Workshops

View the gallery of student's work

We regularly run short courses for adults in kiln formed glass. Most classes are suited to complete beginners, while some are reserved for intermediate/ advanced students. Class sizes are kept to a minimum to allow each student adequate workspace and tutor attention. The workshop space is specifically designed for glass work, making it comfortable and practical. All classes are conducted by practicing glass artists.

Blue Dog Glass has an online mailing list. If you would like to join, click the link below and register.
Add me to your mailing list

Upcoming classes

Kilnformed Glass: fusing and slumping Beginners This introductory course is suited to the absolute beginner and is also open to students with some glass experience who wish to continue to extend their skills. Students will be instructed on how to prepare, design and construct fused and slumped glass projects. Topics include: cutting glass, glass selection, preparing glass for firing, inclusions, fusing and slumping. Some glass provided. Additional materials will cost from $50, depending on projects. Students can expect to produce approximately 3-5 finished pieces; projects can include platters, bowls, wall panels, window hangers or jewellery.

 

Available Dates and Session Times (4 weeks x 3 hours) Cost: $198 per course
Monday Evenings	6-9pm	6th, 13th 20th and 27th Feb
Friday Mornings	10am – 1pm	17th, 24th feb and 2nd, 9th March
Saturday Afternoons	1.30- 4.30pm	4th, 11th , 25th Feb and 3rd March (please note there is no class on 18th Feb)

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

Imagery in Glass     
Intermediate (suited to students who have some glass experience)

This class takes you through a number of techniques to produce images on glass. Topics covered include: screen printing, using frit and powders (drawing with light) and introduction to traditional painting techniques. All processes are fired permanently onto the glass in a kiln and can be incorporated into fused works. The techniques learnt in this class will open up an enormous new dimension for the possibilities of design and artistic expression in glass. Additional materials will cost approximately $20- $40.

Available Dates and Session Times Cost: $240 per course
Thursday Mornings	10 am – 3pm	23rd Feb and 1st March

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

Kilnformed Glass,     
ongoing
Tutor: Brenda Page

This class is suited to students who have a basic knowledge of kiln forming and want to continue to practice the craft under the tutelage of a professional artist, with access to tools and equipment.  Students work on their own projects, while each week a new topic is introduced to expand students’ knowledge and technical skills. Topics covered incluse: dilution, colour reation, kiln carving, torch work to pull stringer & twisties and how glass behaves when fired. Additional costs are dependent on products selected by students.

 

Available Dates and Session Times (4 weeks x 3 hours) Cost: $210 per course
Thursday Evenings	6-9pm	19th, 26th April 3rd and 10th May
Saturday Mornings	9:45am - 12:45pm	4th, 11th, 18th and 25th Feb or 19th, 26th May, 2nd and 9th June

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

Bubble and Boil

What happens to glass when you take it to high temperatures? How do pot melts work? This class is all about pushing the boundaries with glass, firing it so high it boils and dribbling it through crucibles. Topics covered in this three week course include; boiling glass, pot melts, how to make your own confetti and a demo of how a vitrigraph works. This class is open to anyone who has completed a beginners fusing and slumping course. This class is all about how to use scrap glass to create something new and unusual. Course fee does not cover cost of glass, approx $70

Available Dates and Session Times Cost: $165 per course
Thursday Evenings	6-8.30pm	9th 16th and 23rd Feb

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

Screen printing on glass 101

In this workshop students will be introduced to screen printing on glass. Techniques covered will include: preparing screen using drawn images, photos and text, different paints for different applications, firing and how to use screen printing tools correctly for glass. All materials included.

Available Dates and Session Times (One Day x 6 hours) Cost: $230 per course
Saturday	10am - 4pm	17th March

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

Intensive Beginners Kiln Formed Glass This four day course is designed to fast track your knowledge and is suited to the absolute beginner.  Because of the intense learning curve of the class students become competent very quickly in learning how to design, prepare and construct fused and slumped glass. Students can expect to produce approximately 5-8 finished pieces; projects can include platters, bowls, wall panels, window hangers or jewellery. This class is designed to fast track your glass knowledge. Topics include: cutting glass, glass selection, preparing glass for firing, inclusions, fusing and slumping, firing schedules, understanding a kiln and kiln selection. Some glass provided. Additional materials will cost approximately $100 - $200, depending on projects.

 

Dates and Times Cost: $540 per course
Tuesday to Friday	10am - 4pm	10th – 13th April

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

Firing Schedules for Glass

Do you have a kiln and not sure how to successfully fire it for glass? Or are you interested in understanding how glass fires in a variety of situations? Then this is the class for you. In this class a variety of topics will be covered to enable you to better understand how glass works in a kiln and thus have greater success when firing glass. We will discuss firing schedules for various situations including slumping, tack fusing, full fusing, firing thick glass and also cover areas such as annealing, viscosity, COE and glass dynamics.

This program will be predominantly lecture based with some demonstrations. This class is suitable for the beginner. Notes provided.

Dates and Times Cost: $95 per course
Thursday	1- 3.30pm	15th March

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

Mould making for glass slumping

Learn how to make simple and effective slump moulds for fused glass. Create shapes that are unique and reusable in fired clay and Ceramaguard. We will guide you through modeling and firing clay to produce moulds that give your work a new dimension and allow you to produce glass that is truly unique. These moulds can be used repetitively and can be used for slumping, cabochon shapes and simple open face casting. Students will make 3 moulds to take home and learn how to make countless more. All materials included, suitable for beginners.

Dates and Times Cost: $230 per course
Friday	10am - 4pm	16th March

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

Intermediate to Advanced Kilnforming     
(Invitational Only)

An ongoing class only offered to students who have undertaken a beginners class with tutors from Blue Dog Glass. Students in this class are expected to extend their skills and designs under professional guidance. This class produces a bi-annual exhibition.

Thursday mornings
For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

 

Bead making with Kathryn Wardill

Adventure into the world of hot glass! Create one-off glass beads, miniature artworks that others will marvel at. Teaching the basics of glass beadmaking, the tutor thoroughly explains all aspects of the process, no experience is necessary. Students need good eyesight and the steady use of both hands. Scheduled class times are highly structured with a balance between demonstrations and students practicing techniques. Upon completion students have the knowledge to continue to practice their beadmaking skills in their own studios. Topics covered include; health and safety, understanding equipment, glass and mandrel preparation, shaping beads, using stringers, decorative techniques, general tips, tricks and troubleshooting. Please note all tools and equipment are provided. Students will be required to supply glass rods, approximate cost $30.

Available Dates and Session Times Cost: $250
Saturdays	10am - 4pm	2012 dates TBA

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

Intermediate Glass bead making with Kathryn Wardill

Once you have learnt the basic glass bead making techniques this workshop is designed to develop your skills and challenge you even further. We will cover making canes & how to use them, florals, encasing, use of metals, sculptural techniques and hollow beads, all these techniques are designed to increase your confidence and re-ignite your glass bead passions. This class is highly structured and each day there will be a series of demonstrations and then time for students to practice the techniques.

Students should wear ‘closed’ shoes, bring a note book and pen, their safety eye ware and favourite tools to use in class, water bottle and lunch. Kathryn predominantly uses Bullseye Glass to create her work, and is therefore most familiar with this range of glass. Students can bring/use which ever glass they prefer. A comprehensive set of class notes will be provided to each student.

Available Dates and Session Times Cost: $250
Saturdays	10am - 4pm	2012 dates TBA

 

Pattern Bars, Cut Ups & More with Geraldine Gandolfo

Once you have mastered the basics of kiln forming it is time to move onto something that will enable you create works that are truly individual. Learn how to create unique and complex designs with patterns in glass. You will make pattern bars & cut ups and experiment with multiple firings to create distinctive patterns and effects. Pattern bars will be made from sheet glass and also scrap glass to create striking designs.

Emphasis will be on using the resulting glass creations to extend your design options, from jewelry to functional or sculptural works. You will learn how to hand cut thick glass and use the diamond saw to cut sections to use in larger works. Efficient strip cutting, experimenting with colour combinations and utilising some glass reactions will also be covered. Some glass provided however students will need to provide some glass (approx. $60+) to accommodate personal colour preferences.

Available Dates and Session Times (4 x 3 hours) Cost: $290 per course
Saturdays	1.30 – 4.30 pm	21st, 28th April 5th and 12th May

 

Glass Casting     
Beginners
Tutor: Brenda Page

Learn the art of open-face casting in glass and crystal. This method of production allows students to produce 3D solid glass objects and sculptures. This class is suited to the beginner and intermediate student. Some materials are supplied but students will need to purchase suitable glass or crystal, approximate cost $50 + depending on size of cast

Available Dates and Session Times (4 weeks x 3 hours) Cost: $380 per course
Monday	6-9pm	16th 23rd and 30th April

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

Glass Casting intensive
Beginners

Like to learn how to cast glass in a three day course Then this class is for you. In this workshop students will produce two cast glass projects using two different methods of production. Topics covered include: modeling in clay, open face casting, determining volume of glass, refractory mould making, box casting, master mould making, cleaning and basic finishing of glass. There will also be a demonstration in class on hand-building moulds for more complex casting. All mould materials included in cost, students will need to purchase glass approximately $80- $120 depending on the size of the casts.

Available Dates and Session Times Cost: $580 per course
Monday to Thursday	10am – 4pm	TBA

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

Dichroic Jewellery Class
Beginners
Tutor: Geraldine Gandolfo

Create your own beautiful dichroic glass jewellery. This class covers everything you will need to know to create a collection of individual dichroic pendants, earrings, brooches or cabochons. Topics covered in the courses include: cutting glass, preparing glass for firing, overview of types of Dichroic available, selection of materials, attaching findings such as bails, earring backs etc, drilling holes in glass, creating channels in glass for stringing, firing schedules, principals of fusing glass and OH &S. Each student will make approx 15 pieces.

Available Dates and Session Times (3 weeks x 3 hours) Cost: $165 per course
Monday Evenings	6 - 9pm	1st, 8th and 15th March
Friday Mornings	10am – 1pm	18th, 25th May and 1st June

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

Open Studio

Take advantage of our purpose-built studio and come and spend a few hours, or even a whole day making your masterpieces in glass. Open studio is offered to intermediate and advanced glass students wanting to work outside the structure of the classroom. These access times are not tutored, as students are expected to work autonomously but a staff member will be available to answer questions. The cost of the open studio does not cover firing and a separate kiln fee is payable. Please give us a call to find out more information. Prerequisite: Open studio is available to anyone who has undertaken a class at Blue Dog Glass and wishes to continue to use the facilities. Bookings essential but can be made on the day, subject to availability. Prepayment is required for Saturday sessions.

Available Dates and Session Times Cost: $10 per hour, $40 per Day maximum
Monday Daytime	10am - 3pm	6th, 13th 20th and 27th Feb 5th and 19th March 16th 23rd and 30th April
Saturday morning	9am – 1pm	18th Feb 10th March 14th April

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

Buy a Gift Voucher

Please fill in your details below and click 'Pay Now'

Amount $
•To: •From: •Address to be sent to: •Private message (max 100 spaces):

 

Specialist Workshops

Specialist Classes

We are very pleased to offer a huge range of specialist workshops in 2012, the first of these are a series of workshops with Brad and Jody Walker from the Warmglass website and in September a silicon rubber mould making course with Helen Stokes

Jody Danner Walker was juried into New Glass (Neues Glas) Review 32, International Review of Glass Art published by Corning Museum of Glass.  She was included in an international invitational residency, “IN PLACE:  Kiln Formed Glass in the Build Environment” at Northlands Creative Glass in Lybster, Scotland.  Her book, Printmaking Techniques on Glass, has just been released.  She was exhibited in a juried show at the Smithsonian Institution, is currently exhibited at the Corning Museum of Glass, among other galleries, and is consistently included in the prestigious annual auction for Dale Chihuly’s Pilchuck Glass School. Her glass art is featured in four recently published books:  Best of American Glass Artists, Art Glass Today, Creative Glass and Contemporary Fused Glass.  She teaches advanced classes on kiln-formed glass at The Corning Museum of Glass, The Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, universities, and private studios around the world, and, in her studio, Warm Glass Gallery and Studio, in Clemmons, NC. Her art can be found in galleries, private, and corporate collections around the world.

Brad Walker is founder and owner of warmglass.com, the internet's largest and most comprehensive website devoted to glass fusing, slumping, and related kiln-forming techniques.  He is also also author of two books:  Contemporary Warm Glass and Contemporary Fused Glass.

 

Glass Weaving
Tutor: Brad and Jody Walker

Here's your chance to explore the exciting world of woven glass, in which cut strips are used to make bowls and sculptural forms.  We'll cover all the steps for three different methods, from creating the strips to forming the weave, to firing, and then slumping into final shape.

Complete firing schedules included and you'll end up with several finished pieces, too.  All materials included; previous experience helpful but not required.
Specific topics covered will include:

• Creating basic woven bowls using a simple two step approach
• Weaving without the need to purchase special “weaving molds”
• Types of weaves, including the false weave, plain weave (over-under), the twill weave, and the satin weave
• Determining appropriate firing schedules to create different finished looks
• Other weaving variations, such as creating tartan and more elaborate patterns

In addition to leaving with handouts that include full instructions, firing schedules, and layout specifics, students will create at least two finished woven pieces. Students must be able to cut narrow (3/8”/ 9mm) strips of glass. Experience with glass fusing is helpful, but not required.

Available Dates and Session Times (3 days) Cost: $840 per course
Wednesday to Friday	9am - 5pm	21st - 23rd March 2012

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

Glass Powder and Frit
Tutor: Jody and Brad Walker

A thorough introduction to "painting with light", the use of glass powders, frits, and stringers to create unique and personal design elements. Techniques for shading, creating texture, and drawing will all be covered, as well as demonstrations of powder wafers and other ways of achieving painterly effects in glass.

Create dramatic fused glass patterns and textures using our unique take on the crackle process. You'll learn to create different patterns and color combinations to help your glass pieces stand out from the crowd. We'll explore various firing schedules to achieve both raised textures and flattened powder patterns and will create pieces with both shiny and matte final appearances.

Not only is this an excellent workshop for beginning through advanced kiln workers, it's also appropriate for artists from other media who want to expand their palette and translate their ideas into glass. Drawing ability is not required, but familiarity with glass cutting and basic kiln-forming techniques is helpful. All materials are provided and no prior experience is necessary.

Available Dates and Session Times (4 days) Cost: $960 per course
Saturday to Tuesday	9am - 5pm	24th - 27th March 2012

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

 

Beyond Two Layers
Tutor: Jody and Brad Walker

This course begins with making pattern bars and expands to include stack firing and related techniques for working with thicker blocks and multiple layers of glass. Three different approaches to creating thicker items will be discussed and demonstrated. Techniques discussed will include:

• Basic techniques for using glass sheet and frit to form embedded and surface designs
• Dam-building and related volume control techniques for thicker items and pattern bars
• Cold working, with a focus on edge-working on the wet belt sander
• Discussion of using these techniques for making larger items such as table tops and sinks

All techniques will be demonstrated. Students will be able to make several items using their choice of techniques. Experience with basic kiln processes essential.

Available Dates and Session Times (3 days) Cost: $840 per course
Thursday to Saturday	9am - 5pm	29th – 31st March 2012

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

 

Make Silicone Rubber Molds for Replicating Models and Developing Ideas
Tutor: Helen Stokes

The aim of the course is for students to make rubber molds using different techniques.

The rubber mold has an infinite number of applications and is a must for saving precious time. It is an excellent tool for reproducing identical waxes often needed when casting with glass or metal. A master wax made from a rubber mold can be the basis for new work as it can be carved away or have additional wax applied to produce a different shape.

Students will learn several methods of making rubber molds including a one piece rubber mold with a two part plaster backing and a multiple piece rubber mold with a multiple part plaster backing.

Sounds easy! Believe me it takes time and meticulous planning to work out the divisions in the mold. One must think in reverse about how the mold will come apart before it can be put together.

Students will take home 2 rubber moulds.

Tutor's Biography

Helen lives in Melbourne Australia and has worked with glass since 1978. Helen has been using silicone rubber molds in the production of her work for 15 years and has been teaching the technique since 1998. One of Helen’s favorite past times is to take rubber impressions of rock textures at Pambula Beach and use these molds to help shape her work in glass. Her frog series in cast glass could only have been made with the aid of the silicone rubber mold.

Available Dates and Session Times (4 days) Cost: $890 per course materials included
Tuesday to Friday	9.30 am – 4.30pm	18th – 21st September 2012

Enroll Now

For more information or to enrol please call 9553 4434

 

 

 

Past workshops

We regularly run specialist workshops with local and international artists, some of the workshops we have run in the past include:

Steven Klein (USA)

Lisa Cahill (AUS)

Catharine Newell (USA)

Alicia Lomne (USA)

Helen Stokes (AUS)

Bob Leatherbarrow (Can)

 

Disclaimer :: Privacy Policy :: 83 Levanswell Road Moorabbin, Victoria 3189 :: (03) 9553 4434 :: info@bluedogglass.com.au