My favorite piece I made during 2023
For my first post I'd figure to share one of my favorite pieces of 2023.
It was inspired by my first scientific glass semester. I've made alot of bird skulls and hammers, but wrapping the neck in a spiral as well as the skull was a game changer for me.
2024 I plan on elaborating on this technique and incorporating more details into the work.
What inspires you? Wether its in the moment or for the long run 💜
Save, embed, share, report
Jeff Willis
Commented 23 Jan, 2024
Wow! So complex. I love the organic feel to this.
Jem Glass
Commented 23 Jan, 2024
Love this!
Maayan Gordonpro
Commented 21 Jan, 2024
I LOVE this piece and welcome @NSGlass to the community! I am so grateful and thrilled to have you here sharing =)
For me, I often get a lot of inspiration from nature and just being out in the world looking at flowers, plants, and trees. I also get a lot of inspiration from architecture.
And don't forget all the insane inspiration I get from other artists!!!
Amit Bansalpro
Commented 20 Jan, 2024
Whoa, this is just incredible. Love to know more about the process.
PS: Do you do this professionally or as a side gig?
Nicole Stowe
Replied 20 Jan, 2024
Thank you!
I blow glass professionally. Currently, I work in a hot shop doing industrial lighting, and I create functional smokeware as my main source of income/ way to pay for college.
Maayan Gordonpro
Replied 21 Jan, 2024
That is SOOO freaking cool! How does the industrial lighting process differ from borosillicate smokeware? Is industrial lighting soft glass or boro? And how did you even find out about it as an option?
Nicole Stowe
Replied 21 Jan, 2024
The industrial lighting is soft glass! So instead of being behind the torch, I am in the hot shop as an assistant to the main gaffer, so primarily my job there is to gather from the furnace, start the bubble, and get it prepared for the gaffer to take from me and begin the shaping process. I had gotten the job from a friend at the College, who's partner was looking for a assistant. I had been in the hot shop since 2016, but truthfully borosilicate has my heart.
For the functional smokeware, i began as an apprentice in a pipe shop called Blaze1 glass back in 2018. After about 2 months, I was hired on as a prep maker. In 2021 and after working there for 3 years, I went solo and have been working solo ever since 💜 since 2021 I've been blessed to work with such amazing and outstanding artists, as well as TA for workshops I could never afford between Bear River Studios and Salem Community College.
As a college student there are so many oppurtunities available, and even if no one considers going back to school, the glass art society website, American scientific glass blower society, corning museum of glass, penland and pilchuck all have scholarship oppurtunities (most you do not need to be a enrolled student for ) that are all available to those with a passion for glass. ASGS and GAS also post job oppurtunities 💜