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.

6 04, 2011

Els

2015-11-07T22:25:52-08:00

Wonderful artist and really nice person Els VandenEnde died last night. I met her exactly eight times in my entire life and each time she greeted me like a long-lost friend. We corresponded more online than in person, and always meant to get together but somehow never really did. There's a term I use for work that's physically as well [...]

Els2015-11-07T22:25:52-08:00
1 04, 2011

Kinda like peanuts

2017-10-07T18:00:35-07:00

Guess what I've been doing in my spare time? Everybody needs a goal, right? I decided mine was to make 600 glass cabochons for a project I have at the end of April. So for the last three or four weeks I've been chopping, shaping, grinding and firing dozens and dozens of those kilnformed murrini I've been writing about. And it's kinda like peanuts: I examine a fresh-from-the-kiln batch, wonder what would happen if I sawed the cane THIS way, or fired an extra 30 minutes, or stacked the glass THAT way...and off I go to try that.

Kinda like peanuts2017-10-07T18:00:35-07:00
2 03, 2011

Murrini cane in a kiln: Sandwiches, mokume gane cane, and compression

2021-05-27T14:55:42-07:00

When does a cane stop being murrini cane and start being pattern bar? Beats me. I can find only two differences. In fact, for many types of murrine you start with a huge pattern bar, then heat and stretch and compress it until it becomes...murrini cane. So... if I use the same techniques I use to make pattern bars, then experiment with ways to stretch and distort those bars in the kiln, and then cut "cane" bars from the resulting stack...I should have murrini, right?

Murrini cane in a kiln: Sandwiches, mokume gane cane, and compression2021-05-27T14:55:42-07:00
28 02, 2011

Shelby & Carla make a plate

2017-10-07T18:01:36-07:00

I promised I'd show you what my two Fusing 101 students made in their first class, so here 'tis. Shelby made what's essentially a color map of her favorite place in Monet's beloved Giverny:

Shelby & Carla make a plate2017-10-07T18:01:36-07:00
16 02, 2011

That joy part

2016-05-18T00:26:40-07:00

"I've been dreaming about this at night," Shelby told me excitedly, as we tripped down the stairs to my studio, "This is gonna be soooo coool!" Right then, the joy part of making glass hit me--whap--right in the head. If you want to renew your own sense of joy and discovery in art (or probably anything else), just teach someone else to love it, too.

That joy part2016-05-18T00:26:40-07:00
4 01, 2011

Murrini cane in a kiln: Jellyrolls

2017-10-07T18:00:34-07:00

Last time around, I talked about murrini cane, and the most obvious way to make them in the kiln: A murrini rod mold, AKA "rodpod." As I've said, I'm not pretending that anything I discuss here is my invention or brand new stuff: Murrini-making is one of the oldest glassmaking techniques. This is just a compendium of methods I use [...]

Murrini cane in a kiln: Jellyrolls2017-10-07T18:00:34-07:00
22 12, 2010

Murrini cane in a kiln: The rod mold

2021-06-15T14:13:14-07:00

FINALLY I'm back in the studio, messing around, after a six-month hiatus. And I figured I'd start with something easy: Making components for bigger sculptures. Then it turned into this bigger thing, i.e., exploring how to make murrini in a kiln. I'm trying several methods here, and this will probably be a three-parter. Sorry about that. So...I've got some ideas for cast, figurative sculptures and vessels that incorporate murrini, bronze and other things. First order of business: Make enough murrini for easy playing.

Murrini cane in a kiln: The rod mold2021-06-15T14:13:14-07:00
19 12, 2010

Day 4: Have yourself a little more dichroic

2015-02-01T11:51:59-08:00

I'd like to thank a dear, talented artist friend for inspiring this one. (I'd name names, but I'd also like to live to see the New Year.) Have yourself a little more dichroic (Apologies to "Have yourself a merry little Christmas") Have yourself a little more dichroic Fling the bling around From now on your glass sales will be out [...]

Day 4: Have yourself a little more dichroic2015-02-01T11:51:59-08:00
17 12, 2010

Day 3: Do you hear what I hear?

2015-02-01T11:51:59-08:00

I'm sittin' here, reading through a couple dozen of these things, and thinking that they betray a certain bias on my part. Oh well. Do you hear what I hear? Said the little kiln to the fuserman Do you see what I see? (Do you see what I see?) Blinking on my screen, fuserman? Do you see what I see? [...]

Day 3: Do you hear what I hear?2015-02-01T11:51:59-08:00
14 12, 2010

Day 2: It’s beginning to look a lot like coldwork

2015-02-01T11:51:59-08:00

For all you folks that just don't like mangled Christmas poetry (if you think this is bad, you should see the games we're playing on Facebook)...just don't look. It's beginning to look a lot like coldwork Everywhere, it shows

Day 2: It’s beginning to look a lot like coldwork2015-02-01T11:51:59-08:00
Copyright © 2024 Cynthia Morgan | All Rights Reserved
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.
Go to Top