Glass and art have been my life-long loves, so it was only
a matter of time until they merged. Which is exactly what
they do.
With fused glass, there is the palate of a painter; the
form of ceramics and it is even possible to create the
texture of textiles or the sheen of metal.
Using such a versatile medium has inspired me to become a
devoted student of the various methods involved in glass
fusing. Using a multitude of techniques, a custom inventory
is constituted in a variety of color combinations and
designs.
My creation process is primarily intuitive and rarely
involves any drawings in advance. Choosing from existing
glass colors and my custom inventory, I put them together
with relative spontaneity, adjusting as I progress. The
previous contexts of the custom inventories are hidden by
the fact that everything is merged into one piece. This
takes away their individuality and stresses their new
function, as part of a larger whole, creating a
composition, which is truly one of a kind.
After generating the design, the glass is heated to 1500
degrees, observed vigilantly as the hues merge into an
integrated form with the graduation of textures desired.
Watching how the glass and colors glow and fuse at over a
thousand degrees is a fascinating process.
Finishing is done using a variety of processes. Edging,
sandblasting, paints and gold give the essential final
details. Ultimately it is fashioned into its lasting
contour, using molds, metal, sand, and fiber paper:
whatever will cause the glass to drift into the form that
is in my vision. Cooling gradually hereby arrives one of my
impressions.
My art is a reflection of the versatility and
expressiveness of glass.
-Cindy Lou Jackson