2021 GLASS WORKSHOPS

As we get back to normal, I'll be offering a couple workshops in fall 2021.
If you'd like to arrange for private instruction in my studio, please contact me. I'd love to hear from you.
I'll also be happy to schedule a workshop for you and others - up to 4 people total.

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.