This five-day class explores two distinctly different aspects of kiln-formed glass: casting and image making. By combining these practices, students will learn how to create works that go beyond the possibilities of basic casting or fusing techniques.

Participants should have at least 12 months experience with glass, however no casting or image making experience is required.

Using a master silicone rubber mould, students will cast the form of a glass book. While this is firing in the kiln, we’ll turn our focus to creating a separate cover, working with techniques such as wafers, powder printing, and glass decals. Once the book and cover are complete, they will be combined, reinvested into a refractory mould, and cast in the kiln as a unified piece. The process is complex, but we’ve streamlined it into a clear, step-by-step approach.

In addition to the cast glass book, students will also produce:

• Two six-layer blocks incorporating decals, wafers, and powder printing
• A series of test tiles to experiment and refine techniques

Topics covered include:

• Image making with decals and powder printing
• Wafer making and powder stencils
• Open-face casting with silicone rubber masters
• Refractory mould making for casting
• Combining and reinvesting cast and fused elements
• Dammed blocks with imagery
• * Basic coldworking
• * Firing schedules and process planning

Students should have some experience of working with glass, but no experience in casting or image making is required.