Do you want to learn How to Blow Glass?

Where can I go to learn How to Blow Glass?

We get asked that question a lot. And we try to answer each inquiry individually. But in order to provide you with more information, and to save us some time, here's our answer:

So you want to learn how to blow glass...

First off, do you want to do the kind of glassblowing where you use a blowpipe and dip molten glass out of a furnace?

Or do you want to blow glass using a gas-fired torch to create artwork out of glass rods and glass tubing?

Both types of glasswork are often called glassblowing, but they're very different as far as the materials, tools, and techniques involved.

Typically, 'furnace' glass blowing is known as 'off-hand' glass blowing. It takes a lot of equipment (and money) to blow glass that way. But, of course, you don't have to go out and buy an entire hot shop just to learn how to do it.

Glass blowing with a torch and glass tubing is often called 'Lampwork', or 'Scientific glassblowing'. It costs considerably less to set up and run a lampwork studio, but, again, you don't have to rush out and buy everything just to learn the craft.

These days, there are lots of places the aspiring glassblower can go to learn the necessary skills.

The first stop should be your local Yellow Pages.

Yep, the phone book.

Look under 'glassblowing' or 'art glass' or just 'glass'. You may find a local glassblower who is willing to teach you the art. Or, if you live in or near a larger city, you might find a public facility where they teach glass blowing classes.

If there are Arts and Crafts fairs near you, go there and look for glassblowers displaying their glass creations. If they don't offer classes themselves, they can probably recommend someone who does.

Likewise, look for art galleries that show blown glass. Ask them if they can refer you to one of their glass artists for more information about learning the art.

Many larger cities around the U.S (and the World) have public glass blowing (and teaching) facilities, including Seattle, WA; Eugene, Or; Pittsburgh, PA; San Francisco, CA; New Orleans, LA; New York City; Philadelphia, PA; and, no doubt, at least a dozen other places around the country.

And, if you're across the water, there are a number of glass blowing schools located around the world, including Japan, Scotland, and Turkey to name a few.

At www.FledglingStudio.com, you'll find several of these learning facilities (and a few more of the big names like Pilchuck, Penland, and the Studio at Corning) on our Glass Links page, along with links to their websites. There's also a link to the Glass Art Society (GAS). Their members include glass artists, suppliers, galleries, teachers, and glass schools. They can probably refer you to someone not too far away.

And don't forget to search the WEB to find even more opportunities to learn glass blowing.
That's how you found us, isn't it?

The final option for learning how to blow glass is to teach yourself. While we don't really recommend this route, it may be the cheapest (and undoubtedly the slowest) way to figure it all out.

Start out by getting some books on glassblowing (check your library first), and then go from there. You really need to read about it before you jump in and try it anyway, so you won't lose a thing by spending some money on a few good books.

You'll find our favorite glass blowing books listed in our Glass Library. Go to the Glassblowing shelf for furnace blowing books. And go to the Lampworking shelf for torch blowing books.

Have fun! And Good Luck!

John R. Cumbow
www.FledglingStudio.com
Out-of-print and hard-to-find books and
information for glass artists and collectors

p.s. If you haven't picked up a copy of our "Starving Artist's Guide to Glass Blowing", you might want to get one soon. People keep telling us that we're selling it way too cheap (it's only $9.97), and we just may decide to raise the price soon. Check it out.

Where has my Summer gone?

Wow! It's almost the end of August already. Where has my Summer gone?

We've had a rather busy Summer so far. First there was a week-long trip to Michigan in June. Then a ten-day trip to the Southwest in July. (How can people stand to live there when it's over 100 degrees for days on end?)

Finally, we spent most of the first three weeks of August moving my wife's office to a new location closer to home. It's amazing how much stuff you can accumulate in 12 years!

Now, we're trying to wrap up some of our outdoor projects before settling in for a busy Fall season of auctions on eBay. Even with all of our travels, we've been searching out more Glass information to add to our collections and to offer for sale on eBay and Amazon.com.

We'll soon be adding a "New acquisitions" page to our website, where we'll give you a peek at what we're buying.

And we're working on a "store" where we'll be offering T-shirts, notecards and other items featuring images from our Glass collections. We've got some really neat stuff that will look great on you... or on your family members and friends.

So stay tuned... and watch for these posts to be a bit more regular.

John R. Cumbow
www.FledglingStudio.com
Out-of-print and hard-to-find information
for glass artists and collectors

p.s. If you haven't picked up a copy of our "Starving Artist's Guide to Glass Blowing", you might want to get one soon. People keep telling us that we're selling it way too cheap (it's only $9.97), and we may have to raise the price soon. Check it out.

April Showers Bring...

Happy April to you all!
Spring has arrived, the flowers are starting to bloom, and at least here in the Pacific Northwest, April showers are in full flow!

Time to crawl out of our caves, and see what else is going on in the world.

One thing that's just around the corner (well, it's not 'til June, but you need to sign up right away) is the annual Glass Art Society (G.A.S.) conference.

Every year the conference brings together hundreds of glass artists, collectors, manufacturers, and glass lovers from all over the world. There are tours, workshops, demonstrations, gallery shows, artist presentations, parties, and lots more.

This year, the 36th Annual Conference, "Glass Gateways: Meet in the Middle" is being held in St. Louis, Missouri June 15-17. There will be the usual array of activities to choose from, including a live auction of work by world-renowned and yet-to-be discovered glass artists.

Registration fees go up after April 6th, but you can still get in for the lowest rate if you act right away.
For more information you can contact the Society at:

Glass Art Society
3131 Western Ave, Suite 414
Seattle, WA 98101-2401
Email: info@glassart.org
Internet: www.glassart.org
Tel: 206-382-1305
Fax: 206-382-2630

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Here's another chance to save on books from Alibris.




Until April 17th, 2006, you can save $1 off any book order from them, and $3 off any order of $30 or more.

Click through the link above to go to their website where you'll find millions (yes, millions!) of books to choose from. After you've made your selections, when you arrive at 'checkout', enter the appropriate coupon code below and they'll subtract that amount from your total.

To save $1 on any order, enter 6EX31
To save $3 on your order of $30 or more, enter 6EX33

Easy! You get the books you want, and save money while you're doing it.
But hurry. These coupon codes are only good through April 17th, 2006.

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The Starving Artist's guide to Glass Blowing, our first digital e-print™ is still available. Right now it's priced at only $9.97.
To find out more, or to order your own instantly-downloadable copy, just click on the picture below


That's it for now. Stay tuned for more info soon.

And don't forget to get outside and enjoy the Spring flowers while they last.
John R. Cumbow for Fledgling Studio
www.FledglingStudio.com

Happy Valentine's Day

Fledgling Studio Glass Art

Just a quick post today. I'll go into more detail in a couple days.

We've just finished our first digital book reprint. We're calling it an e-print™ for lack of a better name. And we hope you'll take a look.

Right now, it's only available on eBay®.

Look for the "Glass Blowing Scientific Torch Art eBook". It's an obscure, out-of-print text on Lampworking. And it's far from exhaustive on the subject. But there are a few neat little projects included, and some curious ways to get your raw materials (light bulbs?).


The eBay® listing will tell you more about it, so be sure to take a look. If it doesn't show up in the listings, "refresh" the page. EBay seems to be having some issues with their servers again.

We'll talk again soon.

It's Groundhog Day already? Happy New Year

Fledgling Studio Glass Art

Wow! Where has the time gone. I thought it would be an easy matter to post something here every few days, and it's now been 4 months!

I promise I'll try to do better. I'd call that my New Year's resolution, but we're a month into the new year already. Unless you go by the Chinese calendar...

That's it. I'll call this my Chinese New Year's resolution.

I won't promise to post every day, but I will post something a few times a month. So here goes...

Alibris (remember them from my last post? 4 months ago?). Well, they've got another discount for you when you buy books from their website.

I'll put a link here in just a minute, so you can click right to their site.

When you order a book (or BOOKS) from them, use these coupon codes when you get to the checkout and they'll give you a discount on your order:

Save $1 off ANY order by entering 6TQ11 at checkout
Save $3 off your order of $30 or more by entering 6TQ13

As always, these are only good for a limited time. These coupon codes are only good through February 16th, 2006.

So go to Alibris right away and find some great books on Glass, or any subject. They've got millions (really!) to choose from.

Here's that link:




Go save money on those books, and I'll talk with you again soon.