Consultation:

The process of a custom work is an exciting and rewarding process for both the artist and client.  A custom work will begin with an in-depth discussion of what your project will entail.  This usually done in your home where I can measure the space or spaces for the glass and determine the light of the room and note the materials and decor so to produce a complementary design.  We will discuss style, color, theme, and of course budget.

Drawings:

After assessing the space and reviewing the project particulars with you, I go back to my studio to produce drawings.  I do numerous thumbnail drawings (very rough sketches), many of which clients may never see, to produce up to three concept sketches reflecting the discussion we had during the consultation.  When I am satisfied with the full-color and to-scale concepts,  I will present them to you, and we discuss any changes you might like to make and incorporate that into a final design.  After a final design has been agreed upon, I will produce full-sized drawings called "cartoons" and I will begin fabrication

Art Glass Selection: 

The creation of your project will involve the selection of quality art glass and other materials.  I draw from an extensive of art glass suppliers to provide for you the best glass options to suit your budget and taste.

Glass Cutting:

After choosing the appropriate glass for your project I carefully select only the best areas of each sheet for your project.  Glass is a exceptionally beautiful but fragile material which is prone to cracking and breakage if not handled with care.  I painstakingly hand-cut each piece paying attention to light and shadow the design may demand.  Each piece of glass is unique in color, texture, and opacity.  It must also be cut with accuracy to be sure a tight fit and aesthetically pleasing line.

Assembly and Soldering:

After all the pieces have been hand-cut, I can then assembly the art glass project.  The assembly technique will vary from project to project.  Some projects I will employ traditional leading.  This involves using slender, grooved channels of lead called "came" to hold pieces together and finish with a special cement to make the final form rigid.  Other projects I use the method develop by famed glass artist Louis Comfort Tiffany called copper foil.  This involves wrapping copper tape around each piece of glass. This yields a free-form organic line unapproachable in traditional leading.  Other projects may involve etching, sandblasting, plating or a variety of other techniques.

To assemble the pieces, I use a soldering iron varying the heat in accordance to the techniques involved.  I must work with great care as to not heat the glass to hot to break it but maintain enough heat to melt the solder and create a firm and solid joint.  After the soldering complete on all side of the project.  I delicately clean the piece and then apply a quality patina to the piece to coordinate with the project intent.

Shipping: That completes the work I do in my studio. Now, your hand-made art glass project is ready for delivery. If you need help getting the glass in place, I also offer installation services. 

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