Friday, January 31, 2014

Finding Boise Glass Blowing Classes

By Serena Price


Boise glass producers have several shops and galleries where you can take classes and learn how to create your own creations. There are nearly ten different techniques available for treatment should you choose to make glasses, dishes or decorative pieces for your home. Decorative pieces are blown on the spot and taken home after they have cooled.

Some artists have galleries attached to their work shops and display their wares during business hours. Others work with outside galleries or advertise on the internet with displays of their work and offer means to create custom works for customers online. Many glassblowers here offer short courses to the public teaching them how to create one or two items.

The First Thursday Art Walk takes place on the first Thursday of each month. The local talent displays their wares and some of them give demonstrations on glassblowing techniques for passing consumers. The shops stay open until nine in the evening on this Thursday and most glassblowers will keep their ovens hot for the event.

One shop has a full spectrum of courses to train those interested in being involved with this form of art. They start with torchwork classes where the student becomes familiar with using and adjusting the torch. They teach the basic safety measures and tool usage in addition to working with a borosilicate compound making marbles, beads and icicles.

One shop has a full course of classes designed to take the serious student from simple torch work all the way to complex hot glassblowing techniques as well as how to add legs or handles to the finished product. Other shops work with vouchers that can be purchased ahead of time and used as an individual or as a couple. The voucher program is not nearly as expensive as the full classes that may lead to a career.

The classes are not restricted to the art of blowing your creation. You can learn how to do any of the flame worked skills or you can look into etched, cut or stained pieces. There is a gallery that displays all of these works as well as presenting demonstrations and classes that range from beginner to advanced skill levels.

The costs of these courses can be a little pricey for someone not interested in considering an ongoing and avid interest in the work. For those who want to pursue the art and have a creative spirit they are very reasonable. This is not the type of education you can get at a trade school or in a college atmosphere. It is very specialized and demands that the artist be dedicated to the skill.

Whether you are looking for a special piece of artwork for yourself or a gift you will be able to find what you are in the market for in the Boise glass market place. There are masters of the art available to create exactly what you are looking for in a reasonable time frame. Glassblowing has a home in this city.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment