New to the Melting Pot, looking to learn

[Xortian]

Hello forumers of Melting Pot,

I am an admire of glasswork and have been for a majority of my life. It all started back when i was taken to the Chihuly Tropical Botanical Garden I was mesmerized by the shapes and artistic twist that was put into every single piece there.

Unfortunately I was never able to pursue my ambition when my interest sparked so like any child i redirected my attention elsewhere as to not be disappointed instead of keeping my eye on the prize, learning how to blow glass.

For the past few months i have done research in my local area for shops that could teach me the art of Lampworking because i have found my interest to be in glowing functional glass pipes. This interest has led me to buying a few pieces made by artists in different states i have traveled to through out the year. But I no longer want to only be limited to the thoughts or creations of others, I want to create work of my own to share.

So i am reaching out to the Melting Pot Community, Please guide me in accomplishing my goal of learning how to work with glass.

Thank you,

Xortian

[BORO]

http://www.talkglass.com/forum/showthread.php?50425-Attention-new-lampworkers-READ-FIRST&highlight=Read+first.

[KyroGlass]

Go to the subforums> Discussion Forum> The Newbie Room. That'll have everything you need for a while, also check the Picture Tutorial and Video section for that stuff

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[snoopdog6502]

If you have a shop with a couple free spaces in the electrical panel for circuit breakers and you can saw a hole in the wall for ventilation then you have a big piece of the puzzle.

Take a class or two and rent a bench and give your money to someone else, or take a class or two then build your own space.

There are no classes even close to where I live so I had to build a studio and teach myself. Its realy hard to teach yourself when you know nothing, all you have is videos and books.

Buy these books, if you dont have $74.95 for a couple of the best books then you cant afford to even start doing this stuff. Its not cheap at all.
https://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Lampworking-Practical-Guide-Shaping/dp/0965897214

[Xortian]

I have tried looking for classes but I can't seem to find any. I am in south florida and you would think finding classes would be easy but its not.

I am located near a shop called, Mr.Smokes which has a studio in the back but it doesnt seem like they are willing to offer classes or mentor someone determined to learn.

Where can i locate maybe a group that meets up to learn how to lampwork glass.

Please help Thanks!

[alelexi]

I highly recommend looking up revere glass. Burn and learn and resilience glass on YouTube all have some wonderful tutorials! As well as our own the nomad on YouTube. I've been learned teacher and book free and it's all just trial and error you'll have a blast even when your failing.


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[BORO]

Zen studios in St.Pete offer all types of classes.

Tampa, is not south Florida. Worth the trip tho.

Really great people, and a top notch shop.

[KyroGlass]

I am located near a shop called, Mr.Smokes which has a studio in the back but it doesnt seem like they are willing to offer classes or mentor someone determined to learn.

Where can i locate maybe a group that meets up to learn how to lampwork glass.


The dude who owns Mr. Smokes is a pretty big dick. In his own words: "All the other shop owners are glass people who got into the buisness world. I'm a buisness man who got into glass world"

Florida Glass Dragons is a group that meets up at different studios for classes demos and has stuff like that.



Zen studios in St.Pete offer all types of classes.


Zen is where I took my first class. I'd recommend the 3 day class because for the price you can't get a better deal anywhere. They can work out timing too so you don't have to take it all at once and space it out over a couple weeks or can go all in a day (I had this offered to me so I didn't have to pay for a place to stay).

Tobacco Leaf in Tallahassee is by far my favorite place though. Good pricing and they do demos with renowned artists all the time. I went to Cha and Coyle last month and am going to their show this Saturday (I'm in Orlando). They have classes in the days before the demo with the artists but they're always expensive (relatively, I think $800 for a 2 full day meal included class with 2 amazing artists isn't the worst).

Orlando has a place called Old Kinderhook that does classes too, and the dude working there is cool. Decent pricing.

Really wish I could help with somewhere in south Florida, since that's where I'm from and it'd be cool to find a place for when I visit back home but as fat as I know there's not. Maybe in Miami.

[Xortian]

The dude who owns Mr. Smokes is a pretty big dick. In his own words: "All the other shop owners are glass people who got into the buisness world. I'm a buisness man who got into glass world"

He was a pretty big dick to me too, he didn't have much patience for me when it came to questions, which is a big sign to me.

I saw an article that had some South Florida artists and the guy that caught my attention was Luis Valez, he has some pretty nice work. I really dig the undead zombie monster type thing he does.

But I will have to check out the information you have provided for me so I can effectively learn to handwork glass.

Thanks!