Glass

Overview

Come and learn how to make Fused Glass and Torch Worked Glass at the Cascadia Center For Arts & Crafts. You will learn about the different kinds of glass, and about kilns, fusing, firing, and slumping. You will complete one small project. Some examples include, a bowl, small sconce lens, wind chimes or plate. This is a class for the absolute beginner. Bring you design ideas, photos or anything to keep you focused on your desired results. Or…just create as you go! Minimum 2 students, Maximum 8 students.

Staff Instructor: Betsy Valian

Betsy is one of the founding members and principles of the Cascadia Center For Arts & Crafts. Besides being the owner and operator of Valian’s Ski Shop in Government Camp, she has also volunteered hundreds of hours to nurture the arts community on Mt Hood, and promote the mission of the CCAC . She also happens to be top notch Fused Glass artist and instructor.

Current Classes

Dates don’t work for you? Groups of 4 to 6 can request dates. Perfect for birthday celebrations or girlfriend getaways!

Introduction To The Torch

Saturday September 19th - 10am-4pm
Cost: $135.00
Minimum Students: 2 - Maximum 4

By taking this class, you will be introduced to basic torch safety, the most productive areas of the flame, how to work with mandrels while creating custom rods. You will be pulling stringers and mixing colors. Twisties are a fun feature to add to your arsenal of creating fusing elements. There will always be time for questions and answers.

Students will be taking home torched elements that they can further add to their fused pieces or incorporate into a roll-up. All these elements will be made from 90COE and compatible glass. Bring safety glasses. Materials to be provided.

Instructor: Carlyne Lynch - Bio: I combine glass powder, frit, enamel and lamp worked elements to create layered pieces. I still do some bead work but lately I have been making torch elements to embed in glass.

Powder Carving & Crackle

Saturday September 12th 10am-4pm.
Cost $150.00
Maximum Number Of Students 6

Powder Carving is a technique that creates a pottery like texture/design by layering different colored and dampened powder frit onto an opal base. Designs are created with everyday tools and a final batik looking piece is created. Multiple layers of powder and frit will be used

Crackle is a technique that is often used to create a piece of glass that can be cut up and incorporated as elements in other pieces or used by itself. Many variations of crackle can be created in this project using reactive colors or pieces of silver or copper foil. All tools and materials are supplied.

This class includes two separate techniques that allow the artist to embellish another piece of glass or simply create a stunning piece of their own on the first firing. These techniques can be backed onto another piece of glass or further slumped into usable vessels.

There will be breaks and an hour lunch time to further visit with the instructor and other artists. This will be an excellent class to put more techniques into your arsenal. Masks are required and social distancing will be in place.

Instructor: Shirley Bishop -

Shirley is a native Oregonian who resides in Washougal, WA, who since very young has always been fond of anything glass. In high school she took her first stained glass class as an elective not realizing she'd fallen in love. After many years of her tools in storage and watching her friends explore their creativity, in 2013 she took her first FUSED GLASS class and fell back in love with the art. She got her first kiln that Christmas. She now has a teaching studio and workshop in Washougal, WA on 20 acres with 4 goats and creates beautiful pieces of art glass to use both as decoration and for practical purposes.

She is a member of the Pacific NW Glass Guild, Washougal Arts & Culture Alliance and a member of Washougal Studio Artists. She recently won 2nd place in the Cascadia Center for Arts & Crafts Isolation Art 2020 contest.