Glass Art: An Ancient Technique

Glass art is an ancient art dating back to prehistoric times. It was practiced in Egypt and Assyria for window making or what we would call Rose Glass. It was done by a very time consuming process in which the glass material was formed while heated around rough cores of mud and animal dung into a massive producible material which could be quickly inflated into large, transparent, and leak proof vessel or window for cathedrals.

Today's glass art, I interview a lady named Tess Quesada who lives in San Diego California. I met her through my mother when our mothers lived next door to each other. She is an inspiration not only to myself but to others around her. Here in this interview she gives me the low down on glass art, an ancient technique now used for delightful jewelry, figurines, and etc...

1. What does glass art involve? (name tools, does it involve a special kiln, name of dyes, etc...)

Tess states that the list of tools and product is endless....the more advanced you become the more advanced your tools become. Basically you need a couple of mandrels which are covered in clay (that allows the glass to remove from the metal). The size of your mandrel determines the size of your bead hole.

2. What can you make in glass art?

Tess tells me that the possibilities are endless. She specializes in glass beads and they are made from Italian soft glass.

3. For a project (example: a figurine of a hummingbird) how long or how much time is involved in making something like this?

Tess states that she only makes beads, however; there are definitely sculptural beads out there. She makes She Devils ....little ladies without faces, winged and horned; of course!! They can take as long as two hours....yes, per bead....and that is from beginning to end. Working in soft glass is a process which is from start to finish, unlike Pyrex, which you can put in the fire, set it down and begin again later. Mentally you have to create the photo in your head of what you want to create because you have to create the glass canes, latacino, etc. that you might want to add. A devil has tri colored hair, red horns, colored wings, flames up her legs. It is kind of like painting with hot glass on glass. An artist must pull down large pieces of glass into small (hair like sometimes) workable pieces. It's a long process but highly rewarding!! Obviously each piece is unique and never the same so the amount of work varies!!

4. What types of projects for glass art are popular and most requested?

Tess tells me that her devils and The bouquet for Karen. (Karen is her mother whom past away a while back due to cancer.)

5. What is your favorite project to make in glass art?

Tess says that she likes all of it. She loves making canes, actually she did a project for a benefit at the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla. It pushed her into learning about can and handle heat properly!! A lot of time goes into a perfect cane. A cane is layers of glass and once pulled and twisted you end up with a spaghetti size, workable piece of glass art. Latacinos or canes get the name because they look like candy cane. This project only included 4 colors, which forced her into pattern that was awesome! She became an expert. The canes were displayed in flower arrangements.

6. How difficult is it to make glass beads?

Tess states Wow....so hard. But it is like riding a bike, if you do it every day it becomes easier and easier. Her first day in class (Tess giggles) she was terrified, had no idea what she had gotten herself into. It was a small class in Colombia, Ca. she had no idea that it involved fire and she wanted out. Only because it was somewhat costly at the time form y budget did she force herself to stay.

7. What is required to make glass beads?

Tess says it requires heat and glass.

8. How is the detail done in glass beads?

Tess states in the interview that the more time and experience you have the more detail you add. Like any trait you learn. The more skills the more control! The more control, the more confident, then there becomes a clash of creative energy and there you go, your on your way! There is nothing more thrilling than taking something out of a solid state, changing and softening it, then forming it into your thoughts.it's a beautiful exchange of energy!

9. Any special tricks of the trade in making beads and or figurines?

She tells me that there are so many. It is a one-ness when you work in fire. It is adrenalin induced, so sometimes it is frustrating. at first she felt anxious. Fire, fast, heat, don't get burned, make something, it was so exciting. Now her approach is totally different. She tries to breathe first, gain control of herself, think of what she wants to create, visualize it first and then begin. Needless to say her success rate is much higher.

10. How many beads to a strand?

Tess states that it depends on the designer, which she is not. She makes beads. Some beads are large focal beads and then some are super small. She tends to wear one at a time like a piece of art.

11. What exactly inspired you to create the famous "Karen Bead"? (was it a flower?)

Tess says that obviously anyone who knows her knows of the terrible loss of her beautiful mother. Karen's cancer took Tess's voice and actually learning to make beads was a gift to help her find herself. She was also recovering from a life of abusive from being a chemical Dependant. So Tess gave up drugs, her mom is dying and so was a part of Tess. Glass gave her what she needed to heal. It gave her something that wasn't about anyone else. It was Tess's recovery and her way back into being a successful functioning person in society and so much more. Tess's mothers sight had already been taken when she began this journey. So she created a bead full of flowers encased in glass. Each flower inside is different and unique. This way no matter what, there is always a bouquet of flowers for her beloved. Tess says eventually when she is successful she will donate the proceeds to cancer research in her name.

12. Are there any other famous beads done and if so who inspired these beautiful creations?

Tess tells me just her She Devil. She actually took a class from a wonderful artist, Kimberly Osibin. She makes gorgeous fairies, mermaids, angels etc. after the class a friend asked Tess to make a self portrait, hence forth, the She Devil was created! (Tess giggles out loud). It's not about being bad, it's about being an individual and not being afraid to test your own boundaries, not those created by others.

13. How did you get started in glass art?

She tells me, like she said earlier, her first class was a gift to help her feel better, hey it worked!

14. Is it a hobby or a job?

Tess quotes, it is her ambition. Right now she is designing a web page and will work towards it being her everything. It doesn't pay the bills yet if that is what you are asking. She would like to run a school/gallery, a functioning facility where people can witness the creation and creators and then walk into a separate area and purchase featured artist work.

15. Did the first time of glass art fail or was it a flying success?

Tess tells me that it was a Fail, but she was determined. She already loved beads, so learning to make her own was exciting.

16. What can you not use in glass art? (any type of metals, dyes, etc...)

Tess states only things that are compatible. Everything is measured by Co-efficiency of expansion. If it is compatible it can be used. Metals, foils, other glass....

17. What is the cost (average price) of your artistic work?

Tess tells me anywhere from $25 -$200.

18. The enjoyment of glass art comes through inspiration? Accomplishment? Or both?

Tess says, absolutely through inspiration. It came to her when she needed it. Her recovery is her art/ her art is her recovery! That she can believe. Without it she would be a lost soul. The oneness that it provides her with is like nothing she has ever had.

Thank you
Tess
She Devil Glass