Stage 2

It’s very important to carefully control the rate of heating and cooling, and each different factor involved in the piece (i.e. is the glass mainly black or white, how thick it is, what type of glass or other design elements are being used, what type of kiln will be it fired in) will dictate a particular schedule. It’s not unusual for the firing to take up to several days to complete, depending on the thickness of the glass. Often the glass is given repeat firings to add additional artistic elements, with each firing requiring the same complex pattern of heating and cooling to room temperature. It can easily take up to a week or two in the various stages of firing.

Finally, after it is finished, it is fitted with a frame for hanging or standing, or it’s fitted into an existing window, or very commonly it is slumped into a metal or ceramic mold during a separate kiln firing, which will give the glass its final shape (a bowl, a platter, etc). This is accomplished by resting the glass over the prepared mold and when it reaches about 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit it falls under its own weight, taking on the shape of the mold beneath it. The glass is chosen for its translucent clarity or opacity, compatibility with other fusing glass, texture, and color. Often inclusions, including frits and powders (small pieces of glass), enamel paints, liquid glass paint, gold, silver, or copper leaf or mica, or carved shapes into the mold are incporporated into the design.

While basic fusing is rather simple to learn, and quick thrilling to experience, the tools required for a professional level product are extremely expensive, and to be able to produce what the artist is intending is the difference between being able to ride a bicycle and being able to ride it on a tight rope, high above the circus tent! It takes years of education and seat-of-the-pants type experience to become a proficient fused glass artist… but for me, the trill is well worth the effort!

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