Creating Fused Glass Art
Whether creating glass design especially for you or for one of my collections, my techniques are the same.
Let’s journey together to create a piece that truly speaks to you.
Your colors, your style, your way
My understanding of glass and design
Of course, the goddess of Fire, Pele is invited
When two people with the same confidence in personal expression dance together, share their vision, transformation and lots of fun prevails.
Here is what our journey together will look like:
STEP 1: Explore
Together we will explore your motivations, desires, and inspirations for creating a custom pendant.
We will talk about your preferences in colours and shapes but more than that, we will uncover what would you like your pendant to represent for you?
Perhaps it is a moment in time, a new direction in life, possibilities to come, a part of your story in life, your story about why you started your business, a hobby or passion.
For example, Brenda Hammon wanted her pendant to look and feel like a nebula, representing infinite possibilities. Barb Edie described emotions that embraced the mystery of life. Cyndy Mason described emotions and colours depicting new possibilities using a photograph of a sunrise seen here. She took this photo.
STEP 2: Inspire
Once we understand your motivations for creating a pendant, I create an inspirational colour palette, like a vision board. I use pieces of glass and words, representing your sense of style and thoughts to help you begin to visualize what your pendant will look and feel like.
Frank Craig Photography: Cape Town - South Africa
Together we start to pull the threads of your design together shaping your vision into a reality. Here is Lynn Hill’s glass vision board. Can you get a sense of what Lynn wants to be embodied in her pendant?
STEP 3: Ignite
Using your story, energy, and vision, I create a design panel that I ignite with a great deal of help from the goddess of fire, Pele.
This is a 6000-year-old layering of glass tradition. Your panel will be 3-5 layers thick, but, I never know the exact thickness or design because I design in the moment using inspiration, which means ‘in spirit’. First, I watch the short video we created where you explain your vision and ‘feel’ for your pendant; your ‘essence is now with me. Then I listen to music as I move through the energy. This is the one step that is completely solitary.
Designing can occur anytime, sometimes very late at night when the world slows down and creative vibrations amplify. This stage is the most powerful one for me and apart from the joy of co-creating, this is why I create art.
This is pure alchemy, magic and you are with me in spirit all the way.
STEP 4: Intertwine
After the layers of your future pendant have been in the kiln for 14 hours, I will give you six aspects of the shape you chose. This is similar to looking at photo proofs; you pick the one that speaks most to you. In this stage, you intertwine your inner voice and intuitive vision to select your design.
I won’t cut your pendant until you say ‘yes’ to an aspect.
STEP 5: Incise
I cut out (ring saw) your pendant shape according to the design aspect you have chosen. I then make your pendant ‘come alive in my fingers’ and shape your pendant with a grinder. Next to the design phase, is the second most magical time of co-creating. I feel your energy a great deal during the grinding process!
Now your art piece is ready for the second 14-hour firing, called fire polishing. The result is your pendant sparkles from the sides and top and the ‘universe of bubbles’ is visible from the side.
The back is ‘lapped’ or sanded numerous times. The back now feels and looks like silk. It will be hard for you not to constantly ‘pet’ your pendant.
The moment of truth arrives, a one mm hole is precision drilled into your pendant so a sterling silver bale can be pinched through the glass making the bale secure and a finished professional look takes shape. All the previous stages can disappear because heat builds up as the drill bit goes through the glass. Will the glass break or not? I MUST breathe slowly, calmly and be one with your pendant.
STEP 6: Imbue
It’s at this stage that we truly imbue the glass with your personality.
You name your pendant or I can post on social media to ask for help in naming. No matter how your ‘story in glass’ is named it has its own personality, and energy and reflects your creative spirit and inner beauty. Wear your finished pendant and see your creative spirit looking back at you! Be prepared for people to be drawn toward the energy of your pendant. It is after all a representation of you. Enjoy the compliments and attention.
We will capture your experience in a post-creation video as a memory of your experience.
“I'm not an artist! Susan put me at ease, and the more we talked, the more she sparked my creativity. Susan is one of the most intuitive people I've ever met. I was in tears when I saw the first picture. It was everything I'd been looking for and more! Wearing ‘Grace Under Fire’, I feel her tremendous energy. I feel deep peace, strength and excitement about the future.”
Cyndy—Wearing ‘Grace Under Fire’
My Promise to You
Your custom-designed story in glass will never be duplicated as a pendant. It is as unique in spirit and design as you are.
From the bottom of my heart, Thank you for trusting, and co-creating with me.