Glassblowing

[420MissHighTimes420]

so Ive been taking a glass blowing class for about 3 weeks now, 3 hours a week and Im actualyl gettting pretty good at it. it's a lot harder than I thought it would be but I've really been loving it. I want to take a private class once I get better at it, proably by the end of the 8 week course, do you think they would let me make pipes/bongs????? anyone do this b4? thanks

[stinkyattic]

The glass blowing studio in my town is cool with that but they encourage you to make a variety of objects and discourage people just sitting there making pipes all day.

[420MissHighTimes420]

^^ makes sence, i can really only afford to rent it out for an hour privatly - with someone assisting me, and i have been making a lot of other things like a cup- which was more like a shot glass, a paper wieght turned out pretty good and a ornament. next week im gonna make a cup w a handle yayy so hopefully the studio i go to wont have a problem with it
thanks stinky
do u do glassblowing? if so isnt it amazing! im so excited about it

[stinkyattic]

Not yet, but I'm looking into it. I'm just hoping to learn flamework at this point. It's simple and the equipment is farily inexpensive to set up a home studio.

[WeedyBoyWonder]

It would be cool if they did let you make what you want to make, whether it be a bong or vase.

[MadSativa]

I make glass and honestly, pipes bubblers and anyhollow object wether its a bong or a jewlery piece is alot harder, than say a solid peice or a cup or a plate, realy you can slump these objects; not need a flame at all. I would think a pipe or bong would be like a final or a mid-term, It all depends on how you are making glass from elements or tube, personaly for bongs and bubblers (only things I make) Tube is more practable, however their are many different ways to make glass peices. I dont use a lathe yet but mabey after a while, as of right now I just make percolators and ice catchers, and nuthin over about 2 feet high so I dont need a lath just yet.

[birdgirl73]

This is so cool! I have been dying to study glass blowing since I was a teenager. I've done stained glass for many years, which doesn't involve making glass, just cutting it and sectioning it together. And I've taken pottery and sculpting. I really need to try glass-blowing one of these days. I don't know that it's even offered here in Dallas. If it is, I haven't yet found out where.

420MissHighTimes420, have you ever seen the work of Dale Chihuly? He's an absolutely incredible glass artist from Seattle. Only has vision in one eye and so relies on his gaffer more than other artists. Still, he's incredibly gifted. To see a Chihuly exhibit is like going to heaven. I aspire to own a Chihuly piece, just a tiny one, someday. That's so awesome that you're learning that art, 420Miss!

[Gothen]

I've always wanted to try glassblowing, as well. I have some weird things in my head that just would work out perfectly as glass and not as anything else, glass and dye-acrylic.

One of my friends is a professional glass blower. He goes to places like Burning Man and Hookaville and he can literally make THOUSANDS, no more than 4,000 he says, from just one visit from selling his glass.

He said for 250 bucks he can give me unlimited lessons. Is that worth it??

[not_the_kitty]

I'd pay $250 for unlimited lessons any day....me and my girlfriends fall back plan if college doesnt work out is learning to blow glass and open a head shop then just go to festivals all the time. Not exactly my lifes dreams and abitions but it would be a pretty fun life.

[The Dude Of Life]

Eh i dont know, i guess if you showed that you were indeed interested in glass blowing as an art and not just pipes they shouldnt say anything if you make a pipe or three. In high school when i had ceramics class, i did good enough at all the projects and curriculum that the guy didnt really give a fuck what i made in my spare time, its not like the principal was gonna open the kiln and dive in haha. I made a very nice ceramic glazed stone pipe as well as a quite colorful sherlock and never got any shit for it because i was good at the other stuff as well. i think the same would apply for glassblowing.

[420MissHighTimes420]

This is so cool! I have been dying to study glass blowing since I was a teenager. I've done stained glass for many years, which doesn't involve making glass, just cutting it and sectioning it together. And I've taken pottery and sculpting. I really need to try glass-blowing one of these days. I don't know that it's even offered here in Dallas. If it is, I haven't yet found out where.

420MissHighTimes420, have you ever seen the work of Dale Chihuly? He's an absolutely incredible glass artist from Seattle. Only has vision in one eye and so relies on his gaffer more than other artists. Still, he's incredibly gifted. To see a Chihuly exhibit is like going to heaven. I aspire to own a Chihuly piece, just a tiny one, someday. That's so awesome that you're learning that art, 420Miss!


i hadnt seen any of his pieces before but i just checked out his website, and wow i aspire to own one of his pieces they were stunning! !

and i bet they have a studio in dallas you should look into it, its really a wonderful artform , and way different from anything ive ever done b4.

i hope i can get good at it. :)

[stinkyattic]

have you ever seen the work of Dale Chihuly? He's an absolutely incredible glass artist from Seattle.
I've seen his work; there was a fabulous article about him in Smithsonian magazine some years back.

This guy is our local glass artist, Josh Simpson. His studio is in downtown Shelburne Falls and open to the public. He makes some incredible pieces.

the Home of Josh Simpson Contemporary Glass (http://joshsimpson.com/index.html)

[420MissHighTimes420]

and mad sativa thanks for the advice, im not sure if im using a element or tube??? whats that? lol i dont no about all that stuff yet.

You should post some of the stuff you've made!

[420MissHighTimes420]

I've seen his work; there was a fabulous article about him in Smithsonian magazine some years back.

This guy is our local glass artist, Josh Simpson. His studio is in downtown Shelburne Falls and open to the public. He makes some incredible pieces.

the Home of Josh Simpson Contemporary Glass (http://joshsimpson.com/index.html)

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

edit: those portals are amazing

[birdgirl73]

Fabulous, Stinky! I loved reading about Josh and seeing his work. He's incredible, too.

Well, this changes everything. I now aspire to have a large room in my house, ideally a white marble room with perfectly lit display stands and natural light, where I have on display my own personal collection of the work of the world's finest glass artists. In one corner will be three of the prettiest Chihuly "flowers", and I might have a big suspension piece of his hanging in the middle. I'll have a couple of Josh Simpson planets. Two pieces, perhaps, from the best glass artisan on Murano Island. I'll add to the collection gradually as I travel and get more glass exposure. When I die, I'll will it to some deserving museum or possibly to Cannabis.com with the stipulation that it will loan it out to collections and museums all over the world. Stoners far and wide will get first consideration for tickets and viewing times.

Art in general, and glass in specific, make me dream big dreams. . . .

[stinkyattic]

All right Birdie, if that's how yer gonna be about it...
Harvard Gazette: Care for Glass Flowers branches out (http://www.hno.harvard.edu/gazette/2000/11.16/12-flowers.html)
IMHO this is THE most spectacular collection in any museum I have ever been to. The fruit is so delicate and realistic, showing diseases and pests in perfectly executed GLASS.
You gotta come up to the Bean.

[GraziLovesMary]

WTF.... I wanna blow glass too!! Ive wanted to know how to blow glass ever since I was 4 and first went to the Maryland Rennaissance Festival.

:( another thing Im gonna miss this year.. that was gonna be my birthday tradition too... goin to the Festival every year... the only thing I actually ever want to do to celebrate my birthday. :( Other than that, Ill forget my own birthday. And one year when my mom was out of town for my birthday, my dad and I BOTH forgot my... 13th birthday I think. Like 4 days later I saw some binoculars he had just bought and I asked him what they were and he said "... ohh.... happy birthday son."

I said "shit... did that already pass??"

[birdgirl73]

All right Birdie, if that's how yer gonna be about it...
Harvard Gazette: Care for Glass Flowers branches out (http://www.hno.harvard.edu/gazette/2000/11.16/12-flowers.html)
IMHO this is THE most spectacular collection in any museum I have ever been to. The fruit is so delicate and realistic, showing diseases and pests in perfectly executed GLASS.
You gotta come up to the Bean.
I do have to come to Beantown. I really need to live there, to be honest. I think I'd love that whole community. Everything except the winters, that is. Maybe I'll put Massachusetts down as one of my choices for a residency match when that time arrives.

I had no idea there existed the types of glass flowers in that Harvard Gazette article. I was referring to Chihuly's big bowl-shaped "flowers" because I had no other term to refer to them by. Now I wonder if he has done delicate, scientifically intricate work like that. I rather doubt it, but who knows? I'd give my right coronary artery to watch someone make botanical lookalikes out of glass. Just amazing! I can already tell I need a large, fruiting glass-botanic specimen climbing a trellis in my marble "pretties" room. Thanks to you, this just gets better and better!

[stinkyattic]

The methods by which those botanical flower and fruit specimens were made was a closely-guarded secret and is now lost.

As for a residency, Boston is a charming city chock-full of medical institutions... I volunteer to be your tour guide, and I'll betcha our own dear Demeter would happily do the same!

[420MissHighTimes420]

I do have to come to Beantown. I really need to live there, to be honest. I think I'd love that whole community. Everything except the winters, that is. Maybe I'll put Massachusetts down as one of my choices for a residency match when that time arrives.

I had no idea there existed the types of glass flowers in that Harvard Gazette article. I was referring to Chihuly's big bowl-shaped "flowers" because I had no other term to refer to them by. Now I wonder if he has done delicate, scientifically intricate work like that. I rather doubt it, but who knows? I'd give my right coronary artery to watch someone make botanical lookalikes out of glass. Just amazing! I can already tell I need a large, fruiting glass-botanic specimen climbing a trellis in my marble "pretties" room. Thanks to you, this just gets better and better!

I love Boston, last summer I stayed there for a month and I fell in love with the city. Its very clean and pretty. I went to that Harvard musem and I saw all of those beautiful glass flowers. Tehy looked so real it was beautiful. I was in awe it was made out of glas! now after having a hard time making something as simple as a cup I am even more amazing by them.

[420MissHighTimes420]

Birdgirl I love the idea for your glass room. I have such crazy expensive ideas for my dream house. lol wen im stoned and bored I always think about that stuff. Its always so lavish. Like billionair homes. Filled with paintings. If Im ever super rich I would spend so much on collecting amazing pieces.
Ive always wanted a sunroom/smoking room. It would have very high ceilings with tons of tall windows. big glass displays so the sun shines in throgh them. lots and lots of beautiful pipes and bongs, all cleaned out and not smelly like mine lol. tons of natural light, and all surrounded by my beautifully landscaped yard. a very comforatable day bed sort of thing. and a big sunroff so i can stare at the sky from being inside. someday. haha and lots of plants in there with yummy smelling pot. ahh a green room wold be cool too with a shit load of exotic flowers and vegtables. even thoguh my little basil and tomatoe balcony garden didnt even go to well. someday

[LuckyG]

This is odd, glass blowing is something that came up a few weeks ago when me and some friends were talking about what I should do for money. I've never really looked into it, and I don't even know if there are classes around here at all. I'ma do some research.

[MadSativa]

and mad sativa thanks for the advice, im not sure if im using a element or tube??? whats that? lol i dont no about all that stuff yet.

You should post some of the stuff you've made!

Been busy doin work stuff but Ill make some more glass on glass and get some pics to yah to check out.

[420MissHighTimes420]

^^ :thumbsup:

[texas grass]

what is the heat source when blowing glass?

[stinkyattic]

When you are BLOWING glass, it's called a 'glory hole'- a hellishly-hot furnace into which you stick the end of the rod that holds the glass to be blown.
When doing simple flamework/lampwork (the method by which simple sliders and pipes are made), the heat is from a torch.