Meadowcreek, Inc.

(Five Days)

The Intermediate to Advanced Workshop is ideal for the intermediate to advanced glass beadmaker who desires to expand their flame-working technique repertoire. Beau Anderson will join Sage and Tom Holland in facilitating this workshop that will provide ample testing of Participants’ skills through the study of ancient glass from around the world. We will begin each day on the torch at 9AM with practice of techniques flowing into the dinner hour. There will be a break for lunch enabling Participants to enjoy a walk on one of many of Meadowcreek’s trails. We wholeheartedly encourage engaging in hikes (taken at one’s own pace) – or any similar activity- during this time as we feel this greatly enhances Participants’ capacity to absorb information provided during the second half of the day. Methods will be demonstrated and time provided for Participants to practice each demonstration. After dinner, there will be more practice time and/or slide shows on the history of glass and beads through time.

Workshop Description

Day One begins with a focus on stringers of many varieties including tips on finding the sweet spot in the flame for application in further surface manipulations. This diversifies the composition options in feathering styles and linear patterning. Color combinations and transparent overlays-along with reactive glass and metal foils-will also be used.

Day Two will primarily focus on demonstration and practice of a wide variety of twisted canes, latticinos, geometric canes and murrinis. We will also learn application methods for better control of these techniques when designing. We will make a multitude of bead shapes using these techniques in combination with Day One techniques including disks; bicones; cornerless cubes; squares or boxes; curls; hollows; shells; fish;  masks; vessels; and more involved sculptural work, with whoever has the notion. We will also produce at least one piece on this day for bending the following day.

Day Three will begin with dotting tricks to help Participants have better command of using this technique in consecutive layering affects. Demonstrating the classic Ancient Chinese Zhou-or Warring States styles-can help illuminate the progression of dot usage in its most perfect state. The practice of complex stratification can lead to uncharted territory in design, but only after precision in placement and proportion is understood. The diversity in new patterns and shapes built from dots is mind-expanding-especially when combined with the lessons from previous days. We will also do some clear casing of the details in the afternoon, including floral for those who are interested, and create beads specifically for combining in a multiple bead piece we’ll be making the following day.

Day Four will begin at 9 AM when the beads made for multiple bead forms on Day Three have had proper heating in the kiln. Participants will clean, reheat and join their beads. More beads can also be bent and reworked into new shapes such as making long beads into rings. We will work off-mandrel, create unusual forms and/or sculptures and demonstrate Tungsten piercing. We will also demonstrate the use of a wide variety of mandrel diameters. Participants may plan more advanced multiple-parts pieces with techniques learned and practiced on the previous day.

Day Five will provide Participants with an opportunity to use the methods demonstrated in Days One through Four, including assembling a multiple parts piece if they so desire. There might also be time for the Islamic Folded Bead, marbles, and/or buttons and pendants.

If you feel you are not ready for the techniques offered here, please take a look at our Beginning to Intermediate Workshop.

Fee includes the following:

• Three meals per day including beverages and snacks.
• All necessary glass and tools.
• Dormitory-style accommodations including the night before the Workshop begins and the last night of the Workshop.

Additional:

For Participants wanting to make beads after 9:30PM, there will be a small charge for oxygen. We are currently working to get generators to decrease this fee.

Please feel free to call Sage with questions at 870-363-4890 or email her at sageandtomemail@gmail.com.