 The fused glass process
It is the alchemical nature of the fused glass process, which
attracted me to this unique art form. It is unique due primarily
to the properties of the Dichroic glass.
For the artist it not only gives a wide range of diverse effects
but also keeps everything in motion. There are never two pieces
just alike when creating a batch of pendants or plates.
First I start with large sheets of glass
that get cut down to the size appropriate for either jewelry
or plates. Then I begin the layering process by cutting many
small pieces of Dichroic glass and arranging them on the selected
glass shape. These then get kiln fired for up to 1400 to 1500
degrees. The process takes close to 3 hours to complete. When
done, they are hand polished and finished to make a one of a
kind art piece either to wear or display. This process is so
much fun and the pieces so beautiful.
Dichroic art glass
"Dichroic Glass" is somewhat of a misnomer since
the dielectric coating that produces all the interesting colors
on a piece of glass is not glass at all but a group of 15 to
45 very thin layers of metal oxides. This "stack"
of thin layers has a total thickness of approximately 48 millionths
of an inch to 96 millionths of an inch. The stack of materials
produces an "Interference Filter" that creates the
varied and unique color characteristics that we see. Since the
total thickness is so minute, the filter has very little mechanical
integrity of its own and must be supported on a mechanically
stable substrate. Glass is the ideal candidate for this substrate.
It is transparent, has adequate rigidity, is stable, withstands
relatively high temperatures and is not affected by moisture,
solvents or most acids. The materials producing the filter are
actually more chemically stable than most glasses used for the
substrate. The filter is generally as durable as the substrate
it is on. Thus, what we commonly call Dichroic Glass is actually
a dielectric Interference Filter attached to the surface of
a piece of glass. |
