GLASS WORKSHOPS

No workshops scheduled yet for 2023. I'll be sending out a newsletter when the studio is repaired and back open. 

Workshop Descriptions

Layered Glass Landscape Workshop  

Learn to build luminous, three-dimensional layered glass landscapes using glass particles and powders.

You'll build the landscapes from start to finish and explore all facets of the process:

Discover tricks of the trade - multiple ways to express the beauty of the landscape in glass:
  • Control glass volume, color and value
  • Capture light effects in the landscape
  • Practice multiple techniques to achieve atmospheric effects: fog, mist, clouds
  • Control glass volume to increase depth in the scene
  • Understand firing schedules for multi-layered glass work
  • Use torch work to create the details of grasses, trees & branches
  • Explore design principles and perspective secrets from painting and apply them to your glass work
  • Understand how to plan your design with values and color compatibility in mind

In this workshop you’ll create:
  • One 5-layer landscape panel, exploring depth and realism
  • One 4-layer landscape panel, exploring atmospheric effects
Dates                               Two weekends
                                            Friday - Sunday
                                            Saturday-Sunday 
                                            Limit 4 participants
                                            Glass experience required
 
Workshop Hours   Daily 10AM—5PM
 
Tuition                          $925, includes materials
                                            $475 deposit with registration,
                                            Balance due 30 days prior to workshop

Location                       Steph Mader Glass Studio
                                           Whidbey Island, Washington
                                           425-628-9032 (message)
                                           Steph@ToltRiverStudios.com

TO REGISTER:
Email: Steph@ToltRiverStudios.com
I am happy to answer any questions you might have, arrange your registration and send you more workshop & lodging information.

Working with Frit & Powders
Workshop Exploring Lace Glass, Erosion Glass & Frit Sculpting/Drawing

By controlling glass size, volume and heat/time, you can make glass develop large or small abstract hole patterns or mimic the look of rods & stringers.

In this workshop, you will:
  • Learn the principles behind controlling glass volume
  • Use scrap glass to make work with irregular, abstract hole patterns that mimic sea forms and other natural phenomena
  • Sculpt designs in frit that create dynamic open-work patterns - perfect for glass sculpture
  • Use glass powders to make a surface that looks like enameled metal, and learn other tricks with powders
  • Produce sheets of delicate, transparent glass “lace”
  • Get different effects from different sizes of glass - from big chunks all the way down to powders

Projects:
You’ll create at least three projects, including a large-holed enamel-surface wall piece, a sheet of glass lace and a frit-drawn sculpture, plus several test and technique samples.
Dates                         
                                        Beginners are welcome
 
Workshop Hrs     Sat & Sun 10-5
 
Tuition                      $360 including materials
                                        $180 deposit at registration
                                        Balance due 30 days before the workshop

Location                   Steph Mader Glass Studio
                                        Whidbey Island, Washington
                                        425-628-9032
                                        You can make your deposit
                                        via PayPal, check or card
 
TO REGISTER:
Email: Steph@ToltRiverStudios.com
I am happy to answer any questions you might have, arrange your registration and send you more workshop & lodging information.

Kiln Casting

This workshop will give you a solid grounding in open-face kiln casting, so you feel confident producing this kind of work in your own studio.

BUILDING THE CLAY MODEL
  • Model design for cast glass
  • Creating clay models: carving and building
  • Prepping models for investing
DESIGNING THE MOLD INVESTMENT
  • Investment recipes for open face molds
  • Mixing and handling investment
BUILDING THE MOLD
  • Building dams to contain the investment
DESIGNING A FIRING SCHEDULE
  • Technical issues of firing cast glass
  • Principles of drying and firing cycles
COLD-WORKING
  • The basics of cold-working
  • Low-tech, hand-powered cold-working techniques
Dates                           4 days
                                        Limit 4 participants
                                        Some glass experience is necessary

Workshop Hrs     10-5 daily

Tuition                       $565
                                         Materials and tools are provided
                                         $285 deposit at registration
                                         Balance due 30 days before workshop

Location                    Steph Mader Glass Studio
                                         Whidbey Island, Washington
                                         425-628-9032 (message)
                                         Steph@ToltRiverStudios.com
 
TO REGISTER:
Email: Steph@ToltRiverStudios.com
I am happy to answer any questions you might have, arrange your registration and send you more workshop & lodging information.

Lost Wax Kiln Casting

Learn the basics of the lost wax method. The purpose of this workshop is to give you a solid grounding in kiln casting, so you feel confident producing this kind of work in your own studio.

We'll explore all the technical aspects of kiln casting:
BUILDING THE WAX MODEL
  • Model design for cast glass
  • Creating wax models: carving and building
  • Making small molds for casting multiple wax elements
  • Adding wax elements to the model
  • Prepping models for investing
  • Adding sprues, gates and risers to ensure glass flow
DESIGNING THE MOLD INVESTMENT
  • The logic behind investment recipes
  • Mixing and handling investment
BUILDING THE MOLD
  • Building dams to contain the investment
  • Poured and hand-built molds
DESIGNING A FIRING SCHEDULE
  • Technical issues of kiln-firing cast glass
  • Principles of drying and firing cycles
COLD-WORKING
  • The basics of cold-working
  • Low-tech, hand-powered cold-working techniques
Dates                           5 days
                                        Limit 4 participants
                                        Some glass experience is helpful

Workshop Hrs     10-5 daily

Tuition                       $850
                                         Materials fee for glass may apply
                                         All other materials and tools are provided
                                         $425 deposit at registration
                                         Balance due 30 days before workshop

Location                    Steph Mader Glass Studio
                                         Whidbey Island, Washington
                                         425-628-9032 (message)
                                         Steph@ToltRiverStudios.com
 
TO REGISTER:
Email: Steph@ToltRiverStudios.com
I am happy to answer any questions you might have, arrange your registration and send you more workshop & lodging information.

Sgraffito Glass Workshop
I'll be happy to schedule a 2-day workshop for you and a friend (up to 4 people)
Make it a little studio party!

Learn to make fused glass with designs that look like block printing.  It’s all glass - glossy and permanent.  

In this workshop you’ll learn the process from start to finish.
You will:
  • Prepare the paint from powdered glass
  • Coat the glass sheet with paint
  • Make your own scratch tools
  • Learn to make a variety of marks for lines and shading
  • Transfer a design to the glass (your design or mine)
  • Scratch away background areas to reveal the base glass and define your “block print” design

Projects:
You’ll create at least four projects, plus various technique samples. These will include a little bowl, a small square plate, a multi-color tile and a piece of wall art.
Dates                            2 days, privately scheduled
                                         Limit 4 participants
                                         No experience necessary
 
Workshop Hrs     Sat & Sun, 10-5 daily
 
Tuition                       $360; includes all materials & tools
                                         $180 deposit with registration
                                         Balance due 30 days before the workshop
                                         You can make your deposit via PayPal, check or card
Location                    Steph Mader Glass Studio
                                         Whidbey Island, Washington
                                         425-628-9032 (message)
                                         Steph@ToltRiverStudios.com
 
TO REGISTER:
Email: Steph@ToltRiverStudios.com
I am happy to answer any questions you might have, arrange your registration and send you more workshop & lodging information.