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Learn to create a stained glass window, an art with a proud history of a thousand years. Bainbridge glass artist Gregg Mesmer, Mesolini Glass Studio will guide you through the step-by-step process of building a stained glass window measuring approximately 24" x 24". You will learn contemporary, innovative, and efficient methods to create this art piece, methods that he has honed over his 40 years as a glass artist. You will be guided through design decisions, selecting materials, and assembling your abstract or figurative piece. Be a part of history, create stained glass art.
This class is for beginners and those looking to refresh their skills.
NOTE: In order to use Open Studio time for your own projects, you must demonstrate competency in glass cutting, grinder use, mold prep, and kiln use. This course will address those competencies.
INSTRUCTOR: Gregg Mesmer, of Mesolini Glass Studio. He and his wife, Diane Bonciolini, both recognized with the 2015 Island Treasure Award, moved to Bainbridge Island in 1977 and started the iconic Mesolini Glass Studio. They have been cutting glass professionally for decades. Their expertise, however, goes beyond glass cutting to include other types of fabrication; all aspects of creating stained glass art; and leading, soldering and glazing of stained glass windows. Over the years, they have worked on many community projects. Gregg has taught for Northwest Art Glass, the Bainbridge Parks District, and Olympic College.
In each workshop session, participants will learn fused glass basics: studio safety, vocabulary, types of products, compatibility, cutting, using tools and equipment, use of design elements, how to use the BARN studio, kiln use and care, and slumping mold use and care.
At the completion of the class, participants will leave with two completed fused glass projects and a variety of samples. More importantly, they will leave with the knowledge of glass fusing from start to finish.
Materials Fee: $98 Please bring your material fee to the first session if writing a check, please make payable to BARN Glass Studio. Remember to wear close-toed shoes & long pants in the Glass Studio at all times! Thank you.
For more information: diane@mesolini.com
NOTE: In order to use Open Access time or Monitored Open Studio time for your own projects, you must demonstrate competency in glass cutting, grinder use, mold prep, and kiln use. This course will address those competencies.
Instructor: Diane Bonciolini
The "olini" of Mesolini Glass Studio, Diane's love of glass is her passion. As a full-time glass artist who has lived and worked on Bainbridge Island since 1977, she grows and changes with every project. She describes glass, her medium of choice, as having a life of its own. This multifaceted medium shows itself in each of her creations: stained glass, slumped and fused glass, lamp work, or glass combined with concrete.
Collaborate with multiple BARN studios in this two-session class where you will create a 6” x 21” fused glass sculpture and, next, a metal stand in which to display it.
Week one, you will cut, arrange, and layer glass in a colorful and artistic fashion. Then, the piece will be flat fired in the Glass Studio’s kiln. The next session, you will work in the Sheet Metal Studio, learning to form, cut, and spot weld metal. The result? A fantastic stand for your tall sculpture.
Note: In the second session on September 23, participants will work in two groups. One group will meet in the Sheet Metal Studio from 10 am-noon and the other from noon-2 pm.
Additional Materials Fee: $43, payable by check or cash at first class please.
Instructors:
Jack Archer spent a career in the sheet metal work and is now studio lead for that craft.
Teri Smith has created fused glass art for over ten years. She particularly enjoys working with vivid colors, the reflective and transparent effects of the medium, the play of light, and the textural aspects of glass. Mostly, she designs both functional and decorative bowls.
The excitement of making glass Part Sheets opens doors to creating an unlimited palette of design & color. Part sheets are custom 'mini sheets' of glass that are intentionally or at times unintentionally created.
In Session 1, students will create an collection of Part Sheets using any combination of metal inclusions, iridescent & dichroic glass, glass frit, glass paint, papers, stringer & noodles. This technique offers a student a variety of options to use in the classroom or at anytime in the future. The fun of creating Part Sheets can lead to many interesting projects.
These unique sheets will be fired in time for Session 2 where students spend time designing and incorporating these mini sheets into a larger project in combination with transparent or opalescent glass. The 'sheets' will be cut up, and used to create a beautiful, one-of-a-kind 10” x 10” swoop tray.
Material Fee: $66
This two session beginning mosaic class covers the different types of materials used to create mosaics as well as adhesives, bases, and grouting. We will learn to use the tools, select the materials, and where to purchase what is needed to create a mosaic. Creating a simple trivet out of glass tiles and gems allow students to focus on learning basic mosaic techniques. The project will teach skills such as cutting tile, different approaches to applying tile, and selecting grout. On day 1, we design the mosaic and adhere the design to the base, and on day 2 we grout and complete the project. At the end of the class you will have the knowledge to create simple mosaic projects on your own as well as a mosaic trivet.
Material Fee $30, paid to the BARN Glass Studio, the first day of class.
Instructor: Gillian Allard first fell in love with mosaics in Barcelona’s Park Güell after seeing the work of Anton Gaudi. Her first art pieces were stepping stones. She then progressed to furniture and signs. Most of her work is inspired by discarded or broken dishes that become one-of-a-kind functional pieces for the garden and home. In addition to china, pottery and stoneware, a variety of glass tile and gems, broken tile and found objects are incorporated into her designs. The breaking of the ceramics is organic and random in nature and one of her goals is to capture that energy. Recreating memories reusing materials are an important part of her mosaic work. When someone gives me a broken dish and I can give it back to them recreated and ready to function again, I have united the best elements of this art form.
In this workshop, the instructor will cover various brush techniques, marbling, and experiment with abstract painted & textured designs. Students will also learn the basic techniques of using Glassline paper & paints. Adding decorative metal inclusions the 10" x 10" wall piece will be kiln fired permanently fusing the glass and setting the painted surfaces, producing a uniquely colorful, eye-catching art piece.
No experience necessary.
Materials fee: $50
Instructor: Elaine Greene
Elaine has been a ceramic and mixed media artist for over thirty years. She owned her own hand-painted Italian pottery business in the wine country of Northern California for over fifteen years, selling her work to wineries and retail stores throughout the U.S. Elaine also taught art to children and adults for several years at non-profit art organizations.
After twenty plus years of creating pottery, she started experimenting with dichroic glass, fusing, copper enamel work, and more incorporating these different techniques & materials into her artwork. Elaine recently moved her studio to Rolling Bay.
Tapestry mosaic is about bling, bright colors, and pattern. The elements that make this technique so special is that it is not grouted, allowing the use of a variety of materials that can’t easily be used in traditional mosaic. Beads, rhinestones, buttons, broken jewelry parts, glitter tile, mirror, and a selection of shiny things make for a complex and interwoven mosaic that will be used to create a 10” square mirror. This is a technique and design class. The skills covered are working without grout lines, how to use both very small beads and a variety of different types of glass tile. The mirror design is a series of smaller graphic vignettes, and prior to the beginning of the class, students will work on their designs with the instructor. Click Show Details to read more or register.
Prerequiste: A- Z of Mosaics or equivalent.
Additional Materials Fee $35: The material fee covers the cost of the mirror and a selection of glitter, iridescent, and other glass tile. Students will need to provide their own focal points of larger beads and broken jewelry as well as seed beads. There will be a limited selection of these items available to purchase from the instructor.
Please pay for materials in cash or check to the Glass Studio Liaison on the first day of class. Extra items will be paid directly to the instructor.
Instructor: Gillian Allard
Gillian Allard first fell in love with mosaics in Barcelona’s Park Güell after seeing the work of Anton Gaudi. Her first art pieces were stepping stones. She then progressed to furniture and signs. Most of her work is inspired by discarded or broken dishes that become one-of-a-kind functional pieces for the garden and home. In addition to china, pottery and stoneware, a variety of glass tile and gems, broken tile and found objects are incorporated into her designs. The breaking of the ceramics is organic and random in nature and one of her goals is to capture that energy. Recreating memories reusing materials are an important part of her mosaic work. When someone gives me a broken dish and I can give it back to them recreated and ready to function again, I have united the best elements of this art form.
NOTE: Glass cutting skills required. This four-hour session is a Beyond A-Z class and appropriate for intermediate students who have taken A-Z or advanced students.
Challenge yourself out of your comfort zone. Move into new creative territory. This workshop will focus on design as a general concept. Assignments and exercises will help students apply these ideas to their own artistic practices. The exercises will involve paper, metal, wood, fiber and found objects. Each student will bring samples of their work to share with the class and one piece that they are willing to exchange with another student. There will be one-on-one guidance from the instructor.
The instructor wants each student to bring a piece from their discipline that they will give to another student. If it is wood, and is given to a fiber person, they incorporate into a design. Additional Material Fee: $3 Please bring to the beginning of class as cash or check.
Instructor: Micki Lippe - Micki's jewelry has been exhibited throughout the US. She served as founder of the Seattle Metal's Guild, on the board of Pratt Fine Arts Center and as president of the Society of North American Goldsmiths. Micki's work was included in Adorn and the "500 Earrings" book, among others. Locally, she teaches at Pratt Fine Arts Center and Danaca.
In this 4-hour workshop, Jerry Davis will demonstrate how to capture the perfect image of your art with what you have. iPhone, iPad, 35mm, etc. bring what you are comfortable with. He will explain lighting, lighting angles, highlights, avoiding flare, creating simple backgrounds, reflection, contrast, color and white balance, tools and equipment, and special effects.
He will share examples of his photos and demo some of his techniques. Specifically, he will teach you how to use your digital camera or smartphone with what you have at home. You will use your camera or smartphone to take photos of your print, glass fiber, jewelry, etc. Time will be set aside for sharing, comment, and questions.
Bring one or two pieces that you want to photograph, your smartphone or camera, a notebook and the manual that goes with your camera if available.
No experience necessary!
Studio fee: $5
Instructor: Jerry Davis has been a photographer for more than 40 years. Part of that time he was a craftsman as well. After photographing his own work, he started shooting pictures for other artists. Much of their work was in glass or silver. Yes, he started with the hard stuff! He often traveled to the artists' locations so they could have full access to their creations. He constructed many small photo studios in the artists' workshops. Jerry works with available light, natural light, continuous lights, and strobes.
Holiday ornaments are fun to make, to have in your home, and to give as gifts. This class uses glass tile and beads to create ornaments that sparkle in the light and can hang on a tree with a colorful ribbon. Two methods with be taught: grouted and tapestry or non-grouted. Day 1 we will make the ornaments, and day 2 we will grout and complete with the finishing touches. The material fee covers the cost of two ornaments and all the supplies needed to complete the project.
Additional Material Fee $25: Paid to the BARN Glass Studio, the first day of class, by either check or cash.
This is an intensive to learn about some of the wonderful options for working with glass powders. In this class students will be guided through some ways of working with powders to create visually complex and layered 4x4 samples. Design concepts will be discussed, as well as how to work with color. No previous experience with glass is necessary, but knowing about how to cut glass will be helpful.
Material Fee: $58
Instructor: Martha PHanschmidt
Martha Pfanschmidt has been working as a professional artist since joining a printmaking studio in 1982. She has taught at university and privately for 30 years. Her love of art and of creating beautiful objects has inspired her to explore a variety of media, but currently she works in printmaking, encaustic painting and kiln glass. Her work is in many private and public collections, and has been shown all over the world. She is represented by Bullseye Projects in Portland, Oregon, Davidson Gallery in Seattle, Washington and Mobilia Gallery in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
