Kilnformed Glass

There are many forms of glass art. Kilnformed glass (sometimes called warm-glass and kiln-glass) is my focus and passion.

For comparison, brief descriptions of the most common other forms are included below.

There are several fundamental kilnformed glass techniques:

Fused: Two or more pieces of glass are placed in the kiln and heated until they fuse together into a single piece.

Slumped (or draped): Glass is placed over a mold and heated until it slumps into (or drapes over) the shape. Frequently the glass being slumped has design elements already fused to it.

Cast: The glass is melted so that it flows into a mold. There are many variations of glass casting, including lost wax and pate de verre. Cast glass objects are typically thick and dimensional.

All kilnformed glass has in common that the art objects are created in a kiln. While ceramic kilns can be used, most kilnformed glass artists use kilns specifically built for glass. Differences between ceramic and glass kilns include temperature ranges and heating element placement. Additionally, because of the demands of firing glass, glass kilns today typically operate under the direction of a computerized kiln controller.

The possibilities for the kiln artist are endless. If you wish to learn more, a good place to start is www.warmglass.com. Brad Walker, owner of the site, is also author of an excellent beginner's book on kilnformed glass - Contemporary Warm Glass.

There are also hundreds of studios and shops that offer classes. To locate teachers in your area check your phone book for stained glass studios since many offer both stained glass and kilnformed glass classes. You can also ask for a recommendation on the forum at warmglass.com.

Other Types of Glass Art

Lampworking (also flameworking) describes a process where the artist manipulates glass - usually colored rods - in the flame of a torch. Beads and marbles are the most common objects produced by lamp workers.

Blown glass, like lampworking, is categorized as hot glass. Glass blowers start with molten glass and shape it using countless techniques. Vases, sculptural pieces and other relatively large objects are typical of the work produced by glass blowers.

Stained glass describes the techniques where colored glass is cut and reassembled. With the exception of the rare artist who actually stains the glass (typically with silver), stained glass is created at room temperature. Most church windows and Tiffany style lamps fall into this category.