Intensive Introduction to Kiln-formed Glass   Sat, January 21 to Tues, January 24, 2012     Brad Walker

This intensive course is the ideal refresher for those who've been away from the kiln for a while, or who want to kick start their fusing experience with an intensive, hands-on course.  The class starts with an overview of the basics of fusing and slumping, including kiln and mold preparation, glass selection, project design, firing schedules, annealing, and compatibility testing.  Then it builds on the basics by touching on a cross-section of intermediate techniques, including

•   Inclusions between layers of glass, focus on metals                      Beginner, four days              Price:  $495
•   Working with glass powders and mica                                       10:00 to 4:30 first three days, 10:00 to 3:00 last day             
•   Kiln-carving and creating textures in glass                                       
•   Reactive glasses                                                                              Special option:  attend only the first two days,
•   High temperature firing (pot melt or wire melt)                                    which cover the basics, for $250 per person.

Fusing with Recycled Glass              Saturday, January 28 to Sunday, January 29, 2012            Brad Walker

This workshop focuses on making sculptural pieces, architectural elements, and basic tableware from recycled glass. We'll use recycled window glass to create three different pieces, including a fused panel, a cast bas relief, and a large slumped bowl.  In addition to a discussion of the principles of working with glass in a kiln, we'll also discuss firing schedules, basic glass chemistry, finishing, and techniques for coloring window glass. 

No experience necessary.  Recycled glass and other materials will be provided.  Students are also encouraged to bring glass of any kind for experimentation and potential use in their projects.

All levels, two days,  10:00 to 4:00 on Saturday, 10:00 to 3:00 on Sunday                                                     Price:  $295

Beyond Two Layers      Friday, February 3 to Sunday, February 5, 2012        Jody and Brad Walker

  *  Basic techniques for using glass sheet and frit to form embedded and surface designs

  *  Dam-building and related volume control techniques for thicker items and pattern bars

  *  Cold working, with a focus on edge-working on the wet belt sander

  *  Discussion of using these techniques for making larger items such as table tops and sinks

All techniques will be demonstrated.  Students will be able to make several items using their choice of techniques. Experience with basic kiln processes essential. 

All levels, three days,  10:00 to 4:30 first two days, 10:00 to 3:00 on final day

Price:  $495

The Drop Formed Bowl         Friday, February 10 to Sunday, February 12, 2012         Brad Walker

Tired of simple slumps and boring fused pieces?  Now's your chance to create something different!  This workshop focuses on creating unique slumped bowls that are deeper than average and that have the unique property of being shiny on both the inside and the outside.

We'll start with basic damming techniques to create our fused blank.  While the pieces are firing, we'll make a custom mold to be used for the deep slump.  After fusing and slumping, the focus will shift to coldworking our pieces to create a final bowl. In addition to the finished piece, you'll get to keep the mold you make! 

Intermediate to Advanced, three days, 10:00 to 4:30 first two days, 10:00 to 3:00 on final day               

Price:  $495

Some Like It Hot         Saturday, February 18 to Sunday, February 19, 2012         Brad Walker

Familiarity with glass cutting and with basic fusing and slumping techniques is recommended, but not essential.   

All levels, two days 10:00 to 4:00 Sat, 10:00 to 3:00 Sun               Price:  $295

Moldmaking for Slumping         Saturday, February 25 to Sunday, February 26, 2012         Brad Walker

Tired of having your slumped pieces look like everyone else’s? How about just wanting to save a few dollars making your own slumping molds? Even take existing molds and add components for your own unique style.

Here’s your chance to learn how to make simple, effective molds for slumping glass. You’ll experiment with three different mold materials:

Ceramaguard – We’ll work with Ceramaguard, a commercial grade ceiling tile that’s totally nontoxic and easier to work with than fiber board. It can be used to make drop rings and to carve your own designs and textures.

Clay – We’ll cover the right kinds of clay to use, how to form the molds using shapes in other materials, and how to prepare and fire them for use in the kiln. Clay works well for bowls and similar shapes.

Fiber blanket and rigidizer – We’ll discuss how to use fiber blanket to make unique, simple, single use organic shapes. Then we’ll move onto using rigidizer with the blanket to create more permanent molds. Blanket and rigidizer is best for gentle curves and S-shaped slumping molds.

Molds made from any of these materials can last for years and can be used over and over again.

We’ll also discuss other kinds of molds, such as plaster/silica and vermiculite board. When the class is over, you’ll not only take away several small molds to keep and use, you’ll also have the knowledge of how to make countless more slumping molds with shapes that are that are uniquely yours.

All levels, two days,  9:30 to 4:30 first day, 9:30 to 3:00 on final day                              Price:  $325

Basic Glass Fusing and Slumping         March 3 to 4, 2012         Brad Walker

Designed for those who wish to cover all the basics in a single weekend.  This course will teach you everything you need to know to get started.  Topics covered include kiln and mold preparation, glass selection, project design, firing schedules, annealing, and compatibility testing.   Students will make several small coasters/tiles or jewelry pieces and one larger slumped bowl or similar shape. 

All materials provided, no experience necessary, but familiarity with glass cutting is helpful.

Beginner, two days, 10:00 to 4:30 on Saturday, 10:00 to 3:00 on Sunday                Price:  $195

Basic Glass Fusing and Slumping         Tuesday mornings -- May 1, 8, 15         Brad Walker

New days and times!  Learn all the basics of fusing and slumping over three mornings in May.  This course will teach you everything you need to know to get started.  Topics covered include kiln and mold preparation, glass selection, project design, firing schedules, annealing, and compatibility testing.   Students will make several small coasters/tiles or jewelry pieces and one larger slumped bowl or similar shape. 

All materials provided, no experience necessary, but familiarity with glass cutting is helpful.

Beginner, three days, 9:30 to 12:30 on Tuesdays                Price:  $195

Creating with Glass Enamels         Friday, May 4 to Sunday, May 6, 2011         Jody Danner Walker

This intensive course focuses on using glass enamels to design and create glass tiles and other items.  Since this class is small, Jody can be flexible in what she teaches, tailoring the class to what the individual needs. 

Topics include

*  Mixing Powdered Glass Enamels to create an "oil" or "watercolor" paint

*  Color Theory

* Enamel Painting Techniques

* Creating Textures

* Using Micas with Enamels

* Painting with Stencil Images or Learning How to Place Your own Images in the Glass

Techniques for shading and drawing will also be covered, as well as demonstrations of methods for achieving painterly effects in glass.

Drawing ability is not required, but familiarity with glass cutting and basic kiln-forming techniques is helpful.  All materials are provided and no prior experience is necessary. 

All levels, three days, 10:00 to 4:30 Friday & Saturday, 10:00 to 3:00 on Sunday                 Price:  $495

Pate de Verre with Delores Taylor         Monday, May 21, 2012 until Sunday, May 27, 2012

Warm Glass Gallery & Studio is pleased to announce an exclusive, intensive pate de verre course led by West Coast glass artist Delores Taylor. For seven days we'll be elbow deep in clay, plaster and glass, learning the process of creating unique and beautiful pate de verre artwork.

The course will focus on the high temperature method of pate de verre using a multi-part moldmaking process. Objects will be created in clay, then kiln-cast into a vessel or sculpture. Learn the secrets of plaster mold making, creating custom colors, and painting with pastes of glass and frit to make a small sculptural or vessel piece. 

Fused Glass Jewelry         Saturday, June 2 to Sunday, June 3, 2012         Brad Walker

Here's a great introduction to making fused glass jewelry. You'll learn the basics the first morning, and will create beautiful fused glass pieces on the first day. We'll explore both regular and dichroic glass, as well as learn how to use bails and wire to finish our pieces. In addition to basic pendants and earrings, we'll also create a fused glass bracelet on the second day, and we'll learn to etch dichroic as well.

All materials provided, no experience necessary, but familiarity with glass cutting is helpful.

Beginner, two days, 9:30 to 4:30 on Saturday, 9:30 to 3:00 on Sunday                                     Price:  $225

Creating with Powder       Thursday, June 7 to Sunday, June 10, 2012        Jody Danner Walker and Brad Walker

Not only is this an excellent workshop for beginning through advanced kiln workers, it's also appropriate for artists from other media who want to expand their palette and translate their ideas into glass.  Drawing ability is not required, but familiarity with glass cutting and basic kiln-forming techniques is helpful.  All materials are provided and no prior experience is necessary.   

All levels, four days,  10:00 to 4:30 first three days, 10:00 to 3:00 on final day

Price:  $595

Glass Weaving           Saturday, June 16 to Sunday, June 17, 2012          Brad Walker

Here's your chance to explore the exciting world of woven glass, in which cut strips are used to make bowls and sculptural forms.  We'll cover all the steps for three different methods, from creating the strips to forming the weave, to firing, and then slumping into final shape. 

Complete firing schedules included and you'll end up with several finished pieces, too.  All materials included; previous experience helpful but not required.

All levels, two days, 9:30 to 4:30 on Saturday, 9:30 to 3:00 on Sunday                Price:  $295

Moldmaking for Slumping         Saturday, June 23 to Sunday, June 24, 2012         Brad Walker

Tired of having your slumped pieces look like everyone else’s? How about just wanting to save a few dollars making your own slumping molds? Even take existing molds and add components for your own unique style.

Here’s your chance to learn how to make simple, effective molds for slumping glass. You’ll learn about several different mold materials:

Ceramaguard – We’ll work with Ceramaguard, a commercial grade ceiling tile that’s totally nontoxic and easier to work with than fiber board. It can be used to make drop rings and to carve your own designs and textures.

Clay – We’ll cover the right kinds of clay to use, how to form the molds using shapes in other materials, and how to prepare and fire them for use in the kiln. Clay works well for bowls and similar shapes.

Fiber blanket and rigidizer – We’ll discuss how to use fiber blanket to make unique, simple, single use organic shapes. Then we’ll move onto the use of rigidizer with the blanket to create more permanent molds. Blanket and rigidizer is best for gentle curves and S-shaped slumping molds.

Molds made from any of these materials can last for years and can be used over and over again.

We’ll also discuss other kinds of molds, such as plaster/silica, fiber board, and vermiculite board. When the class is over, you’ll not only take away several small molds to keep and use, you’ll also have the knowledge of how to make countless more slumping molds with shapes that are that are uniquely yours.

All levels, two days,  9:30 to 4:30 first day, 9:30 to 3:00 on final day                              Price:  $325

The Drop Formed Bowl         Friday, June 29 to Sunday, July 1, 2012         Brad Walker

Tired of simple slumps and boring fused pieces?  Now's your chance to create something different!  This workshop focuses on creating unique slumped bowls that are deeper than average and that have the unique property of being shiny on both the inside and the outside.

We'll start with basic damming techniques to create our fused blank.  While the pieces are firing, we'll make a custom mold to be used for the deep slump.  After fusing and slumping, the focus will shift to coldworking our pieces to create a final bowl. In addition to the finished piece, you'll get to keep the mold you make! 

Intermediate to Advanced, three days, 10:00 to 4:30 first two days, 10:00 to 3:00 on final day               

Price:  $495

Intensive Introduction to Kiln-formed Glass   Thursday, July 5 to Sunday July 8, 2012     Brad Walker

This intensive course is the ideal refresher for those who've been away from the kiln for a while, or who want to kick start their fusing experience with an intensive, hands-on course.  The class starts with an overview of the basics of fusing and slumping, including kiln and mold preparation, glass selection, project design, firing schedules, annealing, and compatibility testing.  Then it builds on the basics by touching on a cross-section of intermediate techniques, including

•   Inclusions between layers of glass, focus on metals                    Beginner, four days              Price:  $495
•   Working with glass powders and mica                                       10:00 to 4:30 first three days, 10:00 to 3:00 last day             
•   Kiln-carving and creating textures in glass                                       
•   Reactive glasses                                                                              Special option:  attend only the first two days,
•   High temperature firing (pot melt or wire melt)                                    which cover the basics, for $250 per person.

Printmaking Techniques on Glass     Thursday, August 9 to Sunday, August 12, 2012        Jody Danner Walker

This class will cover a comprehensive overview of traditional printmaking techniques, adapted and created for  printing images and designs on the contemporary media of glass. Methods covered will include photo transfer process, screen printing (silk screen), block printing, resist printing, relief printing, monoprinting, etching, and engraving on glass. Vitreography will also be discussed.

Four days, 10 am to 4:30 pm Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 10 am to 3 pm on Sunday

Price:  $695

About the instructor:  Jody Danner Walker is author of Printmaking Techniques on Glass, a groundbreaking book covering dozens of printmaking techniques adapted for glass.  Check out this link for more on the book.

Basic Glass Fusing and Slumping         Saturday, August 18 to Sunday, August 19, 2012         Brad Walker

Designed for those who wish to cover all the basics in a single weekend.  This course will teach you everything you need to know to get started.  Topics covered include kiln and mold preparation, glass selection, project design, firing schedules, annealing, and compatibility testing.   Students will make several small coasters/tiles or jewelry pieces and one larger slumped bowl or similar shape. 

All materials provided, no experience necessary, but familiarity with glass cutting is helpful.

Beginner, two days, 10:00 to 4:30 on Saturday, 10:00 to 3:00 on Sunday                Price:  $195