The Ultimate Graal Class!

[slinger]

Pittsburgh glass Center:
Graal for Flameworkers
Robert Mickelsen, teaching assistant SLINGER
July 20-24 (5 full days!)
Price: $650 ($700 after April 15)

Robert Mickelsen has been flameworking for over 30 years and shows his work in some of the finest galleries in the country. What is “graal”? Graal is a relatively simple and direct way to create controlled patterns and images on the surface of glass vessels. The results are far more detailed than what can be achieved by drawing with stringer or by other more traditional techniques. The addition of graaled elements can create contrast, texture, and a special kind of rhythm in a vessel. Careful use of graal elements in a design can create narrative or aesthetic meaning in a way not possible by other means. Graal imagery can transform an ordinary vessel, sculpture or even a bead or a marble into an extraordinary work of art. This class will be a technique-intense workshop concentrating on graal for flameworked vessels using a process I have developed over the past twelve years. The students will use photomasking technology to transform their original imagery into intricate masks for sandblasting. Computer technology will be utilized for both the creation of and the transformation of artwork into images suitable for graal. Finally, complex construction of multi-sectional vessels using our graaled blanks will be covered.



www.pittsburghglasscenter.org

Phone Registration
Call 412-365-2145 x208 or Toll Free: 1-866-742-4527

if you ever wanted to learn how to sandblast images on glass, this is the ultimate opportunity. Not only will you learn direct from RAM, the "godfather of graal", but you will also learn my techniques and approach to the process, for 5 whole days! All i can say is that taking the graal class with RAM changed my life, and the class paid for itself using the techniques i learned.

[menty666]

Sounds awesome, but I need to learn to make goblets first :D

[Midas]

Very nice, good for you guys. Sounds like a killer class. I missed the slinger class at Flameworks in Texas. But if you all want to go on a nationwide tour come on back to Texas. Mad knowledge getting kick down. Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Izzy Spun]

Man I wish I had like six months to save up for this. Sounds like an incredible learning experience.

[Robert Mickelsen]

Sounds awesome, but I need to learn to make goblets first :D
No problem! There is still space in the April 27 - 28 goblet class at Glasscraft.

http://glasscraftinc.com/workshops_main.cfm

- RAM

[Skye Perry]

No problem! There is still space in the April 27 - 28 goblet class at Glasscraft.

http://glasscraftinc.com/workshops_main.cfm

- RAM My wife and i will be attending this class and can't wait until it happens . See you there

[menty666]

I need to move closer to CO.....

[michaeL25]

I haven't been for a formal class yet and i have a bunch of questions. Is there an itinerary for the week? Is it all coldworking or would we be spending torch time to make vessels that are best suited for graal? If that is a yes, do we bring our own equipment/tools/glass? "computer technology" is mentioned, can we use our own PCs? What software tools are you teaching?

[michaeL25]

bump for answers. thanks in advance.

[slinger]

you would have to ask RAM for the itinerary, but i know that you will be making vessels on the torch as well as coldworking them for sure. You are encouraged to bring your own torch and tools you are comfortable with, but im pretty sure that torch and tools will be provided to whoever needs them. And YES, you are encouraged to bring your own laptop, i personally use Photoshop and Illustrator so those programs would definitely help, i think RAM might use another program, but im not sure.

hope that helps some.

[slinger]

you would have to ask RAM for the itinerary, but i know that you will be making vessels on the torch as well as coldworking them for sure. You are encouraged to bring your own torch and tools you are comfortable with, but im pretty sure that torch and tools will be provided to whoever needs them. And YES, you are encouraged to bring your own laptop, i personally use Photoshop and Illustrator so those programs would definitely help, i think RAM might use another program, but im not sure.

hope that helps some.

[lucidvisions]

Having sandblasted and played with graal for awhile now, I would take this class in a second if my schedule permitted. Even with all my experience with the elements being taught in the class I can only imagine how much more I would learn. A class with Robin and Slinger will be a true gift to those that take it.

Josh

[RudeGirl]

I'm really looking forward to the class....since they told me about it in Dec. There will be torches available for those who don't bring there own. There are also basic tool boxes and a decent selection of others to be used....it's a great facility. I have minimal experience with vessels....will that be a problem. I am looking forward to capturing some images in marbles....other ideas in the works. I think the class will fill, so register soon if your interested....there are around 4-5 spaces available. see everyone in July. vibrations.... What about the GIMP editing program....will that be helpful?

[n3rd]

another nice open source option:

http://www.inkscape.org/

note:

http://blogofgob.blogspot.com/2007/11/making-stencil-using-ubuntu.html

[michaeL25]

thanks for the info! it's about a 10 hour drive or an expensive flight; for some reason i thought it would be closer/cheaper from an expenses standpoint. Maybe i'll give up my OR trip for this, sounds like it may be worth it.

[slinger]

I'm really looking forward to the class....since they told me about it in Dec. There will be torches available for those who don't bring there own. There are also basic tool boxes and a decent selection of others to be used....it's a great facility. I have minimal experience with vessels....will that be a problem. I am looking forward to capturing some images in marbles....other ideas in the works. I think the class will fill, so register soon if your interested....there are around 4-5 spaces available. see everyone in July. vibrations.... What about the GIMP editing program....will that be helpful?

marbles are a great form to explore sandblasting images and graal! thats no problem, RAM will help you with your vessels, and so can i, we make simple cylindrical forms for blasting, i can show you using your marver to make it very easy to make a straight cylinder... i also do alot of sandblasting plate glass, both painting it, and ive also started to work with soft glass powders for sandblasting plate glass and fusing... there are many directions you can go with the ideas and techniques!

not familiar with GIMP, but any photo editing program could be helpful!

[slinger]

thanks for the info! it's about a 10 hour drive or an expensive flight; for some reason i thought it would be closer/cheaper from an expenses standpoint. Maybe i'll give up my OR trip for this, sounds like it may be worth it.

like i said before, this class paid for itself very quickly for me, if you come through and work hard and ask alot of questions, it can greatly expand your glass vocabulary...

[RudeGirl]

The techniques are wide open! I'm familiar with photo imagery on glass & fusing. Just finishing up teaching a 4 wk session of intro to fusing and slumping. Have TA'ed for a couple photo imagery classes. Joy at the glass center...that's her thing. I'll work on the vessels, I'm taking Jesse Kohls class so I'm sure he'll have a few pointers as well. See you in July.

[slinger]

The techniques are wide open! I'm familiar with photo imagery on glass & fusing. Just finishing up teaching a 4 wk session of intro to fusing and slumping. Have TA'ed for a couple photo imagery classes. Joy at the glass center...that's her thing. I'll work on the vessels, I'm taking Jesse Kohls class so I'm sure he'll have a few pointers as well. See you in July.

very cool! well im sure you will teach me a thing or two as well!! see you in JULY!!

[HiAltitude]

Kevin and I learned so much in the two day goblet class that we're going to try to keep up the momentum by taking this class too. Talk about diving in over our heads! :help:

[RudeGirl]

I'm pretty sure there are only 3 spaces available...

[RudeGirl]

Will you be driving or flying in from NM?...just curious. Look forward to meeting you. There are only 2 spots left....YAY!! Safe travels.