start with the basics: safety, tool/equipment use and shop set-up, then the real fun will begin.  Strike on the torch, grab some glass and learn to melt your first gather and shape leaves, flowers or a blade of grass.  A number of techniques will be shown from surface texture, dot application to form flowers and working with a number of components to create sculptural pieces. Focus will be placed on flame control for the finer details, to flame atmosphere to achieve desired color effects.  Demonstrations will be given throughout the day, as well as one-on-one problem solving.  Don’t forget your notebook and an open mind to draw inspiration from the surroundings.

 Melissa Fitzgerald’s bio is available under the Introduction to Flameworking Techniques workshop description. 

August 13-17 

Marbles to Bugs: Diversify Your Glass Sculpting Techniques 

Mike Mangiafico / All Levels / $475 / Weeklong Workshop / (CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!)

Play with molten glass by learning torch-working skills in an enjoyable atmosphere. Class focus will be on perfecting marble making, cane pulling, and bead building both on and off the mandrel. All this will become your foundation for learning to sculpt glass. Safety, studio set-up, and the history of glass will also be addressed. You are welcome to bring any lampworking tools and materials you may have.

Michael Mangiafico has been teaching torch working and glass blowing since 1993. His work is available nationwide in many galleries and has been featured in art magazines and consumer publications. Michael demonstrates at schools, fairs, galleries and other organizations. While his specialty is making glass insects, he also makes beads, marbles, jewelry, vessels and paperweights. To learn more about his work visit www.figstudios.com.