Why Collect Art Glass?

by Greg


Ironically, I was asked this question recently. My first reaction was to wonder just how this person could be so naive. Then I realized that many people who don’t collect glass may be naive when it comes to understanding the fascination that we art glass collectors share.

There are definitely many different reasons that each person collects art glass, but the one thing we all have in common is the pure appreciation of artistic perfection. Just looking at some pieces, for example from Charles Lotton, inspires awe in the sheer beauty of the work.

Another obvious reason is that beautiful art glass certainly enhances
any decor. From adding additional colors to an otherwise neutral-colored room to showcasing favorite pieces, art glass can provide the finishing touches for any room in your home or office.

A very important reason to collect art glass is for investment. Quality
art glass by artists who have established themselves as keystones in the industry increases in value over time (sometimes much more reliably than the stock market). I have some pieces in my personal collection that have increased thousands of dollars. In addition to collecting established artists, keep your eyes open for the up-and-coming glass artists. Initially, their prices are generally less expensive; and as they begin to establish themselves in the industry, the prices of their pieces rise accordingly.

About the Author

  • Judy has been collecting art glass for years and has just now opened an art glass internet business, riversidecove.com.

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The Art of Stained Glass

by Greg


by Frann Leach

As with all forms of art, its beauty is defined by the sensations it arouses. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect in the art of stained glass is in its’ versatility. It’s durable, yet fragile, challenging, but yielding to the experienced hands of the artist. I discovered this form of art some seven years ago when my girlfriend and I decided to take a series of evening classes at a local stained glass retail store. We took six classes and I have been hooked ever since.

If you are in need of a way to take away the stresses of everyday life I would recommend stained glass as great way to “download” and at the same time get into a new hobby. It is a form of self-meditation. The steps you’ll follow in arriving at your finished work of art will teach you self-discipline, and provide a great sense of artistic achievement. And if you’re like me, you will not be able to get enough of it. That’s when you’ll want to expand out and begin doing projects for others.

But be careful, once word gets out that you’re into stained glass, all of your relatives (you know the ones) will be the first to ask you to make them something. Actually, it’s not so bad at first, because they make great test cases and you’ll want to experiment.

Where to begin? I suggest a visit to your local stained glass retailer. While not all towns have one (here is a great business opportunity for you) a look into your telephone book should yield a location or two or you can perform an Internet search for local retailers. Start by inquiring into whether or not they run classes. Most retailers usually do because it’s a source of increased revenues to them (they know that you’ll probably be buying your supplies from them). Cost of classes will be relatively moderate for the same reasons. Check out your local County Colleges as well. My instructor also taught night classes there.

TIP: Bring a friend with you; it will add to the fun and you’ll be able to compare notes.

The place you’ll be taking the classes from will no doubt also provide you with the basic beginners kit, which will contain the tools needed to get you started. Expect to find a glass cutter; there a variety of types and you should choose the one that your most comfortable with. I have tried a variety myself but in the end settled for the basic non-oil filled type. A breaker, similar to pliers, is used to snap off the glass after being scored. A specially designed scissor is used to cut out your pattern, and of course a soldering iron is used to join the cut pieces of glass together. Expect to pay somewhere in the neighborhood of $100.

There are other items that you’ll need along the way, but they will be available to you during your classes, such as the grinder, which is used to grind down excess glass, not removed by the cutting process and to polish off the edges of the cut glass. This last part is important because of the foiling process that takes after the glass is ground down. Foiling is a process whereby the copper foil is placed around the edges of the ground glass. The foil is sticky on one side allowing it to adhere to the glass. The purpose of the copper foil is to provide a surface for the solder to stick too.

A word on foiling. Most of us are familiar with the traditional form of stained glass that we have encountered in churches which employ the use of a lead came between the glass pieces. Copper foiling is an alternative to the lead came and is no doubt the first place a new student to the art of stained glass will begin. Only after one has mastered the “foil”, should you proceed to the “came”. Besides, foiling is a much easier process, especially for the beginner. I still prefer this method over the came method.

There is a little more to the art of stained glass than what I have described thus far, but the fundamental steps outlined below will give you a basic outline on what to expect.

Plan your design; will it be for a window, skylight… the possibilities will astound you. Let your imagination take you,

Sketch out your design or use a bought pattern available through your retailer,

Cut out the individual pieces from your pattern using those special scissors I mentioned earlier,

Apply the cut pattern pieces to the glass to be cut,

Using the glasscutter, score and break (not in the literal sense) each piece

Grind off the excess glass “Foil” each piece of glass Solder the pieces together Clean your work, and Display your masterpiece! You will soon come to discover your own favorite step in the art of stained glass. For some, it will be in the designing stages, that challenge of coming up with your own unique design. For myself, my love for the art lies in the cutting of the glass. There is a final moment of truth that comes after you have scored the glass with the glass cutter; this is the part where I hold my breath. As you force the glass to run (I’ll explain that in another article), you’ll begin to see the glass crack along the scored line as you hoped it would. With all things in the universe being wonderful, the glass breaks as you had intended. Occasionally it won’t; that’s the breaks! But don’t worry, glass is relatively inexpensive and you’ll get it the next time.

 

About the Author

  • The author gained expertise by designing and making stained glass works for family members and friends. You can view some of his work’s at http://www.nfvproducts.com
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Review of the 2005 Glass Craft Expo

by Greg

Dear Stained Glass Enthusiast,

I recently attended the 11 th Annual Glass Craft & Bead Expo in Las Vegas. It was a case of the sublime (a dazzling array of glass art) meeting the extremely tawdry (the City of Las Vegas.)

I had never been to Las Vegas before and I was quite unimpressed by it. With the exception of an enjoyable time at the Star Trek Experience at the Hilton, I found the “tourist areas” of Las Vegas filled with the tacky, the tawdry, and the addictive. The Strip even has worse traffic than the Bay Area’s Highway 80 (dubbed “the Parking Lot.”)

What a contrast to visit the Glass Craft & Bead Expo!

There were well over 200 classes available lasting anywhere from three hours to all day with almost 30 hot glass classes lasting two and three days. The classes included instruction for beginning hobbyists through experienced artists.

The classes were given by well known and leading experts in their fields, such as Tommy “G” Giambusso, Joe Porcelli, Vicki Payne, Norm and Ruth Dobbins and a host of others. While Las Vegas Management could have done a better job backing up this superb group of instructors (providing adequate class registration assistance on site and necessary power to the classrooms, just to name a couple of problems,) the content of the classes and the instructors’ abilities were exceptional.

Even if you did not participate in the classes (and I would highly recommend that you do,) there were fascinating displays and demonstrations in the booth area with more exhibitors and suppliers than I could count. It was a marvelous opportunity to ask questions and learn from the leading glass and bead craft industry suppliers, as well as experienced artists in many fields.

I met artists and suppliers from as far away as Hawaii and Japan. The booth of the Japanese company, in particular, (TK Stained Glass Design ) had some incredibly beautiful and unique lamp making supplies that I had seen previously on their website. I was very interested, but somewhat reluctant to buy from a foreign company without first seeing the products in person. Their products were beautiful and impeccably crafted! I highly recommend that you visit their website for items with an Asian flare that you won’t find anywhere else. tk-stainedglass.co.jp

I bought a lot of supplies and I also won a great deal of glass in one of my classes. Not to worry, the Expo has DHL shipping services available, so you don’t have to carry everything home with you on the plane. Some of the suppliers will also take your order and ship it to you later.

There was a Gallery of Excellence with magnificent glass art works both beautiful to admire and inspiring to those of us who aspire to improve our hobbyist abilities.

All in all, I found the Glass Craft & Bead Expo to be a highly enjoyable and worthwhile experience. I recommend it highly to professionals, amateurs, fans of glass art, or those considering a hobby in stained glass, hot glass, bead making, etc.

About the Author

Copyright 2005 by Maria Mee.
GlassSorcery.com

Permission is granted to reprint this article on your site as long as this resource box and the links above remain intact and live. Thank you.

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New Art Print Website

by Greg

Stained Glass Artist Who Made Windows in Washington DC Cathedral has Photographs Featured in New Art Print Website Based in South-West Scotland.

By ANONYMOUS

This site is owned and managed by Edith Reyntiens in her home town of Dumfries.

She is the daughter of British Stained Glass artist, Patrick Reyntiens, and has over 30 years experience working in the art industry.

She wanted to establish an online business selling the work of artists whom she knows personally and whose work she values highly.

So it made sense to begin her new business venture with her family.

“When I thought about who I wanted to represent on the website, I realised I knew so many talented and interesting people that I wouldn’t have to look far for my artists.” said Edith.

The site is continuing to grow and expand to take on new artists all the time; more pictures are always in the pipeline.

Edith is also keen to include artists from Dumfries & Galloway on the site.

“I am a new-comer to this part of Scotland, and am looking forward to becoming a part of the community; I am a member of the Dumfries & Galloway Fine Art Society and hope to be able to represent local artists to raise the profile of South West Scotland.” Father Patrick Reyntiens is noted for his work with artist John Piper in pioneering modern techniques in stained glass.

During the 1960s Patrick Reyntiens with John Piper, designed and built the windows for the lantern of the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Liverpool, England, that was designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd.

The cathedral has been long considered a landmark in the development of modernist architecture in post-war Britain, and the photographs that are making their debut on the fingaprinz web site were taken by Patrick whilst the glass team were installing the windows in the lantern.

This is the first time these prints have been shown in public or offered for sale. Also featured on the site are the photographs of Sophie Bate, (the daughter of poet John Bate) who photographs flowers, landscapes and her family in the surroundings of their country home in Dumfries & Galloway.There are prints of paintings by Patrick’s wife, prize winning artist, Anne Bruce, herself a descendant of Robert the Bruce, available on the website.

Anne Bruce is highly valued for her bright modern paintings of the landscapes around her home, as well as landscapes of the places she travels to.

On the site visitors can choose from prints of her paintings of places such as Turkey, Australia, India and America, as well as landscapes closer to home in Somerset, England.Edith believes that many people want to buy more original art works, but are often put off by the risks involved.

“They worry that maybe they won’t like the work once they have bought it and then won’t be able to sell it on; or, they may not be sure that it is right for them, or the price may simply be too high to risk the outlay on an object that has no obvious function other than lifestyle enhancement.

This site can help to minimise the risks.” “By purchasing a print at a considerably lower cost than an original work of art, it means that you can hang it in your home or office and live with it to see if you like it.” Customers are offered a 30 day money back guarantee if they are at all dissatisfied with their purchase.

And if customers decide they want to own the original, (that is if no one else has got there first!) we can always put them in touch with the artist!Customers can buy prints of paintings, stained glass panels and photographs, which can be printed any size from A3 up to A0, either on ordinary printing paper, or onto specialist watercolour paper and even canvas.

A regular feature of the site will be an Ezine sent out FREE to subscribers on a bi-monthly basis, which will cover articles such as how to choose and hang pictures effectively in your home, and also reviews and articles about art, It will be offering special discounts on new prints as they come onto the website.

In the future the site will also expand to include decorative arts, look out for top quality glass artifacts and jewelry!

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Stained Glass Buying Tips

by Greg

Tips to Buying Stained Glass and Reproduction Tiffany Lighting

Nicole Martins

For anyone who appreciates the detailed beauty of illuminated colored glass, Louis Comfort Tiffany is really the person to thank. Today, the copper foil method is still being used to produce beautiful reproduction Tiffany lighting at affordable prices.

If you are looking for a stained glass pendant fixture, chandelier or lamp, take a look at the manufactures below. These lighting designers make reproduction Tiffany fixtures and you can shop their collections for quality lighting. While these lighting manufacturers make wonderful Tiffany reproductions, they are also popular for other lighting styles and products.

Kichler Lighting -

Well made fixtures using the original turn of the century copper foil method. Collection includes a great variety of table lamps with copper foil lamp shades, on & off pull chain, or 3-way turn switching. Also: stained glass Tiffany chandeliers, pendant lights, down lights, and, ceiling and pool table lighting.

Quoizel Lighting -

This seventy year old lighting manufacturer makes quality Tiffany style lighting that provides warm and inviting light. From chandeliers and mini pendants to table lamps and down lighting, Quoizel has fans far and wide who seek out their Tiffany light fixtures.

Meyda Tiffany -

We love Meyda’s floral Tiffany chandeliers and pendant light fixtures. This lighting manufacturer features a broad range of stunning original design, as well as lighting inspired by world- renowned artists: Louis Comfort Tiffany, Frank Lloyd Wright and Gustav Stickley. Beautiful quality art and stained glass: chandeliers, pendant lighting, pool table lighting, down lights and more. (see: http://www.chandeliers-and-home-lighting.com/tiffany-chandelier.htm)

Robert Louis Tiffany -

A Tiffany style chandelier from the Robert Louis Tiffany Collection embodies some of the best American lighting around with hand cut glass, carefully crafted ornamentation and accents. These chandeliers and light fixtures include classic Tiffany motifs with beautiful stained glass lighting and patterning great for many home styles.

Nicole Martins is a contributing author and publisher to http://www.chandeliers-and-home-lighting.com, an online resource providing you with great information, articles of interest and reviews of the best selling chandeliers online

Note: Ever consider making your own stained glass? While a Tiffany Lamp is an expert level project one can make very attractive, much simpler, lamps for not much money. Stop on by your local stained glass supply store and ask about kits and classes. Nothing local? McKee is a good online place for stained glass books, kits, and supplies.

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Special Edition Stained Glass Roundel

by Greg
Stained Glass Patterns and Tips from GlassSorcery.com

RALLEY Announces Launch of Special Edition Stained Glass Roundel Commemorating the Life of Pope John Paul II

By ANONYMOUS

RALLEY inc today announced the release of a special edition stained glass round to celebrate the life of Pope John Paul II.

This item will be available for purchase from the company’s website MQGifts.com as well as from  Amazon.com (ticker symbol AMZN) and from Stained Glass Photography.

John Paul II was the first ever Polish pope.

He was also the first non-Italian pope for 500 years and the youngest pope in over 100 years.

He was by far the most traveled and widely-recognized pope, having visited every continent except Antarctica and having preached to congregations which ran into millions.

This special edition item has been made by Glassmasters, a division of OMNIA Corporation, in conjunction with the US Historical Society and features a portrait of Pope John Paul II by master artist Jack Woodson.Glassmasters has been authorised by many world-renowned museums, art galleries, churches and cathedrals to reproduce stained glass and other works of art using traditional techniques.

These institutions include the Metropoloitan Museum of Art, The National Cathedral, The Chicago Museum of Art, The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, The V&A Museum and many others in America and overseas.RALLEY has pledged that part of the proceeds from sales of this item will be donated to Catholic Charities USA.

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Architectural Stained Glass Makes Big Impact…

by Greg

Esthetic Accents Takes Its Show on the Road - Mass-Customized Architectural Stained Glass Makes Big Impact at National Events


By ANONYMOUS

Portland, OR May 25, 2005 — Esthetic Accents, a Portland, Oregon-based manufacturer and seller of architectural stained glass, shattered the industry the industry’s status quo last week at the Hospitality Design 2005 Expo and the 2005 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show, both held this year in Las Vegas, Nevada.Making a strong impression on the attendees at the trade shows as well as the industry media present there, the new company was one of four singled out for special coverage by Las Vegas television station Fox 5 for an in-studio visit.

The segment featured new products that add color to home improvement projects without requiring extensive renovations.

The products were selected from more than 1000 vendors with booths at KB2005.Visitors to the Esthetic Accents booth were impressed by the versatility and durability the company’s custom stained glass products and were surprised by the line’s affordability.

The Portland-based firm has created and designed an extremely durable form of stained glass that can safely be used in windows, doors, sidelights, shower and hot tub enclosures, cabinetry, gates, balcony and stair railings; it be incorporated into walls, partitions and casework.

Because each piece is a custom design, themes can be continued throughout entire rooms and structures, matching doors and cabinets, sidelights and windows, or garage doors with front gates.

EA offerings allow much more design freedom than is possible with either artisan stained glass or mass produced design elements.

Most often, artisan stained glass creates designs using stock bevels and bevel clusters that require that the design be developed around the bevels.

However, Esthetic Accents is able to create custom bevels, both clear and colored, eliminating any limits on the design process.

Visitors to the EA booths represented some of the leaders in the commercial, design, hospitality, and home building industries.

Among those particularly impressed by the products on display at the EA booths were representatives for Applebees, The Marriot Group, and Architectural Digest.

“Wow! We’ve been looking for something like this for more than two years,” said one of the specifiers for a leading national restaurant chain.

“We want to match motif for over 100 restaurants and this product makes it possible.” According to Mary Spear, co-founder and CEO of Esthetic Accents, “We have traveled the world seeking and developing the manufacturing process that allows our unique approach to the marketplace.

The technology is now available to take custom architectural stained glass solutions to a new level – and at extremely affordable prices.

No one else is doing what we’re doing”

About Esthetic Accents Esthetic Accents design professionals combine personalized service and the convenience of the Internet to provide excellent customer service nation-wide.

Their online showroom and design center, toll free number and knowledgeable design staff make navigating through the design process straightforward and enjoyable. The company can be reached at www.estheticaccents.com and by phone at 503-227-7687.

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Architectural Stained Glass Inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Example

by Greg
Stained Glass Patterns and Tips from GlassSorcery.com

By ANONYMOUS

Portland, OR June 10, 2005 — Frank Lloyd Wright was a genius, but he worked far in advance of the technology that would make his design work more practical.

His architectural use of stained glass, for example, was aesthetically pleasing and a signature component of his designs, but today thanks to breakthroughs in materials, mass marketing, and efficient production techniques, nearly everyone can have stained glass the world-renowned architect would have loved.

Inspired by the pioneering work of master architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Portland, Oregon-based producer and purveyor of architectural stained glass, Esthetic Accents, has made Wright’s vision available and affordable to homeowners, builders or developers throughout the world.Those familiar with the Frank Lloyd Wright style will appreciate the attention to detail, the organic look and feel of the glass Esthetic Accents brings to market.

The company that has led the way to the mass customization of architectural stained glass lives by the words of the master architect.

In fact, He might have been describing Esthetic Accents philosophy when he said: “Organic buildings are the strength and lightness of the spiders’ spinning, buildings qualified by light, bred by native character to environment, married to the ground.

The architect should strive continually to simplify; the ensemble of the rooms should then be carefully considered that comfort and utility may go hand in hand with beauty.” The use of stained glass is in keeping with Wright’s approach.

As Wright said, “True ornament is not a matter of prettifying externals.

It is organic with the structure it adorns.”Many of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most famous houses were graced with stained glass panels bearing his trademark geometric, Native American and Asian-inspired designs.

Esthetic Accents provides the variety of styles, looks, shapes and sizes that Wright insisted on.

There was only one way in which Wright’s designs could be improved upon: making them more durable.

Thanks to breakthroughs made possible by new advances in technology, architectural stained glass can now be made with zinc beveling rather than less durable lead, and can be tempered and electroplated in large quantities, quickly, efficiently, and affordably.Frank Wright believed that stained glass was not just something one should see only in churches.

It was something to be lived with, providing a look that added light and color to any living space.

Architectural stained glass is sturdy, decorative, and practical.

Its uses are many and varied, indoors and out: doors, windows, shower enclosures, hot tub privacy panels, railings, skylights, kitchen cabinets, privacy windows, bathroom sidelights, room dividers — all can benefit from the use of durable, tempered stained glass.

Thanks to Esthetic Accents, all of these are now realistic design choices that are perfect for a home, yard, and even for commercial applications.Mary Spear, co-owner and founder of Esthetic Accents, said, “People who love Frank Lloyd Wright stained glass can now enjoy the beauty and the effect of the Wright style with practical and affordable stained glass designs that he inspired.

He may be gone but it is almost as if he were in the world again.”About Esthetic Accents:Esthetic Accents design professionals combine personalized service and the convenience of the Internet to provide excellent customer service nation-wide.

Their online showroom and design center, toll free number and knowledgeable design staff make navigating through the design process straightforward and enjoyable.

  • Esthetic Accents leverages the power of the Internet by accessing ContentDesk’s Online Visibility Engine, making it easier for interested parties to learn about its breakthrough custom architectural stained glass technology.Esthetic Accents design center is located at 1225 SE Grand Ave., Portland, OR 97214; Phone (503) 227-7687, Fax (503) 236-8561, toll free 1-866-503-7687 or visit their website at www.estheticaccents.com
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Stained Glass Can Add to the Elegance of Your Home

by Greg
Stained Glass Patterns and Tips from GlassSorcery.com

If there is one way to throw a new light on your home, it’s through the stained glass you put in your windows. Whether you want to enhance old windows by replacing some of the panes, or are complementing the new Pella windows you’ve installed, stained glass can lend an air of grace and quiet elegance to a room.

Where and how you incorporate stained glass into a window treatment depends a great deal on the style of windows you have, and what you want to spend to achieve that multi- colored glow.

In an older home that has wood framed windows with six or nine panes, it’s possible to take out the upper row of glass, and replace those panes with new ones cut from older stained glass that can be salvaged from yard sales, flea markets and auctions.

New stained glass that is handmade, can be quite costly due to the craftsmanship that goes into it. That’s why cutting old panels of stained glass is a cost-effective alternative, that can give you several panes from one sheet. Even if the glass has small cracks or separations in the colored sections, they are easily repaired.

If you have installed a Pella casement window in your kitchen, a semi-circle of stained glass framed and set into the wall over top, will add jewel tones to the warmth of morning sunlight. Or you might choose to replace the entire bathroom window with stained glass, making it a decorative way to preserve your privacy.

The old and the new can come together in harmony. Take a look at your home and consider whether you’d like to warm up the house with stained glass, or combine it with the sophistication of new Pella windows. It’s a pairing guaranteed to create a unique new look.

Sarah Peters works at home, and spends most of her free time on various home improvement tasks. Over a few years, she had all her house windows replaced. In this series of articles, she shares her experience and advice.

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