Glass fusing and slumping with Katrina Beattie

Ref: SLW37979

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Places available

About this course

Using beautiful Bullseye glass, you will learn how to cut and assemble glass to form a glass bowl and a panel, plus tiles or coasters. Explore how to decorate glass with an array of fusing techniques.

Course Description

Fusing and slumping come under the umbrella of ‘warm glass’, which essentially means glass melted in a kiln. Fusing is when sheet glass is cut, assembled and joined together by melting in a kiln. Slumping is the second process where fused glass is placed over a mould and slumped to take on the mould shape.

Using beautiful Bullseye glass, you will learn how to cut and assemble glass to form bowls, a glass panel and a set of coasters. You will explore various ways in which glass can be decorated with texture and pattern, using glass shapes, frits, powders, confetti, stringers and metal inclusions.

You will make two bowls, a 20cm square panel, coasters or tiles and cabochons. You will become proficient at cutting glass using Float glass and beautiful Bullseye glass. Circle cutting will be learnt. You will gain information on kiln preparation, kiln firing programmes, compatibility devitrification and annealing.

Everyone follows the same projects, but you will create your own designs.

Course Materials

Included

-Glass

What students need to bring

-Please bring colour and pattern inspiration

  • Craft knife
  • Scissors
  • Art Brushes
  • tracing paper
  • paper
  • Card
  • Ruler
  • Eraser
  • Rubber
  • fine tip marker pen -coloured pens or pencils
  • Superglue
  • PVA glue
  • notebook
  • Tweezers
  • Glass cleaner and rags
  • Cocktail sticks
  • apron
  • Nightlight candle
  • Enclosed toe footwear (essential)

Available to buy

Available from shop: A selection of art and craft materials, including:

  • Craft knives
  • Scissors
  • Art brushes
  • Tracing paper
  • Paper
  • Card
  • Rulers
  • Erasers
  • Rubbers
  • Fine tip marker pens
  • Coloured pens or pencils
  • Superglue
  • PVA glue
  • Notebooks
  • Tweezers

Additional information

Please note: As the kiln firing of final pieces of work will need to be done at the end of the course, any work left will be ready to collect from mid-afternoon on the day following your course and will be kept for you for six months. If you are unable to arrange collection within this time, you may wish to consider booking an additional night’s accommodation to enable you to collect your work the following day when the kiln has cooled. If you wish to have your work posted, please pay the postage and packing cost before you leave.

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).

Timetable

Arrival day
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 7.15pm for registration. Students arriving earlier are welcome to purchase dinner in the College Dining Room from 6pm.
Students meet their tutor in the Bar at 7.30pm prompt to go to studios.
First Teaching session: 7.30pm - 9pm (attendance is essential)

Daily timetable
Course teaching: 9.15am - 5pm
Morning session: 9.15am - 12.45pm including coffee/tea break
Lunch break: 12.45pm - 2pm*
Afternoon session: 2pm - 5pm including coffee/tea break
Teaching finishes: 5pm
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Departure day
Course teaching: 9.15am - 3pm
Teaching finishes: 3pm

Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am. Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required.

*Lunch can be purchased on campus, view options

General Information

Tutors

Katrina Beattie

Katrina Beattie graduated from University for Creative Arts in Farnham in 1995. She currently runs a studio in Somerset specializing in Blown, Lamp & Kiln Formed glass and has been teaching since 2002. Is a member of The Sussex Guild of Craftsmen, The Contemporary Glass Society and Glass Beadmakers UK.

Accommodation

Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.

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Further study options for art craft and design short courses

Further study options

Take the next step in your creative practice, with foundation level to Masters in Fine Art study. 

Depending on your experience, start with an Online Foundation Certificate in Art and Design (one year, part-time), a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design made up of 10 short courses taken over two years (part-time) or advance your learning with our BA (Hons) Art and Contemporary Craft: Materials, Making, and Place (six years part-time). All will help you develop core skills, find direction in your practice and build an impressive portfolio in preparation for artist opportunities or higher-level study. See all degree and diploma courses.