pate de verre

23 02, 2009

Smooth-on Trowelable Plasti-Paste

2016-05-16T14:17:51-07:00

Normally, I craft my mother molds out of plain old plaster of paris. It's cheap, relatively quick and the cleanup is easy. But the resulting shell is also heavy and brittle, hard to store and prone to chipping off in exactly the spot you need it to be whole. Smooth-on's Plasti-Paste promises to alleviate at least 75 percent of those problems but costs about $17; plaster costs about $3. To work, the Plasti-Paste shell needs to be VERY light, VERY rigid and VERY easy to get off the mold. So...here goes.

Smooth-on Trowelable Plasti-Paste2016-05-16T14:17:51-07:00
3 02, 2009

Never deny the art

2017-10-07T17:50:22-07:00

OK, really not going to get too awfully philosophical here but over the weekend a realization was slammed home that should have been obvious and somehow was not: Once you get art into your head, one way or another, it's gotta come out. ;-) ....

Never deny the art2017-10-07T17:50:22-07:00
19 09, 2008

Optical delusions

2016-10-11T22:59:00-07:00

I’m back in Castuary (my term for that anxious period when the mold is in the kiln and you’re waiting to find out if you’ve just made heaven or hell in glass). As usual, it’s sending me into all kinds of odd musings. For example, I’ve run across two different perception phenomena during this Castuary. First is what’s called the [...]

Optical delusions2016-10-11T22:59:00-07:00
10 07, 2008

All hail fiberglass! (Boybubbles)

2016-05-16T13:45:01-07:00

  This week I have two great big thank yous: One to Bob Heath, who kindly loaned me the use of his kiln when mine croaked, and one to the guy that invented fiberglass. THANK YOU […]

All hail fiberglass! (Boybubbles)2016-05-16T13:45:01-07:00
5 07, 2008

Demo de verre

2017-07-17T04:48:25-07:00

Wow. THAT was fun. Spent the afternoon demonstrating pate de verre techniques at Portland’s Museum of Contemporary Craft, and enjoyed myself thoroughly. Part of the museum’s month of glass, it’s sponsored by the Oregon Glass Guild. Supercompetent Bob Heath (president of the Portland chapter), played assistant the whole time which made a LOT less work for me (thanks, Bob). [...]

Demo de verre2017-07-17T04:48:25-07:00
27 03, 2008

Making me (self-portrait)

2016-05-15T15:25:37-07:00

Warning: VERY long post. Only read this if you're interested in pate de verre, because this is the length of a small book... Couple years ago a lovely artist named Cynthia (not me...Cynthia Oliver), organized a virtual artshow of warmglass artist self-portraits. It was a great deal of fun, and after seesawing back and forth on what to do, I did [...]

Making me (self-portrait)2016-05-15T15:25:37-07:00
13 03, 2008

Caster’s hand cream

2016-05-15T16:01:04-07:00

Those of you who cast glass know that one thing casting ISN’T, is good for your hands. Between plaster, investments, clay, coldworking, etc., casting is just about the worst thing you can do to a good set of digits. I’ve spent a small fortune on lotions and emolliments designed to bring my chapped, cracked, and generally gruddley hands back to [...]

Caster’s hand cream2016-05-15T16:01:04-07:00
2 03, 2008

Caster pity party

2016-05-15T16:01:03-07:00

As I'm sitting here digging investment out of tiny little nooks and crannies in my latest glass casting, I'm suddenly struck by the immense number of glass casters whose work runs to sensuously smooth, unadorned imagery. Do you suppose that's because, unlike me, they're smart enough to realize what happens when you put lots of @#$)*^#@%! tiny detail in a [...]

Caster pity party2016-05-15T16:01:03-07:00
29 01, 2008

Lost in Castuary

2016-05-15T16:00:38-07:00

So it's back to Castuary, that odd period where life revolves around the kiln, or more specifically, around the molds I'm casting in the kiln. The process of casting glass kinda reminds me of bringing kids in from recess: Controlled chaos that eventually--hopefully--marches exactly to where you want it. Glass casting is a gazillion tasks all culminating in Castuary and [...]

Lost in Castuary2016-05-15T16:00:38-07:00
27 01, 2008

Using wax clay

2014-09-08T21:45:33-07:00

This post was originally published on my old blog in 2008. I thought it deserved a replay. It’s also inspired me to go find the sample piece I’m showing here, one of my hosta bowl series, and see if I can’t finally finish the thing. I’m not a great fan of the waxes used in lost wax casting, mostly for the [...]

Using wax clay2014-09-08T21:45:33-07:00
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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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