Courses in Glass

Weekend courses at Glasszoo Studios in Surrey & Hampshire 2010 

Announcing New Courses in 'Pate de Verre' at Glasszoo Studios in Hampshire - opening this summer including brand new courses in Jewellery & Metalsmithing with special guest tutor Rebecca Skeels - Head of Jewellery and Metalsmithing at University for the Creative Arts. 

Following the success of the Glass Casting Course this will also run again in August. 

see below for details.

Course Locations: Lockwood Centre, Westfield Road, Guildford GU1 1RR.  Map

and Blue Barn2, Hartley Business Park, The Lavender Farm, Selborne, Nr. Alton, Hampshire GU34

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it    Tel: 07887 701206

To enrol please download and print a booking form (see links below)and send to the address on the form with the appropriate fee. 

Click here to download a Course Booking Form in Word format
Click here to download a Course Booking Form in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format

Glass courses include technical information about appropriate firing cycles, annealing and cooling for successful results.  Prices include tuition, materials and kiln firing costs.  Tea & Coffee provided.  Pieces fired on the last day can be collected or securely posted (p&p applies).  Wear close toe foot wear.  Please bring packed lunch.

For Terms & Conditions please go to the bottom of this page.

NEW COURSES AT GLASSZOO STUDIOS IN HAMPSHIRE 

JEWELLERY AND METALSMITHING - 2 Days 10am - 4.30pm sat/sun 7th & 8th August 2010 

Level: Beginners & Progressors - Fee £155

*Early bird discount applies on receipt of full fee by 16th July -  £140

Tutor: Rebecca Skeels 

Design and Create your own individual items of jewellery and experiment with mixed media pieces.  

On the first project of this course you will learn foundation jewellery processes and techniques through demonstrations, short talks and hands on practice that include health and safety procedures. 

Materials for the first project are included in the fee.  Other materials e.g. Silver sheet can be purchased from the tutor as required.

Introduction to materials and techniques through demos and practice. 

What you will learn Day 1

  • Cutting
  • Piercing
  • Drilling
  • Filing
  • Soldering
  • Making jump rings
  • Finishing - sanding & polishing

What you will learn Day 2 

  • Texturing
  • Ring making
  • Rivet making
  • Stone setting

What you will achieve

  • One or more finished pieces to take home

What we will provide

  • Equipment and tools for all processes
  • Personal protective equipment
  • Hand outs on technical information

What you need to bring

  • Bring your own apron or wear old clothes

Rebecca is an artist in jewellery and highly experienced teacher at all levels and runs the metal work and jewellery department at the University for the Creative Arts.  

 

 AN INTRODUCTION TO PATE DE VERRE - 2 Days 10am - 4.30pm 14th & 15th August 2010

Level: Beginners and Progressors - Fee £210

Early bird discount applies on receipt of full fee received by Friday July 23rd  -  £195

Tutor: Colin Webster

The process of 'pate de verre' involves making a 'paste' of glass that is applied to the surface of a mould and kiln formed.  This allows for the precise placement of glass colours in the mould and offers the potential for a diverse range of glass qualities.  On this 2 day course you will create a relief cast panel and a vessel form using both clear and coloured glasses.

Processes covered will include designing and making  refractory plaster moulds, relief carving and glass frit preparation.

What you will learn

  • How to make relief carved and refractory moulds
  • How to prepare and grade glass frits
  • How to prepare a 'paste of glass'
  • How to selectively pack your moulds with glass frits to produce a predetermined design
  • How to construct kiln firing and annealing cycles.

What you will achieve

  • Day 1 You will create a 'pate de verre'  relief cast glass panel 
  • Day 2 You will create a 'pate de verre' vessel form

How to prepare

  • Collect examples and/or images of surface texture and relief e.g. natural forms, wood and stone carvings

Things to bring

  • A sketch book and drawing materials
  • Any carving and modelling tools you may have

What we will provide

  • Specialist tuition
  • Personal protective equipment
  • Mould making, glass materials and kiln forming processes
  • Technical notes to support this workshop

 

Kiln Casting Glass

Reverse Relief Texture & Form  - 10am - 4.30pm Saturdays 21st & 28th August 2010

Level: Beginners & Progressors - Fee:  £210

*Early bird discount applies on receipt of full fee received by Friday July 30th - £195  

Tutor: Colin Webster.

against_the_flow_2.jpg

On this 2 day course you will be modelling and mould making and casting with glass to enhance form through light and shade.  You will be introduced to various ways of 'box casting' in order to create reverse relief three dimensional objects revealing the beauty of the glass and your modelling of texture and form.  Colin has been developing these methods through years of  teaching at degree and post graduate levels and is an acknowledged expert in his field.

Processes covered will include carving refractory plaster, clay modelling and alginate mould making.  Over the course you will produce two reverse relief cast glass objects of your own design, max size 150mm square. 

sand_canvas_2.jpg 

What you will learn

  • How to make carved and cast refractory plaster models
  • How to make rubber moulds from clay models
  • How to create simple cast moulds
  • How to cast reverse relief forms in glass

What you will achieve

  • You will achieve 2 cast glass forms that are rectangular or square with reverse relief 

How to prepare

  • Collect examples and/or images of surface texture and relief, e.g. natural forms like rocks and bark
  • Manmade forms, e.g. tyre treads and plastic packaging, the more you can find the better.

Things to bring

  • A sketch book and drawing materials
  • Any carving and modelling tools that you may have

What we will provide

  • All personal protective equipment
  • All mould making, modelling and glass materials
  • Technical notes to support this workshop

Colin is one of the most experienced glass makers in the UK and Head of Glass at University for the Creative Arts. 

*For Terms & Conditions please go to the bottom of the page.

 

Glass Fusing with Metal Inclusions - Panels & Dishes  2 Days: TBA

Level: Progressors  - Fee: £210

Early bird discount applies on receipt of full fee received by TBA

Tutor: Julia Webster 

On the first day you will be introduced to different types of metallic inclusions that can be safely combined with glass materials to give intriguing decorative effects and use these to create a group of sample panels.  On the second day you will compose a final 2D piece that after kiln forming can be slumped into a mould to form a shallow vessel. Metallic materials include shim, wire, and leaf.  The Verre Eglomise technique will be explained and demonstrated.  Technical information about firing cycles will also be covered and extra materials and metal mesh can be purchased during the course from the tutor. 

On this 2 day course spread over consecutive weekends you can learn more about the processes and techniques and have time to consider and develop your design ideas assisted by  short talks and demos plus your own hands on experience.  You will be able to see the products of your first days work after the initial  kiln firing and be able to discuss the results with the tutor and other students on the second day, ask questions and compare notes to stimulate further ideas and exploration in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere. 

Students are encouraged to bring their own  sources of inspiraton which might include favourite photos, cuttings, books, designs, post cards, drawings and paintings. 

For terms & conditions please go to the bottom of the page.



What People Say About Our Courses
 

Hi Julia

Thankyou again for all your help and very good company. The weekend was just great, inspiring. I'm certainly intending to to attend another class again soon.

I really enjoyed meeting everyone in the group; the comaraderie very much enhanced the course and I got a lot more out of participating than just picking up the glass techniques.

Adam - (NHS GP and glass collector).

Very informative and very enjoyable.  I am looking forward to seeing our final slumped masterpieces! It would be great if you could let me know if you intend to hold more courses in the future.  Thanks again.

Thea - (Artist).

I went to collect my final piece last week and was really pleased with it. I have been meaning to email you to say thanks and also how inspirational I found the course.  I've had my kiln for about a year, but never plucked up the courage  to do much more than make dichroic jewellery, one of the reasons being I didn't realise you could fuse float glass and experiments with Bullseye are a bit expensive.

Since I've been back the kiln has been working overtime! I stocked up on float glass and powders and have been having great fun.  I've sold loads of coasters and have made some decent size bowls (now sold!).

Heather - (Artist)

Thank you so much for a lovely glass weekend. I wasn't sure what to expect as this was my first proper attempt at doing something 'arty' but it turned out to be much better in every way than I could ever have hoped. It was so nice with just five people in the group and I thought we all got on really well. I've been looking at the website and deciding what to attempt next.  So no doubt I'll see you again some time in the spring.

Best regards Lonny.

Thanks again for having the patience to show us and share a bit of magic over the weekend. I can't wait to see the results. I also would love to learn more and progress and looking forward to the next courses you'll be organising.

Helene - (Research Scientist)

I found the pace really good; clear very non-patronising explanations, helpful advice and additional inspiring information provided. I shall come to more workshops. Thanks very much.

Joanna - (Artist/Designer)

Thank you so much for an enjoyable and informative course - it was beyond my wildest expectations. I have been struggling on my own for far to long and you aswered so many questions. I really believe my work has a chance of moving forward now.

Caroline - (Artist in Ceramics & Glass)

Thank you for the  photo's, it was a very enjoyable few days, I learned so much from you, I woke up designing glass in my head. I would love to develop some more skills and ideas with you soon. Thanks again and very best wishes.

Roz



Julia is a professional Glass Artist, experienced teacher and Creative Director of Glasszoo Ltd. She runs courses and workshops in fusing and slumping decorative glass in order to share her experience and expertise.  She creates and exhibits her own personal  glass objects and sculpture and works to  commission on decorative and architectural glass projects in the Interiors, Gardens and Yacht Design Industries.  

daggerwing

'Daggerwing'  glass & steel sculpture, height 108cm

Terms & Conditions

Early bird discounts: These apply when full payment is received by the dates indicated for each course where applicable.  Otherwise we require a £40 deposit before your place on a course is guaranteed.  We require full payment 10 days prior to the start of the course. 

Application: Your application is binding, should you wish to cancel within 10 days of the course date we reserve the right to retain your deposit. 

Cancellation:  In the unlikely event that we have to cancel a course for any reason,  Glasszoo will return all deposits and fees paid to the respective students.