Blue Dog Glass offers classes to suit absolute beginners, occasional craftmakers and professional artists. Our teachers are experienced practitioners and our small class sizes allow a personalised learning experience. We also have specialist glass masterclasses and workshops taught by renowned Australian and international artists. With so many classes on offer in glass and other media you’re sure to find one to inspire your creativity!
We have classes scheduled throughout the year at our Belgrave studio covering a range of warm glass techniques as well as other glass-related topics. They include introductory and intermediate fusing and slumping courses, short specialty classes on topics like jewellery or bead making, powder printing and kiln firing schedules, and intensive workshops on kiln-forming, screen printing and glass casting. Plus there are our highly sought after masterclasses with leading Australian and international artists.
Over the years, we’ve seen people from all walks of life play around in warm glass – producing an astonishing range of art glass pieces from jewellery, bowls, platters, panels and sculptures. ‘Warm glass’ – also known as Fusing and Slumping, or Kiln Formed glass – is a technique where (cold) cut glass is arranged and layered, then placed in a kiln which is heated up (fired) to melt and form a new shape. Different shapes, colours and textures are achieved through a variety of relatively simple techniques. This basic art glass technique has been developed significantly over the years and now incorporates many other art forms – and this is reflected in the ongoing development of the courses we offer our students at Blue Dog Glass.
Making glass art isn’t as daunting as it first sounds and students at Blue Dog Glass find that, by the end of their first 3 hour session, they’ve already prepared one or more pieces. Once fired and shaped they can present them to friends and relatives, saying ‘Look at this glass masterpiece I have made!’ Students find they enjoy the atmosphere at Blue Dog Glass and keep coming year after year to learn new skills or to contribute to a thriving give-and-take of ideas and creativity.
Have a browse through our class listings to see what you can learn. We schedule classes continuously through the year, so if you want to keep informed of new dates, etc., send us an email and we’ll add you to our mailout list.
Our purpose built studio is nestled in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges. The studio offers the best available equipment for students to work with. The studio is in walking distance from Belgrave station, tucked behind the shops in Ena road. The address, parking details and class requirements will be emailed to students once they have enrolled. With local cafes a stones throw away and a variety of B&Bs, it’s the perfect place to send a few days.
2024 / 2025 Classes
All classes are face to face in our Belgrave studio unless noted
- Private full day sessions for 2025 click here for more details
- Private half day sessions for 2025 click here for more details
- Crash course in kiln formed glass– 6-9th January click here for more details
- Introduction to casting 3 day workshop 13th-15th January click here for more details
- Text and glass 18th & 19th January click here for details
- Intensive Level 2 kiln formed glass 19th- 22nd Feb click here for more details
- Cold working with Kirstie Rea 26th -28th Feb click here for more details
- Firing Schedules for glass 1st March click here for more details
- Telling a story; casting and imagery 4th -7th March click here for more details
- Bead Making for Beginners with Kathryn Wardill 22nd & 23rd March click here for more details
- Semi Private casting workshop with Brenda Page 25th -29th March click here for more details
- Pattern Bar workshop 1st-3rd April click here for more details
- Screen printing on glass masterclass 7th -11th April click here for more details
- Colour blending for glass casting 14th -16th April click here for more details
- 2025 casting workshop with Silvia Levenson in Italy click here for more information
- Casting Club 9 weeks from 6th June click here for more details
- Bullseye Adventure in Portland Oregon 7th -13th Sep 2025 click here for more information
To book a place in any of our classes please phone the Blue Dog Glass Studios on 0410 903 196 or book online.
If using a mobile phone, you should view the Events as a List.