The lost wax glass sculpture process…
People ask if I sketch design ideas on paper. The answer is, “I can’t draw at all.” I have never been able to convert my 3-D mental images into 2-D pencil drawings.
With all my pieces (whether glass or wood), I’ve always sketched the outlines of the design I “see” in my mind onto the material I will sculpt. The lines are merely guidance.
The creative process continues through rough sculpting. These photos are meant to give you a better idea of my lost wax glass sculpture technique – and a sneak preview of the what’s currently in progress.
Works in Progress
This business is never over! Thank goodness!
Coaster!
Thought it was time to do my second horizontal piece. (Levitation was my first.) And it seems this one wants to become kin with E-Ride, Zest and Entwined. (Do we have a small series emerging here?) [Update: It’s now March 2022 with other pieces completed. Still, Coaster! awaits. Don’t give up on me!]
Victory
Victory, the work-in-progress glass piece below, has two stories.
Back around 2003, I was commissioned to create a memorial baptismal font for a church in Gahanna, Ohio. The design was inspired by the Winged Victory and I named my piece Gabriella. Click her name for the story.
I always liked the design and kept seeing it downsized to a hand-held, cast glass sculpture.
Unfortunately, the first attempt failed. That became the second story. The mold blew out during the firing process. But, my vision of the design wouldn’t go away. So, I sculpted it again…with much greater success.
Watch this space for the final edition.
Raptor
In keeping with the “winged” theme, designs for Raptor landed one morning in my mind as I awakened. The ideas compelled me to capture them. Balancing this piece will be a real challenge. Wish me luck!
In case you are wondering, these three pieces will be part of my Small Treasures group and were intended to be fired in the kiln together. Ah, yes! It may have saved time and money on the one hand, but firing three at once would have increased risk and my stress level on the other. As it turns out, my schedule postponed this 3-in-1 event.