experiments and a first kiln firing
One of my aims for this year’s work is to experiment with techniques, while I have all Angela’s knowledge and skill to back up my ideas. With this in mind, we spent a day prepping some ‘testers’ in the form of a lizard, moth and a solid floral object.
There are so many possibilities in glass, and ideas have never been a problem for me, so I am having to be a bit disciplined, but also to allow myself some pure experiments, and be braced for the odd failure.
The process of making a lost wax piece of glass, ( even before I add my silver elements ) is very involved. Because of this, I know I will be tempted to try to produce only ‘perfect’ pieces, relying on Angela’s skills. Aiming for perfection will be hard enough, but I need to try things with a big risk of failure. That in itself makes me a bit twitchy!
I intend to use these first samples to practice finishing/coldworking details in glass, and also to experiment with surface patination, applying colour to enhance the texture and surface of the glass.
First, reproductions of my wax carvings were moulded in silicone, (I carve in jeweller’s hard wax, not suitable for steaming out from a mould) and then casting waxes were made. Refractory kiln plaster moulds were made, the waxes steamed out, then into the kiln. I really love the look of multiple waxes, and also the steamed-out plaster moulds. They look so clean and the shapes inside are intriguing somehow, even though I know what the model was.
Angela fired the work, (a skill in itself) and below are the results so far. There is a little flashing (where the mould begins to split and the glass leaches out ) because the pieces were of different sizes, and it took longer than expected for the black moth to cast. Something to think about for the next kiln run.
It’s interesting to see how much detail the casting will pick up. I can’t quite picture my wax carvings in glass yet - I know what i’m hoping for, but not what will come out. How subtle can I be in the wax, will the finishing lose some detail, will the transparency be ‘confusing’ to the eye? In this case though, I’m so pleased. I have some glass to experiment with, and the detail is fantastic, even the lizard’s claws came out.
