Method of Making Blown Glass Art: Free-Blowing

There are currently numerous exquisite glass art pieces ranging from glass pipes, abstract figures or those resembling animals and plants. Glass art is currently one of the choices homeowners feature because of their unique beauty. Glass art pieces created today go beyond mere ornaments, as glass blowers become more creative and adventuresome.

How exactly is glass art done? There are two widely used techniques in glass blowing: mold-blowing and free-blowing. The more intriguing technique is free-blowing, and we’ll explore why.

Free-Blowing Methodr
This particular method allows glass artists to create a wide range of items, everything from cups to windows. Artists utilize short blowpipes made from clay for this method. At the same time, the clay may be used for several projects to avoid the need to purchase a different blowpipe each time.

Molten glass is gathered on one end of a blowpipe. The artist then introduces short puffs of air through the pipe which form a bubble of glass ready for molding. Tools are usually used in order to work the glass into the artist’s desired form while continuous heating ensures the material remains malleable. Once the desired form is achieved and additional elements have been introduced, then the glass would be readied for cracking or separation from the blowpipe. This is done by breaking the bottom of the blow pipe and releasing the newly formed glass. At this point, the top is not yet molded because it wasn’t readily accessible through the previous position. Further reheating is done to work the top to achieve the desired look. Handles and decorations on the surface of the glass are the last item added to the product.

With free-blowing, artists can make a variety of products including glass pipes, cups, bubbler pipes, bowls, water pipes, vases and window glass. Items made using this technique are usually well-crafted and durable because of the time and attention given to each piece.

Why buy glass art?
Glass art started hundreds of years ago with individuals opting to create functional items from the material. However, current trends have expanded the medium to produce items that look wonderful on top of the living room table. Glass art varies so widely that it makes it very easy to find a piece to suit one’s personal style. At the same time, glass reflects light and is therefore an excellent decorative item, especially when it is created with varying colors.