glass

Glassmaking: Morganica (Cynthia Morgan) demonstrates the technical and creative challenges of making art using glass through fused glass, coldworking, and experimentation. Primarily focused on the casting of glass, including pate de verre and reservoir casting, she also discusses less-used kinformed glass techniques such as tack-fusing, kilncarving, and pattern-bar development.

13 06, 2021

References for the glass caster

2021-06-15T14:17:50-07:00

"Where can I find a good book/video/website on casting glass?" I'm asked that a LOT, so I thought I'd save myself some time answering by cobbling up this post. This list compiles my most-informative references garnered through my years of casting glass. The first two are specific to glass casting with a strong focus on moldmaking (the most confounding part [...]

References for the glass caster2021-06-15T14:17:50-07:00
1 11, 2019

Making a silicone mask 3: Change of plans

2020-11-26T12:53:32-08:00

  Current iteration, as of this writing--subtler ridges, whisker-like set of front nose indentation, and better ear integration. In THIS episode of Making a Silicone Mask: The Rules of Moldmaking #1: The simpler, the better. The fewer stages and components required to create your mold, the fewer opportunities for disaster. #2: The effort required to correct a casting [...]

Making a silicone mask 3: Change of plans2020-11-26T12:53:32-08:00
15 10, 2019

Making a silicone mask 2: Engineering the mold

2019-10-15T11:08:34-07:00

When they tell that old silicone might not set, they mean it. In this episode: There's many a slip twixt the yup and the ick. Here today, goo tomorrow. A moldmaker and her money are soon parted. Models are easy. Molds are hard. Masks, I was discovering, are even harder. I had a model for Kat's mask. Now [...]

Making a silicone mask 2: Engineering the mold2019-10-15T11:08:34-07:00
13 10, 2019

Who was that masked woman? (making a silicone mask, part I: designing)

2019-10-15T10:29:41-07:00

Final maquette for Kaitlyn's mask After two decades--and a LOT of wasted silicone--I've gotten pretty good at building durable, well-engineered silicone molds for glass casting. I should be able to make a custom silicone mask, right? We'll see. My friend Kaitlyn (Kat) is making a Halloween costume depicting the probable offspring of Batman and Catwoman (who apparently met [...]

Who was that masked woman? (making a silicone mask, part I: designing)2019-10-15T10:29:41-07:00
8 06, 2019

Wazer update: Getting deeper into the machine

2021-06-15T14:15:47-07:00

We're a few months down the road with the Wazer waterjet cutter. I thought an update was due but--apologies--we are nowhere near as far along with learning/using this machine as I thought we'd be. Thank unrealistic expectations for the lapse: I tend to shoehorn 40 hours worth of work into a 24-hour day that includes cleaning up the studio, learning [...]

Wazer update: Getting deeper into the machine2021-06-15T14:15:47-07:00
14 01, 2019

Wazer review: The prodigal desktop waterjet finally arrives

2021-06-15T14:17:22-07:00

Reviewing the Wazer desktop waterjet cutter, Cynthia and her friend Bob Heath find it's a powerful, probably revolutionary tool but also expensive to buy or run, has a steepish learning curve, and a few other challenges along the way.

Wazer review: The prodigal desktop waterjet finally arrives2021-06-15T14:17:22-07:00
20 11, 2018

Studio practice makes perfect (or not)

2018-11-19T16:04:23-08:00

I almost titled this post "losing my religion." I've never, in my whole life, had writer's block, or lacked for art ideas. Quite the opposite: No sooner do I start work on one idea than the next pounds on the door, demanding to kick my current project to the curb. Lovely problem to have, but it makes actually FINISHING a [...]

Studio practice makes perfect (or not)2018-11-19T16:04:23-08:00
10 10, 2017

I think I’m in love…with my bathroom

2020-10-06T07:36:12-07:00

Some people dream of finding the right lover. I dream of finding the right bathroom. So when, after spending months in a construction zone, I got to shower in my brand new bathroom for my birthday, well...it was a glorious day. It really was a birthday present. Nathan-the-resident-carpenter dropped everything to ensure that, on my natal day, plumbing was working [...]

I think I’m in love…with my bathroom2020-10-06T07:36:12-07:00
29 07, 2017

Frit volume: Weighing’s best

2020-03-02T07:45:25-08:00

The first time I packed frit into a mold I learned the difference between the volume of frit and the FIRED volume of frit. Even so, when you're casting or fusing with frit, the level of shrinkage can be disconcerting. Here is an example. Fill up a test mold to the brim with powder, tamp it down tightly so that [...]

Frit volume: Weighing’s best2020-03-02T07:45:25-08:00
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No part of this website may be copied, borrowed, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the author (me).

Or, to put it in plain English, folks: Ask first. This blog is first and foremost a personal journal, a chronicle of my work with a fairly difficult technical medium. I'm happy (thrilled, even) to share what I know, and I'll help you with your own journey all I can... as long as you respect my groundrules.

I don't sell ads, products or services, and unless disclosed I buy all products/services mentioned in this blog, with my own money. I don't claim to have invented processes, tools, new artforms, or techniques (unless I specifically say so). HOWEVER, my writing and art (and any errors of fact or fiction) are my very own, original work. Don't blame anyone but me if I get it wrong.
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