Day 7: Tool Time

Tool Time Starts Today! 

 I hope everyone has survived the 5 minutes x 5 sketches challenges.

You'll definitely have more than 30 sketches by the end of the month.  Sneaky! 

The discoveries you've made in those short minutes will serve you well~

Your posted work has been outstanding, and it's only been a week!

We are glass artists. We are tool crazy.

Tools are nice, and we want all of them. (don't we?) 

You've probably noticed that there aren't really any pre-made tools specifically for drawing with powdered glass.  That is a good thing, because it forces us to be resourceful and inventive when it comes to the tools we use to create imagery.  

 I recently watched one of NBC's Dateline Documentaries about the weaponry being fashioned in prisons by very creative and resourceful prisoners.  Knives made from Jolly Ranchers melted in foil left over from dinner. Filed down toothbrush handles and bed spring pieces become serious weapons.  We can stay on the outside and fashion some serious tools to play with in our glass adventures.

The Challenge for Day 7 (and Day 8)

Select well among old things, and make a tool.  It doesn't have to be changed from its original form, but it could be.  Perhaps you have something in your junk drawer that could be useful?  The only rule:  Your tool cannot be a paintbrush... NO PAINTBRUSHES!!!  
noooooooooo paintbruuuushhhess.......

Use your tool, along with the business card, fingers, and/or sifter to make your entries for Day 7 and Day 8

If you have a blog, tell us about your tool and post a photo of it along with your work!  I can hardly wait to see what you all come up with.  Here are my entries for Day 7,  A quick glass sketch and an alcohol ink painting for my other challenge :)

Testing another 'sunrise' piece.  I added color and it's in the kiln...

A Tulip-y Flower... go away winter!

An InLinkz Link-up

Day 2: Trees with Fingers and Business Cards

It's true.  The beginning is usually the hardest, especially when you're doing something new.  Today is Day 2 of the first ever 'Fused Glass Sgraffito Drawing 30 in 30 Challenge", and I want to say thanks to all of the artists who signed up to participate!   Getting started is difficult.  I've asked you all to jump out of your comfort zones not only in the way you work with glass, but also in respect to all of the 'techie' stuff like setting up a blog and uploading photos.  Trust me, while it is uncomfortable and frustrating now will pay off in the end.

'Trees with Fingers and Business Cards' sounds like a B horror flick doesn't it?  Ha.  I like it.

Today's challenge is to use glass powder to draw a tree or two with only the use of your fingers and a business card.  Everyone wants to break out all of their tools and get down to action already,  but let me explain why I'm challenging you to start this way...

People with nothing are usually the most resourceful.  When you have nothing it forces you to develop ways to do the things you want, without having the 'tool' you'd really like to have to get the job done.  If you need to pound a nail and don't have a hammer, you might find something else that will do the job.  A big rock, perhaps?  A brick?  My point is that if you have the hammer already, you don't have to be very resourceful; you just pound the nail with it and that's the end of it.  When you are forced to be resourceful, your brain makes connections that it wouldn't make if you were just running to your toolbox to get 'the thing that you use to do a thing'.

Tree with Fingers and Business Card.
I added some frit and will post the fired piece tomorrow.

We'll talk more about that later, but for the next few days please do your best to make yourselves stick with the fingers and a business card.  Make it work for you.  I promise that it will be frustrating, but also that you'll understand once you've done it.

I promised some firing schedules today... I'm going to post the schedules I'm using based on my particular kiln as well as the size glass I'm using, but please keep in mind that you may need to adapt for your kiln / glass if there is a big difference in your situation.  These are programs I have been successful with, but may not be 'the standard'.  More on that in a week or so.





Here are my pieces for today.  One for the glass challenge, and one for my painting challenge.  My glass piece is in the kiln right now, and tomorrow I will post the fired piece.

Firing Schedule for the tree above:  It is 4"x6", and I added a layer of black behind it to make it 2 standard sheets thick with small bits of frit on top of the powder.  I'm using Bullseye Glass. (90 coe)  Firing in a tabletop kiln with a 10' shelf, single side element, no top element.

300 DPH

1000F

Hold 10 min.

AFAP

1460F

Hold 10 min.

AFAP

900

Hold 35 min. 

End Program

*AFAP= As Fast As Possible, enter 9999 on most kilns when you program.

Best to you all, and thank you again for participating.  See you here tomorrow, Nanoo Nanoo :)

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