Workshops

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We regularly run short courses for adults in kiln formed glass. Most classes are suited to complete beginners, while some are reserved for intermediate/ advanced students. Class sizes are kept to a minimum to allow each student adequate workspace and tutor attention. The workshop space is specifically designed for glass work, making it comfortable and practical. All classes are conducted by practicing glass artists.

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Upcoming classes

Kilnformed Glass: fusing and slumping Beginners Tutor: Brenda Page This introductory course is suited to the absolute beginner and is also open to students with some glass experience who wish to continue to extend their skills. Students will be instructed on how to prepare, design and construct fused and slumped glass projects. Topics include: cutting glass, glass selection, preparing glass for firing, inclusions, fusing and slumping. Some glass provided. Additional materials will cost approximately $50 - $150, depending on projects. Students can expect to produce approximately 3-5 finished pieces; projects can include platters, bowls, wall panels, window hangers or jewellery.

 

Available Dates and Session Times (4 weeks x 3 hours) Cost: $198 per course
Friday Mornings	10am – 1pm	26th February 5th 12th and 19th March
Thursday Evenings	6-9pm	4th, 11th, 18th & 25th Feb

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

Imagery in Glass     
Intermediate (suited to students who have some glass experience)

This class takes you through a number of techniques to produce images on glass. Topics covered include: screen printing, using frit and powders (drawing with light) and introduction to traditional painting techniques. All processes are fired permanently onto the glass in a kiln and can be incorporated into fused works. Additional materials will cost approximately $20- $30.

Available Dates and Session Times Cost: $210 per course
Monday Evening	6-9pm	15th, 22nd Feb & 1st March

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For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

Kilnformed Glass,     
ongoing
Tutor: Brenda Page

This class is suited to students who have a basic knowledge of kiln forming and want to continue to practice the craft under the tutelage of a professional artist, with access to tools and equipment.  Additional costs are dependent on products selected by students.

 

Available Dates and Session Times (4 weeks x 3 hours) Cost: $198 per course
Saturday	9:30am - 12:30pm	27th February, 6th, 13th and 20th March

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For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

Intensive Beginners Kiln Formed Glass      This four day course is suited to the absolute beginner as students as guided through the basics of fusing and slumping. Students are instructed on how to prepare, design and construct fused and slumped glass projects. Students can expect to produce approximately 5-8 finished pieces; projects can include platters, bowls, wall panels, window hangers or jewellery. This class is designed to fast track your glass knowledge. Topics include: cutting glass, glass selection, preparing glass for firing, inclusions, fusing and slumping, firing schedules, understanding a kiln and kiln selection. Some glass provided. Additional materials will cost approximately $100 - $200, depending on projects.

 

Dates and Times Cost: $420 per course
Tuesday to Friday	10am - 4pm	23rd - 26th March

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

Firing Schedules for Glass

Do you have a kiln and not sure how to successfully fire it for glass? Or are you interested in understanding how glass fires in a variety of situations? Then this is the class for you. In this class a variety of topics will be covered to enable you to better understand how glass works in a kiln and thus have greater success when firing glass. We will discuss firing schedules for various situations including slumping, tack fusing, full fusing, firing thick glass and also cover areas such as annealing, viscosity, COE and glass dynamics.

This two session program will be predominantly lecture based with some demonstrations. This class is suitable for the beginner. Notes provided.

Dates and Times Cost: $95 per course
Saturday	9:30am - 1pm	20th February

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For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

Mould making for glass slumping

Learn how to make simple and effective slump moulds for fused glass. Create shapes that are unique and reusable in fired clay and Ceramaguard. We will guide you through modeling and firing clay to produce moulds that give your work a new dimension and allow you to produce glass that is truly unique. These moulds can be used repetitively and can be used for slumping, cabochon shapes and simple open face casting. Students will make 3 moulds to take home and learn how to make countless more. All materials included, suitable for beginners.

Dates and Times Cost: $120 per course
Thursday	6 - 9pm	11th and 18th March

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

Intermediate/ Advanced Kilnforming     
(Invitational Only)

An ongoing class only offered to students who have undertaken a beginners class with tutors from Blue Dog Glass. Students in this class are expected to extend their skills and designs under professional guidance. This class produces a bi-annual exhibition.

Thursday mornings
For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

 

Bead making with Kathryn Wardill

Adventure into the world of hot glass! Create one-off glass beads, miniature artworks that others will marvel at. Teaching the basics of glass beadmaking, the tutor thoroughly explains all aspects of the process, no experience is necessary. Students need good eyesight and the steady use of both hands. Scheduled class times are highly structured with a balance between demonstrations and students practicing techniques. Upon completion students have the knowledge to continue to practice their beadmaking skills in their own studios. Topics covered include; health and safety, understanding equipment, glass and mandrel preparation, shaping beads, using stringers, decorative techniques, general tips, tricks and troubleshooting. Please note all tools and equipment are provided. Students will be required to supply glass rods, approximate cost $30 and personal didymium glasses $98 ea, these are Available from Blue Dog Glass.

Available Dates and Session Times Cost: $250
Saturdays	10am - 4pm	6th and 14th Feb
Saturdays	10am - 4pm	10th and 17th July

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

Intermediate Glass bead making with Kathryn Wardill

Once you have learnt the basic glass bead making techniques this workshop is designed to develop your skills and challenge you even further. We will cover making canes & how to use them, florals, encasing, use of metals, sculptural techniques and hollow beads, all these techniques are designed to increase your confidence and re-ignite your glass bead passions. This class is highly structured and each day there will be a series of demonstrations and then time for students to practice the techniques.

Students should wear ‘closed’ shoes, bring a note book and pen, their safety eye ware and favourite tools to use in class, water bottle and lunch. Kathryn predominantly uses Bullseye Glass to create her work, and is therefore most familiar with this range of glass. Students can bring/use which ever glass they prefer. A comprehensive set of class notes will be provided to each student.

Available Dates and Session Times Cost: $250
Saturdays	10am - 4pm	14th & 21st Aug

 

 

Glass Casting     
Beginners
Tutor: Brenda Page

Learn the art of open-face casting in glass and crystal. This method of production allows students to produce 3D solid glass objects and sculptures. This class is suited to the beginner and intermediate student. Some materials are supplied but students will need to purchase suitable glass or crystal, approximate cost $50 - $100

Available Dates and Session Times (4 weeks x 3 hours) Cost: $380 per course
Monday Evenings	6 - 9pm	12th, 19th April , 3rd & 10th May

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

Glass Casting intensive
Beginners

Like to learn how to cast glass in a three day course Then this class is for you. In this workshop students will produce two cast glass projects using two different methods of production. Topics covered include: modeling in clay, open face casting, determining volume of glass, refractory mould making, box casting, master mould making, cleaning and basic finishing of glass. There will also be a demonstration in class on hand-building moulds for more complex casting. All mould materials included in cost, students will need to purchase glass approximately $80- $120 depending on the size of the casts.

Available Dates and Session Times Cost: $420 per course
Tuesday - Thursday	10am - 3pm	14th - 16th July

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

Dichroic Jewellery Class
Beginners
Tutor: Brenda Page

Create your own beautiful dichroic glass jewellery. This class covers everything you will need to know to create a collection of individual dichroic pendants, earrings, brooches or cabochons. Topics covered in the courses include: cutting glass, preparing glass for firing, overview of types of Dichroic available, selection of materials, attaching findings such as bails, earring backs etc, drilling holes in glass, creating channels in glass for stringing, firing schedules, principals of fusing glass and OH &S. Each student will make approx 15 pieces.

Available Dates and Session Times (3 weeks x 2.5 hours) Cost: $140 per course
Thursday Evenings	6 - 8:30pm	TBA
Saturday	1:30 - 4pm	6th, 13th & 20th March

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

Open Studio

Take advantage of our purpose-built studio and come and spend a few hours, or even a whole day making your masterpieces in glass. Open studio is offered to intermediate and advanced glass students wanting to work outside the structure of the classroom. These access times are not tutored, as students are expected to work autonomously but a staff member will be available to answer questions. The cost of the open studio does not cover firing and a separate kiln fee is payable. Please give us a call to find out more information. Prerequisite: Open studio is available to anyone who has undertaken a class at Blue Dog Glass and wishes to continue to use the facilities.

Available Dates and Session Times Cost: $10 per hour, $40 per Day maximum
Monday Daytime	10am - 3pm	1st 8th, 15th & 22nd Feb 1st, 15th & 22nd March
Thursday Daytime	10am - 3pm	28th Jan 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th Feb, 4th, 11th & 18th March.

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

Through the looking glass

On the first Friday night of each month we hold an open forum style soiree where students and professionals get together and discuss our latest projects, ideas and plans for working in glass. The evening is free and open to anyone interested in glass regardless of your skill level or practice time with the medium. The evening is unstructured and participants are free to talk about their work or simply listen in. The aim is to create a space and time where we can meet like minded individuals and contribute to the development of each others work. Bookings essential.

First Friday of each Month (excluding January) 6-8pm

 

Stringer pulling

Make your own stringers and twisties. Like to know how to create stingers in your own colour palette or a variety of thicknesses? Then this is the class for you. Working on a hothead burner you will be instructed on how to make stringer, micro dots, twisties and manipulated shapes that can be incorporated into fused work. Students will need to provide glass rod, approx $20.

Available Dates and Session Times (1 day) Cost: $75 per course
Monday	6 - 8pm	22nd March

 

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

Kiln Building Course

We hear it so often; you want your own kiln! Well now you can have it and take great pride in saying you made it yourself. This one day workshop will take you through the basics of kiln building, which you can then apply to building bigger and better kilns down the track. But to kick you off you will take home a kiln with controller as part of the course. We will introduce you to some of the “science” of power, heat and insulation and the most useful concepts and materials.

The details of the kiln are as follows:

• Chamber size 440 mm x 440 mm x 190 mm
• Comfortably takes 400mm x 400mm shelf.
• Operates on a standard household power point - 240V AC 10 amps (Just like a kettle or toaster).
• Designed temperature range 650° ~ 850 °C – perfect for warm glass.
• Fully enclosed in a solid steel
• Fully complies with Australian Safety standards – i.e. power cuts off when lid opened.
• Easy to operate.
• Electrical efficiency.
• Comes with a fully programmable electronic controller

Student needs relatively basic skills – do some fine cutting/adjusting of pre-machined bricks and boards, rivet body together, fit elements into bricks, attach fibre to lid, fit handle and hinges on lid, attach cut-out mechanism to lid. Attach controller to body. -Reasonably comfortable half day for most people Date Saturday 27th 10am onwards cost $1635. Cost of the course includes all materials, kiln controller and kiln. Places are limited to 6

Available Dates and Session Times (1/2 day) Cost: $1635 per course, limited to 6 students
Saturday	10am onwards	27td March

 

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Specialist Classes

To promote the expansion of technical and professional practice in the art glass arena in Australia we bring acclaimed artists to the Blue Dog studio to conduct specialist workshops. The first of these workshops was held in April ’06 by American artist Catharine Newell.

Catharine’s technique of imagery in glass is a relatively new method of glass production and offers artist an exciting way to expand their visual language.

To view more of Catharine’s work visit http://www.bullseyeconnectiongallery.com/Artist-Detail.cfm

Images from the Catharine Newell Workshop 2006

A student applying glass powders to create an image on a pre-fused tile.	Students’ work stacked in the kiln ready to fire.
An example of one of the quick sketches done in glass powders and fired by a student.	Two test tiles. Each contains approximately 5 single sheets of glass that have been “sketched” on and stack fired.
OH&S is always a priority, even if not always attractive!	Student quietly contemplating an image emerging from the powder.
An selection of student’s test tiles.	Catharine (in dark brown) instructing students on powder application.

Specialist class 2008

In this intensive 5 day workshop Steven will explore methods of working with kiln formed glass to extend participants' visual language and understanding of how glass behaves. Beginning with drawings, we will develop concepts that explore thought, design, form, and formal relationships while also utilizing a technical vocabulary using heat, gravity, glass, and coldworking methods. As a class we will cultivate a supportive dialogue infused with constructive criticism and observation. Each student will be asked to participate in discussions and to share their knowledge, ideas and experience.

The focus of the workshop is therefore less concerned with finishing a piece than it is with exploring a thoughtful process. As the title implies, however, each student will make one piece that is made up of two different components, or forms using an extremely limited palette of three colours: black, white, and clear.

Steven Klein

Steve Klein currently maintains a studio in Southern California where he produces his distinctive kiln-formed and blown work. Steve teaches his unique approach to kiln working throughout the US, Europe and Asia. He has taught at Pilchuck, Corning, Northlands Creative Glass and Bullseye Glass, as well as many private studios. His work can be found in galleries in the US and Europe. “My recent work seeks to explore, and have fun with the fragile state of balance and to interpret personal visions that cause me to pause and appreciate what I am experiencing”. Steve’s work is in the permanent collections of the Bullseye Glass Company, the Museum of Art and Design, New York City, the Museo del Vidrio in Spain, and Tsinghua University Museum in Beijing.

To view some of Steven’s work visit the Bullseye Gallery at www.bullseyegallery.com and click on Steven Klein in the artist list. Or view Steven working online an You Tube at http://www.youtube.com

 

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