For All Skill Levels -- Learn Basic Kiln Glass Casting with SCG Artist, Mark Abildgaard!

Mark Abildgaard has taught classes in kiln casting glass at many different studios and schools including The Pilchuck Glass School, The Studio of the Corning Museum of Glass, Red Deer College in Alberta Canada and many other private studios around the country. This is a three-day workshop in basic kiln casting is a great opportunity for you to learn how to create simple open face molds from clay originals. Students in this class learn how to directly sculpt images in clay that can be cast in glass using a plaster silica mold. Each student will walk away with a finished glass casting.

In this workshop, students will be exploring the possibilities for using clay to create objects that can be cast in glass. The workshop will be an intensive hands-on experience for students who will learn how to make a mold, set up a kiln for casting, and program firing/annealing cycles. This workshop is open to all skill levels including students who have no prior glass working experience.

Class Outline:

Day one:
In the morning Mark will present a demonstration on clay working techniques and how to approach creating an open face mold for kiln casting. We will explore making textures in clay that can be transformed into glass. Students will sculpt several small objects out of clay which will be cast in glass. In the afternoon, Mark will demonstrate plaster mixing and mold making. The students will then make their own plaster/silica molds from their clay pieces. After the plaster has set up, students will remove the clay from their molds. The clean molds will be placed in a kiln at my studio for drying overnight. There will be a discussion of mold mixes and mold making techniques. We will also discuss the different forms of glass available for casting.

Day two:
Students will calculate the amount of glass needed for their molds. All of the molds will be loaded with glass. All of the molds will be transported to Mark’s studio where he will fire them over the following week. There will be a discussion about firing and annealing schedules as well as how to set up a kiln for casting glass.

Day three:
After the firing is completed, Mark will bring all of the castings back to the workshop at Blue Line Arts. Mark will demonstrate how to remove a casting from the mold and do basic cold working to finish the edges and flat grind the base. Mark will provide all of the equipment such as a belt sander and diamond saws to finish the castings.

Teaching artist Mark Adbildgaard, Recipient of the 2022 Susan Cooley Gilliom Artist in Residence and Teaching Program

Class size is limited up to eight participants. All of the supplies and equipment necessary will be provided for this three-day workshop including the glass supplies, clay, molding material, and kiln firing.

Please note: lunch each day is not included in the registration fee. However, each student is welcome to bring in their own lunch and use the refrigerator and/or microwave at the gallery or simply order their own lunch from a local restaurant on Vernon Street.