Friday, December 14, 2007

Peter Hammond's latest commission



Esteemed student Peter Hammond has just completed this commission for a house in Clifton. The brief was to create a window that didn't obscure the view yet provided some visual interest. Peter's done that perfectly with the small areas of colour set into the necessary structure of the surrounding glass. Oh, and he also built the frame and fixed it all in himself, so if you need a handy man...
The guy who lives in the flat upstairs was so taken with it, he's asked Peter to do about 100 windows for his flat - the sort of commission I work for months to get!

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Mark Angus reappears...

... with a possible idea for a masterclass? What do we think?

Dear Milly,
These days I am spending most of my time glass painting, - I have come a long way in 8 years!! I attatch a sample - the second is a vase, I am painting these in numbers!!
I love it.

Just as I did last Easter, I shall again this coming Easter get a day teaching my glass painting technique at the Bath College. But it would be good for me to step again into QR if you would ever invite me.
In Bath I get 100 pounds which the students from all courses collect together, it is very little each!! Or maybe it was 120 I cannot remember. (We have the EUR here!)

My way now, (Excluding acid which I cannot demonstrate in Bath) is with black enamel, with oils, and transparent enamels , - one firing. Very free, very spontaneous.
I use silver stains a lot too, and I work on every type of glass, including 3D forms.
You can see more on www.markangus.com

So.
What about it!
Are you interested???

Greetings, Mark


Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Corning and big paperweights


As befitting the United States of Americal, here's The Biggest Paperweight in the Universe. All the trees and foliage were lampworked and then rolled up (technical term) in a great big blob (technical term) of glass by lots of burly blokes... It was a very beautiful thing. “Megaplanet” is a 107-pound orb with a kaleidoscope of landscapes and underwater scenes inside, and is the one thousandth paperweight in the paperweight collection at Corning. I declined to look at the other 999.


From heavy to delicate, and the wonders of lampworking... Thankfully this was in a glass case, away from my back pack.


Silvia Levenson is an Argentinian artist, who lives in Milan. The political instability she experienced plays out in her work.


Fancy an apple? These were rather enormous, very shiny and beautifully edible... for your most hated enemies only.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Glass sellers Prize and exhibition


The Glass Sellers Prize 2007 is an annual prize, which this year has been awarded to Richard Jackson for Triune IV, a courageous and dynamic sculpture in cast glass. Richard carves his sculptures with diamond saws - very dangerous, but the effects are spectacular. He's based in Stroud, and his website? http://www.richardjackson-glass.com


The Glass Sellers Prize for Engraving went to Katharine Coleman for her masterpiece, City Blocks Vase. Katherine's work has also been selected for the Side by Side exhibition I told you about in Bovey Tracey, and is exquisite. Katherine doesn't seem to have her own website, but you can see some of her work on: http://www.adriansassoon.com/glass/glassp3.asp?ArtistID=78


The Glass Sellers Student award was given to Ramon Beaskoetxea Sans for Bullfighting, a large installation and a powerful indictment of his country’s cruel sport. There's some of his work on his college graduation website: http://globalglassgradshow.com/artists/
 
A runners-up prize in the student category was awarded to Hang-Sheun Yeung for her charming, delicate Fish’s Tale.
 
The exhibition takes place through September to 19th October 2007 at The Glass Art Gallery, London, and includes an exciting array of works by all those shortlisted, as well as past winners. The work covers a broad range of techniques and styles and the majority of pieces on show are for sale.
 
Other exhibiting artists are: Scott Chaseling (highly commended), James Denison-Pender, Shelley Doolan, Carrie Fertig, June Kingsbury, Gayle Matthias (highly commended), Lesley Pyke, Marie Retpen, Steven Reveley, Bruno Romanelli, Peter Russell, Norma Sales, Tracey Sheppard, Nancy Sutcliffe, and Ruby Woo as well as 2006 Winners, June Kingsbury, Tracey Nicholls, Colin Reid and Jessica Townsend.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Corning Museum of Glass


I couldn't resist this - it was in the exhibition entitled 'Curiosities of Glassmaking' - full of fantastic exhibits such as glass made when lightening struck sand dunes etc. The two green vessels are – you’ll never guess – Fire Grenades. They’re blown glass from 17-18th century Europe and must’ve been hugely effective… not. They were filled with water and tossed into the fire. So now you know what to do next time there’s a bush fire.


This is a glass mosaic from the end of the nineteenth century. T'were a very beautiful thing.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Glass exhibition - Bovey Tracey



Here's an opportunity not to be missed - an international glass exhibition in Devon! It's been organised by the Contemporary Glass Society (CGS) - click on their link on the right of this page to find out more about them and about the glassy happenings in the south west over the next few weeks organised as their ten-year anniversary celebration.

The CGS is also organising a fab conference rather unimaginatively entitled 'Looking into Glass' at the end of this month. If you're interested I have the details at Queens Road, or you can find them on the CGS website too.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Very fair stood the wind for Fairford

Hot off the presses! As you can see by the sunny picnic, we caught what must've been the only sunny day of summer at Fairford. I'm afraid I took more photos of the eating than the windows, but here's an overview:


Three of the 28 medieval windows - c.1500



Trapped in Fairford hell



Food, glorious food



Poor loves, they were a bit confused...

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Cathy's New York experience





Back in April I spent a few days in New York. My guidebook pointed me in the direction of a couple of churches with interesting stained glass so I paid them a visit. The first was St Ann and the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Brooklyn Heights. Almost all the windows in this church were designed by an English man,William J. Bolton between 1844 and 1888. Apparently the cycle of windows is the first of its kind in America and has been declared a National Historic Landmark. Rather amazingly the windows are national treasures considered by architectural historians to be comparable to those at Canterbury and Chartres. And yet the church seemed to be rather forgotten and was all in darkness until the caretaker spotted us and switched the lights on revealing windows with beautiful jewel-like colours. We were invited to go upstairs to see the windows on the upper level from balconies that ran down each side of the church. It was fantastic to be able to get so close to the windows and really study them. The two pictures here show details from two windows.
The second church I visited was on Madison Avenue, not far from the Empire State Building. Although most of the windows in the Church of the Incarnation were fairly bog standard late Victorian fare (by British glass studios) there were some remarkable exceptions as not only were American stained glass artists represented in windows by Tiffany and La Farge but there were also windows designed by William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones. I have to say that the latter two were much more to my taste. The American technique seems to be one of using very small peices of glass to create detail rather than paint and etching. In one La Farge window he used oil paints for a portrait with a rather blurry effect. It was a very dull day when I visited which didn't do the American windows, with their heavy leading, any favours either. The pictures here show some details of the Burne Jones and a La Farge.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Lead 'cloth' !!!!!!!


I went to an exhibition at the weekend, where Sue Lawty, the artist, showed some pieces using woven lead. It was so rich, it made me appreciate the textural quality of the material all over again. Unfortunately the exhibition's over, but this photo will give you an idea.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Summer schools at Falmouth University College

Here's some details of some summer workshops in Glass coldworking and mould making at Falmouth University College.
Contact details are at the bottom of the page.

Glass coldworking 3 day workshop
Summerschool
16th, 17th and 18th July 2007

Coldworking is a term used to describe cutting, engraving, grinding and polishing to produce a finished piece of glass. This workshop will introduce you to some of those processes and specialist machinery so that by the end of the workshop you will be able to finish your own piece of kiln-formed glass. You could choose to bring along glass items that you have been previously made, or be given a block of glass to work on as a means to introducing you to the machinery and hand grinding techniques. It is preferable to bring along cast glass items but some of the processes will also suit fused and slumped glass work.

Students would need to bring along: permanent maker pen or chinagraph pencil, a container for water eg, a plastic bottle, ppe (plastic apron), mask, craft knife and rubber gloves

Cost £180


Mould making for glass slumping and open casting

Summerschool
10th and 11th July 2007

This workshop will introduce you to basic mould making recipes so that simple, yet versatile moulds can be produced for two differing Kiln-formed glass processes. It depends what type of glass you place into/over a mould and the temperature to which the kiln is fired as to what the end result will be: Sheet glass can either be slumped into or over a mould in the kiln to create a new form and texture. Gentle, controlled heating of the surface of the sheet glass causes it to soften and deform in the kiln. Alternatively, glass cullet (chunks of broken glass) can be placed into a mould and heated until the glass melts to take on a solid shape (open casting). You will have the opportunity to make models out of a variety of materials, and working on a small scale, be able to begin to explore both processes. It would be beneficial if you had some experience of glass cutting in order to take full advantage of the time available.

Cost £199

Book the glass coldworking workshop at the same time and save £44
Both workshops £335

For further information please call:
Vicki Brotherhood, Design Centre Bureau Service Co-Ordinator on: 01326 370756 or email:- vic.brotherhood@falmouth.ac.uk

Sunday, May 13, 2007



I hope I've mastered this blogger stuff. This is a stained glass picture of John Wesley from Westbury Park Methodist Church. We are now a joint ecumenical parish with St Alban's and a new ecumenical minister, Emma. I could show some pieces from both churches now. St Alban's has some lovely stuff since it was a church built during the Arts and Crafts movement. Unfortunately, thieves stole the lead from the roof last week and it has just got submerged in the heavy rain. So much for our modern cultural movements.

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Mark Angus - latest work




Mark Angus sent me an email with these images this morning. They're for an exhibition at Ely glass museum next August entitled 'returning faces'. Mark says of his current work:
"The figure has grown in importance with me over the last years, and I now have time to develop as an artist, and can enjoy to explore my themes for myself. In past years this luxury was very hard to find! I paint a lot and have work on canvas, on flat glass, but also on blown forms, vases and large plates. These are really very exciting, and are popular in galleries too."

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Display ideas


A nifty idea from Bullseye for all those pieces you have no idea how to display... couldn't find them on the Creative Glass website, but that's not to say they don't sell them!

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Queen Jules rules


Julia's presentation for the 2007 Stevens Competition


The section of the design Julia made for the competition

These are photos of Esteemed Student Julia Rowe's entry to this years' Stevens Architectural Glass Competition. It's an annual event that gives entrants a stab at winning a real-life commission, although it's quite often not the winner of the competition who wins the commission! It involves designing, presenting and making a sample section of your design, and involves lots of work.
Take a closer look at Julia's presentation - on the right hand side she's superimposed her proposed design into photos taken on site. Brilliant.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Southbank Bristol Artsweek 12-19 May



I'll be handing out the passport-lookalike brochures to go with this event this week. The weekend is themed around the notion of travel. It looks fantastic - loads of different artists showing a huge variety of work, and performances galore. You'll be pleased to know that the venue I'm exhibiting at has a cafe AND music.

Call for artistes! (That's YOU)

Picked this up from the a-n. It's so open that even we can enter! I think some of you may have to change your hair styles to qualify for the 'Energy Creative Hair award' though... These competitions are always worth a try - and good experience for getting together images of and statements about your work.

WHO: all artists.
WHAT: call for submissions for open exhibition.
WHERE: Exeter.
WHEN: 20 Sept - 1 Nov.
PRIZES: £1,500 HW Business Advisors award open to all; £1,000 ink2paper.com award for photography; £500 Eyestorm Gallery award for painting; £500 Exeter Phoenix award for a Devon-based artist; £250 Energy Creative Hair award for student entry; Feature on the front cover of PROOF open to all South West-based artists.
TO APPLY: send SAE to eco, Exeter Phoenix, Bradninch Place, Gandy Street, Exeter EX4 3LS or visit www.exeterphoenix.org.uk
DEADLINE: 11 June

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Proto Studios

Visted Proto Studios yesterday, in Pewsey, Wiltshire. It was set up by a guy called David Proto who has a personalised number plate. Theirs is a similar set up to Derix Studios in Germany. There's differing levels of artist involvement - you could simply send the artwork, and they will make the glass for you, or you can go down there and be more active in the making process.

It's a fantastic and inspiring place. The thing to remember is: you can do anything in glass! Or at least say you can, charge enough, and get Proto Studios to make it up for you...

Here's some photos, and I have made a LIVE link on the right to Proto Studios home page... it's worth a click.


Screenprinted opaque enamels


Cast glass wall in reception - 10mm toughened glass


Laminating orange squares onto screenprinted and sandblasted glass


The future of screenprinting at Queens Road

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Milly's Evening Post article

Sorry about my missing link - I decided to put the article on the blog in the end. If you want to see the work, cut and paste the following into your browser:

http://www.mivartartists.co.uk/designer_makers/milly_frances

Also, here's the link for Walford Mill, if you fancy an Easter trip:

http://www.walfordmillcrafts.co.uk/home.htm

Here's the article:

WORK BY GLASS ARTIST SELECTED FOR DORSET EXHIBITION

10:40 - 10 March 2007
A New collection of work by a Bristol glass artist has been selected for an exhibition at Walford Mill Craft Centre in Dorset.Milly Frances, 45, will show her designs celebrating the prickly beauty of cacti, at the Digital Experience Exhibition, later this month.

Milly's light etchings are inspired by a recent trip to Lanzarote.

She said: "This is my first ever series of light etchings, and I am really delighted at the response from galleries and exhibition organisers.

"Walford Mill is particularly pleasing, as it includes artists from all over the world and is a selected Crafts Council outlet."

After Walford Mill, the collection will be coming straight back to Bristol for the Southbank Bristol Arts Trail on May 12 and 13, before going off for an exhibition in Perros-Guirec, France.

Christine Lawry, chief executive of Walford Mill, said: "I was instantly attracted to these glass prints. Milly's digital treatment of the cacti images captures the contradiction between beauty and hostility perfectly."

Milly's limited edition light etchings are individually printed and etched on to handmade glass.

They are backlit and mounted in especially commissioned brushed stainless steel frames.

Milly, who lives in Greenbank, formed her company Striking Glass in 2002 and designs and makes unique stained glass windows and artworks from her Easton studio.

The exhibition takes place from Saturday, March 31, to Monday May 7, at the Walford Mill Craft Centre, Stone Lane, Wimborne.

To see Milly's portfolio visit her website at www.striking-glass.com or email her at info@striking-glass.com .

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Royal Bath & West Show - call for artists!

This looks a good opportunity - go on, give it a go...

Royal Bath & West Show

Deadline: 29/03/2007

Artists from all over the South West are lining up to show off their work
and chase hundreds of pounds worth of cash prizes at this year's Royal Bath
& West Show.

The Art Exhibition has been one of the highlights at the South West's
biggest and best agricultural show for over 100 years - promoting both
professional and amateur artists.

Over 350 works are selected by an invited panel of judges for display in the
Art Pavilion each year for viewing by the thousand of visitors to the Show.
Each artist can enter up to three works of art, and all entries are for
sale.

For full details about all the competitions and highlights check out the
website on http://www.bathandwest.com or ring the Bath & West Showground on
01749 822 200.

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Judith Schaechter - glass artist


Dreams of a Fisherman's Wife



Child Bride



Mother and Child

These are described as 'stained glass lightboxes', and are quite big (Fisherman's Wifey is 33X52 inches). If you like the surreal quality of Judith Schaechter's work, cut and paste the following link and put it in your browser (Internet Explorer etc):

http://www.claireoliver.com/artists.html?artist_no=13&offset=1

Glass Echoes - invitation to exhibit

Glass Echoes

An opportunity to exhibit in a Bloomsbury venue at a very modest cost.

Five emerging glass artists invite nine others to join them in an exhibition at The Crypt Gallery, St Pancras Church, Euston Road, London, NW1 2BA.
The exhibition will run from Thursday 2nd August – Wednesday 8th August 2007.

Information for fellow artists

Glass Echoes is open to all up-and-coming artists working in glass or with glass as the predominant material.
The venue is a Grade 1 listed building and the Crypt is an atmospheric venue with alcoves allowing for a variety of small works and larger installations. We are looking for work that demonstrates sensitivity to this unusual, echoing space and strongly advise a visit to the Crypt – see the website for some pictures and to find out details of opening times (which vary according to current usage).
http://www.stpancraschurch.org/index.php?id=58
There is a £5 non-refundable application fee to cover administration costs

If you are selected
On acceptance, each exhibiting artist will pay a £60 contribution to gallery hire and modest catalogue. Wine for the private view is additional and each artist must be prepared to invigilate for one morning or afternoon during the exhibiton week.
The gallery appears in London listings, but each artist should manage their own publicity. We will supply a flyer for exhibitors to email, or print and post.
The curator will allot a space to each artist, who will typically show up to 6 pieces (depending on the size).
Work can be available for sale and there is no gallery mark-up. Artists must deal with the buyer direct.
Each artist will be responsible for their own set-up. Some lighting will be provided, but any additional display material, including plinths, must be brought in. No changes to the fabric of the building can be made – e.g. screwing in mounting units, painting walls, and so on.
A contract will be issued to all successful applicants with their letter of confirmation. This will include permission to use images of work for publicity; please make sure that you have the necessary rights to grant this permission.
The church does not cover any insurance or public liability.
Setting up: Tuesday 31st July and Wednesday 1st August 2007. Take down: Thursday 9th August 2007. Limited car parking is available at the venue. Artists must deliver by 11 am on 31st July and collect their work at the end.

Deadline & application
The deadline for Glass Echoes is Monday 16th April 2007. All applications should be submitted in the format on the Submission form electronically or by post, and are returnable only with an sae.
Selection
Selection will take place at the end of April 2007, when a selection panel consisting of the 5 organising artists and the guest curator, Angela Thwaites, will meet to view the entries. We will let you know in the week beginning 9th May whether you have been selected.
Submission
Artists should submit from 4 to 8 images of work for exhibition in digital form, up to 3 of any single piece. Selection will be based on existing work only. Proposals for new work inspired by the venue will only be considered in the light of existing work and the curator will have the final say on any works that did not form part of the original submission.
Each image should be clearly labelled with your name and a number from 1 to 8 which should correspond with your image details on the application form, e.g. johnsmith1.jpg, johnsmith2.jpg etc.
All submissions should include the following items:
1. Digital images and documentation appropriate to the work
2. Completed submission form
3. Short CV and Artist’s Statement in electronic form
4. £5 entry fee payable to Marion Hewitt
The submission form is online at www.editor.net/glassechoes. You can print and post it or email it to the addresses given on the form.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Collect - art fair for contemporary objects



Collect, the Craft Council's annual art fair, is happening at the V&A from 8th to 12th February. Here's the link, but you'll have to cut and paste it into your browser:

http://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/collect/

There will be lots of glass, and lots of people...

Glass in northern France




These windows were sent by Esteemed Wednesday Evening Student, Peter, whose memory is as intact as mine:

I'm attaching a couple of photos taken in northern France in 2005. They were taken inside a church, wot I can't remember where is, in June 2005. I don't know who the artist is or when they were made though I suspect late 20th century and the church could have been in Arras. Still, despite the bad photography, I think they have a dramatic effect, and I also think I can identify some of the new techniques you have been showing us.

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

stained glass sundial





















At last this sundial got finished and installed at Nailsea Court. (Its a copy of a 17th century one which was stolen after a fire in the 1970's).I've been working on this dial for over a year now - it's plain glass, etched, enamelled, painted, and silver stained.
Scary moment as the sun came out just when we were putting it in - and it showed the right time to within 5 minutes or so! (you have to correct for longitude and time of year first)The time reads quarter past 12
Carol

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Art and glass in Gloucester




Tom Denny, Gloucester Cathedral, 1992

Esteemed Student Cathy Steed sent me this information about art and
glass in her neck of the woods. So if anyone fancies a trip to Gloucester, you know where to go...

Our inspiration often comes from the natural world so thought I
would give a plug to my local museum/art gallery 'Nature in Art' a
couple of miles outside Gloucester. It is well worth a visit and
does exactly what it says on the tin. The art is both inside and out
in the grounds and covers many different mediums. They usually have
a visiting artist in residence, there is a good cafe and a shop
selling related books and posters and also artists materials. You
can even get in half-price by simply mentioning that you have heard
about the museum through an 'arts ambassador' (my other half, John
Steed) when you buy your tickets. Visit the website to find out more
about the museum:

http://www.nature-in-art.org.uk/


Whilst in the neighbourhood Gloucester Cathedral is well worth a
visit. The Great East Window c1350 vies with York Minster in its
claim to be the largest medieval window in England. The South
Ambulatory Chapel has a wonderful modern set of windows by Tom Denny
(1992) - the picture's on the Cathedral's website just don't do it
justice:

http://www.gloucestercathedral.org.uk/photogalleries_chapel.asp

The Cathedral is slap bang in the middle of Gloucester just a short walk
from Westgate Street where there is a great shop called 'Made in
Gloucestershire'. The shop sells some wonderful stuff: baskets,
pottery, jams, scarves, cards, furniture, bags, cosmetics and, of
course, stained glass.

If you really want to make a day of it travel 8 miles west of
Gloucester to Newent to visit the Cowdy gallery - see the link on
the right.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Westbury Park Methodist Church






Photos courtesy of Harry, another Esteemed Student, this time from my Thursday morning class. Harry says:

I attach some pictures of some interesting glass in our church - Westbury Park Methodist on the corner of Etloe Road and Berkeley Road.

There is one of the John Wesley panel and a detail from underneath it. Also there is a typical roundel. Hope you like them. I have some spare glass available which is the colours and sizes of the south window detail if any one would like some.

If there is interest on the blog I thoght I might put up some more pictures - perhaps some from St Alban's church too.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Warm Glass competition entries



Title: The movement of flowing water with ever shifting forms of a shoal of fish

Here's Julia Rowe's entry to this years' Warm Glass Competition. For those who don't know Julia, she's An Esteemed Student in my Wednesday class. The good thing is, we don't only see all the entries on the web, we get to vote for our favourite entry too!

So cut and paste the following link into your browser, and get voting...

http://www.warmglassprize.com/entries2006.htm

Good Luck Julia.

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Koi Carp window


Thought you might like to see a round window I just made for a conservatory -