Glass Skills Classes

We have new Classes for 2013:

LAMP WORKING
11 – 13 march
Cost: £300

Ian Pearson will lead a three day introduction to the art of lamp working (using gas/oxygen torches to blow, manipulate and join glass tube and rod).

Ian has been practicing the skill known as lampworking since 1961, and is an acknowledged master of the craft bringing a mix of outstanding technical knowledge and creative flair. For many years a scientific glass blower creating highly complex laboratory equipment, Ian now uses his blend of ancient craft and modern technology to make art objects and gifts at his studio Glass Creations in Thurso.
This class is suitable for all skill levels and abilities.

CONTEMPORARY GLASS PAINTING AND LAYERING
27 – 31 May
Cost: £550

Jeff Zimmer will lead a five day class about creating three dimensional images on glass using both traditional and photographic approaches.  The class will exploit the transparency of glass and layer techniques and images to collage and create a sense of space.  Hand painted enamels, photo-sensitive sandblast resists and printed transfers will be used.The experience will be enhanced through discussions and presentations. There will be discussion about how creating a 3-D image affects its content and our experience of it.

The course will be of interest to individuals looking to expand their practice into a new dimension.  Those with experience of image-making on glass will learn to see their work in a new way while those new to painting on glass will learn the both the basics of the craft and novel applications.

SCULPTURAL FLAMEWORKING TECHNIQUES
5 – 9 August
Cost: £550

Led by Carrie Fertig, this five day technical course will use the bench burner and hand torch to build skills for making sculpture in clear borosilicate glass. The course will cover general health and safety of the studio, torch, canisters of gas, and the flameworker, as well as building your own studio.

The course will teach use of the hand torch to enable larger-scale work. New assignments each day will build on and refine the previous skills learned. This course is suitable for all levels of experience.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY VIA OUR WEBSITE

For more information email grace.macbeath@northlandsglass.com

or call 01593 721 229

Glass Skills Class: Sculptural Flameworking

We were delighted to welcome Carrie Fertig to North Lands to lead a Glass Skills Class in Sculptural Flameworking.

Also known as lampworking , flameworking is the manipulation of glass rods and tubes. The heat from the flame of a gas torch enables one to add and subtract solid glass, and blow hollow glass, all with minute detail.   Hand torch use was also taught to enable the building of large-scale sculpture.

The class ran over five days with intensive tuition focusing on techniques but in the context of more conceptual approaches.
” whilst this was…a techniques class, the skills learned have broadened the aesthetic vocabulary of the students.” Carrie Fertig

Participants had this to say about the class:
“worth every penny. Great to learn so much in such a short space of time. Great teacher…”

“Carrie has a really positive attitude…it’s really encouraging”

“I have gained confidence in my ability to work independently”
You can see more images from the class in our Flickr set

We asked Carrie what appeals to her about North Lands…

“From my experience as artist in residence in 2007, to teaching, to making my largest pieces up here, each trip to North Lands has a profoundly positive effect on my work. I know that I am hardly alone in this observation, so why is this? The people at North Lands, from the amazingly helpful staff, to the artists who come here to teach, be students, or assist, to the local inhabitants, form a community that seems to urge one on in new paths of creativity. The history and stunning but bleak beauty of the area inspire aesthetically and in some deeper internal place to foment work that bursts forth in the now, but also develops over years. Mix this with an innervating studio and you get  a heady environment of possibility and creative juicyness, unlike any other. I come for the current project to hand. But I always leave with something far greater than its completion.”

More about Carrie:

Carrie’s work explores connection and disconnection within sculpture, installation and performance. In 2010 she founded a flameworking performance group called Torcher Chamber Arkestra. Comprised of an international team of flameworkers from neon, bead, and sculptural backgrounds,  they use glass, fire, dance, music, and pyrotechnics to bring flameworking to a wider audience in innovative, exciting performances involving the audience in new methods of engagement. The next performance is August 25th at the International Festival of Glass at the Ruskin Glass Centre in Stourbridge, England. Carrie is Chair of the Scottish Glass Society. www.carriefertig.com

Look out for other Glass Skills Classes on our website
www.northlandsglass.com

New Year, New Skills…

There’s still time to book your place on our new Glass Skills Classes for 2012, a great opportunity to develop existing skills and learn new techniques.

Sculptural Flameworking Techiques with Carrie Fertig,
20-24 February

The Floating Glass World,
Engraving Techniques with Dominic Fondé,
5-9 March

Glass Painting Techniques with Michael Bullen,
14-18 June

You can book your place through our website

Skills Classes

We have new skills classes on offer for 2012. They’ve been designed to be suitable for all levels of ability and are aimed at artists working in glass who want to develop existing skills and learn new techniques.

Sculptural Flameworking Techiques with Carrie Fertig,
20-24 February

The Floating Glass World,
Engraving Techniques with Dominic Fondé,
5-9 March

Glass Painting Techniques with Michael Bullen,
14-18 June

You can find more information and booking details on our website