Workshop with Emma Varga Jan 2011

'The EMMA' - we are in awe of your work and we aspire to your level of artistic expertise!

In Jan 2011 I  participated in a 5 day workshop with 5 other glass artists at Emma's studio in Dee Why. Emma opened up her studio and was particularly generous with sharing all aspects of her techniques, knowledge,experiences and culinary expertise! A technique which Emma has perfected involves the fusing of single elements and the subsequent casting of these elements into a sculptural form known as 'multiple layer casting'. This cast object must then be painstaking polished to achieve it's final form. Another technique that I found incredibly impressive was the vertical placement of prefused 'finger like' tendril elements that are positioned onto a base to achieve a tapestry like effect resulting in a glass picture. The final result is a myriad of thousands of individual pieces that when placed together form a image that has both light and movement.

I have been experimenting with incorporating some of the multiple layer  techniques into my fused work which has the scope to give added depth and movement within the object. Currently I  also have elements in various stages of completion that I am working on for some final casting...

I experimented with what I refer to as this 'tapestry' method by making a small glass bowl incorporating a central feature (image below). The big decision that I am curently faced with, is do I tackle an idea that I have simmering of incorprating this technique into a full on picture. "You have inspired me Emma, I am just not sure that I have your patience..." My rough drawings suggest I need 8000 of these individual elements to achieve my final result!

'Anenome Bowl' by Cindy Poole inspired by one of the many techniques of Emma Varga.

Layered Waveybowl showing ocean water movement.