Process : Glass fusing/Slumping

My studio glass pieces are created by fusing glass pieces together to form “blanks”, which are then slumped over a form of ceramic or steel.  To create a bowl, I often start by fusing individual tiles, and assemble the tiles on a flat circle of glass which is fused again to create the blank.  Often the blank needs grinding and re-fusing before it can be slumped in a ceramic form.  Please check this website in the near future for more examples of bowls and plates.

 

Glass Kiln
Custom designed kiln for casting and fusing/slumping.

 

Firing Schedules
It is helpful to keep good firing records.

 

Set Up Tiles In Kiln
To make a bowl, first I fuse individual tiles.

 

Fused Tiles
The tiles have melted together and are flat.

 

Bowl Blanks
After arranging tiles on a piece of clear glass, the “blank” is fused again.

 

Set Up For Slumping
The blanks are placed over a ceramic form and slumped at a lower temperature.