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It's been a minute, I know. 2025 has proven to be a bit more challenging than I expected, and it's not even halfway over yet! I was diagnosed with a malignancy that had to be removed. It was successful and I don't need any further treatment, which is a huge relief. Still, post-op fatigue made it impossible to work, and the brain fog has just recently cleared. Sorry if this is TMI, but...life!
I knew I was really getting better when the urge to make art returned and I was able to complete a commission that had been languishing in the studio for several weeks. Based on a photo of a client's home in Santa Fe NM, I was asked to capture the nature of the beautiful adobe architecture along with the spectacular sunset sky so typical of our state. It measures 14"x18" which is about max for my equipment. I'm including a pic of me holding it for scale.
This was a perfect project to feature the combination of Modeling Glass with enamels. I used Rogue on this piece, but any brand of enamel works very well with MG. The base color panel was made using Bullseye Opaque White Opal powder, which was sculpted, dried, and then cut out with a Dremel to make the contoured shape of the trees and building.
The background sky was made using 6mm Bullseye clear Tekta painted with enamels and with some additional powder work. the piece turned out really great, and the client is super pleased. Though the MG foreground is opaque, the sunset sky is translucent in some areas, allowing for it to glow with backlighting.
If you're curious to know more, this process will be described in my next ebook, Exploring Modeling Glass: New Dimensions (currently in production). If you like the cool Art Deco metal stands I used for the display, you can find those at Milkweed Arts: Kanto Metal Stand. They are heavy enough to hold a large piece, and 6mm glass fits perfectly.
Interestingly, it seems that 6mm clear Tekta doesn't get the attention it deserves from the fusing community. Chatting with a Bullseye staffer, I learned that it doesn't fly off the shelf. I guess artists are concerned that it will be difficult to cut a double-thick piece of glass. I have used it multiple times, and it cuts just like 3mm glass! With a good strong score and the right tools, it's no harder. I've never had a piece break strangely. It wouldn't be good for narrow strips, but if you're doing any kind of panel where you absolutely don't want to worry about the bubbles that can form between layers and migrate to the surface, 6mm is your best friend! It has the added bonus of squared-off corners and edges, in case you don't really want the full-fused rounded edge look on your piece. If you don't take it to full fuse, the glass keeps its nice right angle edges.
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