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Thought I would talk about a project I am involved with. The work is being done for artist Elizabeth Steinbach who resides in Canada. This is the third project of hers, which she has included some beveling since our first meeting last year at the AGG Conference.
Her design is “We Worship”. Simply put, I am doing five pieces of it, which represents the “Sprit” around the worshiper. What is unique, these are beveled from Kokomo dalles, one and two inches thick. All clear and with a lot of seed in glass. All the pieces are beveled in a style I refer to as a “pregnant” bevel. Glass is beveled on both sides, which has the glass protruding varying amounts from each side of the finished panel. And as the back bevel is viewed to a certain extent, through the beveled surface on the front, a whole new feeling of movement and perception is achieved. A couple of these blanks have taken my skill as a beveler to new dimensions and I am sure it will also be a challenge for Elizabeth in the construction phase of the work.
Do to limit on picture size, I will also post another message with pictures.
Dennis Swan
Pictures of "We Worship" bevels Part Two.
jo_dover
03-31-2008, 11:11
the Kokomo looks good! - didn't even know they did 'dalles' will be interested to see the project as a whole.
I have found both the Kokomo and Blenko dalles grind and polish up nice. When I was at Kokomo last year, I saw a stack of these in 2 inch thickness. As they are normally 1 inch, I had to get several. I had only used them for large jewels in the past. Doing them in these shapes has been interesting.
I too can hardly wait to see these leaded up. Dalle in lead, she may be on to something.
Dennis Swan
Jo,
Attached are a few pictures of a panel by Larry Zgoda. This has Kokomo dalle glass. As you can see, these are mostly clear with "wisps" of green. Being double beveled, they appear at times to be more green than clear. One is also beveled off center to let it be glazed at an angle. (it sits in panel with one end sticking in or out more than the other end)
I get this type of colored dalle when ever available when I visit Kokomo.
Dennis
Two more shots of this project. Also note beveled wire glass
Fascinating! This should be beautiful...thanks for sharing the pics!
What can one say, other than amazing bevel work. Like always, I am not disappointed at your accomplishments, and the free forming artistic projects. Thank you much for sharing these pictures. Its inspiring.
A few pictures of another portion of this job. Beveled from a Kokomo Roundel. The effect from the very clear base glass and the "flashed" blue looks good and shows some promise.
Dennis Swan
Planet Glass
04-30-2008, 09:00
I won't be experimenting with making flat glass until the end of may, but if I have some scraps, I'll definitely send some your way. Something not too busy. Stripes? I could make stripes. All my stringers are opaque though... think that would work?
Send an e mail with picture of glass if you like. The thicker the better. If glass is "flashed", like in kiln, make sure any texture from shelf or table, if poured, is on the side to be beveled. That way the side not beveled is clear of any marks from any surface when you look through beveled surface. I know, clear as mud.
Dennis
Planet Glass
04-30-2008, 09:20
It will be 6mm thick. The decorations will not be surface, they will be imbeded within, in the middle of the glass.
Here is a roundel I did yesterday. Had a very thin flash. Liked the blue one I did better. Had more thickness to color. But the clear on both is sooo clear. Real refraction there. Plus the browner one was about 1/2 inch thick in areas.
Dennis
Planet Glass
05-01-2008, 07:48
Etching a pattern on the colored part would really be cool... are you equipped for sanblasting?
Do nothing but the grinding and polishing. That proves to be enough for me.
Dennis
Catherine Miller Designs
05-10-2008, 20:59
WOW,
I really like your work i will have to keep you in mind for projects in the future.
Sincerely,
Catherine
Getting the rest of job done at this time.
Have a few of the "cape" done. These blanks from casting billets made by Uroboros. Not the best glass I have ground, seems to want to fight me on my smoothing stones.
Dennis:
How thick is that glass? It looks like you are beveling both sides and leaving an edge for leading more or less in the center. Do you know how your customer will support all that weight? Will it be lead or foil construction - or epoxy?
- Tod
Tod,
This run of glass is 3/4 inch. Some of other glass is up to 2 inches thick. Yes, it is beveled on both sides. I understand it will be leaded. As far as support, I am not involved with fabrication. She has experience with other pieces of my work (sculpted 3/8, illusions and such). I cannot speak for her but I am sure this will also need some high-heart lead. I am looking forward to seeing this done.
Tod,
These two photos may show better a pregnant bevel. (posted on two post)
One has the first side roughed in; the other piece has been smoothed. Both of these will be done through the polishing stage before I do the beveling on the reverse side. They have to be polished because I look through the glass as I am beveling.
Hope this explains it better.
Dennis
Tod,
More on the yellow pregnant bevel.
I show one with one side done to polish, then the same with the back side beveled and polished as well as a shot with the second side in the roughed stage. This is Uroboros billet they make for casting. They are only seven inches square with very rounded corners. After four days working with this glass, I think I may have gotten a rhythm on the smoothing stone with it. It has not been the friendliest glass I have worked with. It seems to like a more glazed stone with a lot of water.
My intent in the past for this type bevel was as a focal point made with larger blanks. With both sides beveled, one does get a lot of movement from a stagnate blank of glass. This is the first panel calling for shaped blanks.
The purple blanks, called Neon Orchid (I call it acid purple) are different color wise as well as very different as far as smoothing. I am waiting on billets now to finish the other three pieces, maybe I will find a rhythm with it also.
New little project. Putting a 1 inch diameter jewel made from a 2 inch thick Dalle blank into a circle made from a dalle about 1 1/8 inch thick. Will be held with materials made for copper pipe. Just something I have always wanted to try.
Dennis
Finished. Not made for anything other than just so see what it would look like. I like it.
[QUOTE=iaff84;509]Tod,
More on the yellow pregnant bevel.
Dennis:
I just came back and found your replies to my questions. Thanks. Sorry I'm a week late!
The idea of having a thick, shiny, refractive piece or two in a panel is really cool!
This gives me all sorts of ideas and more questions. I guess construction will depend on size as well as pattern. I can see well-reinforced lead (high heart could be part of the solution, that's for sure). Making shims and blocks to keep things correctly oriented during construction will also be a fun problem to solve.
I hope you'll have a chance to post pics of the final panel if the artist doesn't mind.
Best - Tod
Finished. Not made for anything other than just so see what it would look like. I like it.
Dennis:
First, that's a great final picture with the beveled disk and faceted slug bathed in blue light! What sort of photography budget do you have?
Are you going to treat us to a pic of this thing in a panel or lampshade eventually or has your curiosity been satisfied?
Very interesting stuff, all in all. - Tod
No budget for pictures, just the UV light while it was curing the glue to hold the "slug". Cheap camara also.
I grind, others build and design. BUT, May do this one up myself, do not know. Had no plan for this, just wanted to make it.
Dennis
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