Advanced Sculptural Forms: Surface, Texture & Color in Glass

A course by

Description

Building on foundational skills, this course dives into advanced methods to enhance surface, texture, and color in glass sculpture. Students will experiment with techniques such as inclusion, marbling, fuming, etching, and casting, combining them with form creation. The class will culminate in a complex piece that integrates advanced surface work.

Level

Expert
Duration

24 hours 22 minutes
Last Updated

September 16, 2025

How to select and combine colors for effect
Techniques to create rich texture and surface decoration
Methods for adding inclusions and casting components
How to manipulate light through glass—refraction, reflection, transparency
How to plan complex forms that harmonize form, color, and surface

Course Curriculum

Module 1: Review & Surface Foundations
• Recap of form, proportion, balance • Intro to decorative surface techniques: texture, pattern, and color layering

Recap of form, proportion, balance

00:08
Intro to decorative surface techniques: texture, pattern, and color layering

00:08
Module 1 Quiz

Module 2: Working with Color
• Transparent vs. opaque color glasses • Frits, powders, rods, stringers, enamels • Color gradients, blending, layering

Module 3: Texture & Pattern Techniques
• Marbling and veining • Fuming and surface treatments • Etching (acid, sandblast), engraving

Module 4: Inclusion & Casting Techniques
• Embedding materials (metal shavings, organic matter, etc.) • Using molds • Slump casting, sand casting, lost-wax methods for glass

Module 5: Light & Optical Effects
• Working with light transmission, reflection, refraction • Optical textures, bubble control, surface polish • Shadow & silhouette in sculpture

Module 6: Final Advanced Project
• Student proposes and executes an original sculpture which reflects advanced surface, color & form integration • Peer & instructor critique

All basic hot & cold tools and safety equipment
Access to a studio capable of casting & advanced finishes
Range of color glasses, frits, powders, stringers
Tools for etching or engraving (or access to sandblast equipment)
Time commitment: ~6-8 hours/week for 8 weeks

Craig Mitchell Smith

Craig Mitchell Smith

Advanced Sculptural Forms: Surface, Texture & Color in Glass

A course by

Description

What I will learn?

Course Curriculum

Module 1: Review & Surface Foundations
• Recap of form, proportion, balance • Intro to decorative surface techniques: texture, pattern, and color layering

Recap of form, proportion, balance

Intro to decorative surface techniques: texture, pattern, and color layering

Module 1 Quiz

Module 2: Working with Color
• Transparent vs. opaque color glasses • Frits, powders, rods, stringers, enamels • Color gradients, blending, layering

Transparent vs. opaque color glasses

Frits, powders, rods, stringers, enamels

Color gradients, blending, layering

Module 3: Texture & Pattern Techniques
• Marbling and veining • Fuming and surface treatments • Etching (acid, sandblast), engraving

Marbling and veining

Fuming and surface treatments

Etching (acid, sandblast), engraving

Module 4: Inclusion & Casting Techniques
• Embedding materials (metal shavings, organic matter, etc.) • Using molds • Slump casting, sand casting, lost-wax methods for glass

Module 5: Light & Optical Effects
• Working with light transmission, reflection, refraction • Optical textures, bubble control, surface polish • Shadow & silhouette in sculpture

Module 6: Final Advanced Project
• Student proposes and executes an original sculpture which reflects advanced surface, color & form integration • Peer & instructor critique

Target Audience

Requirements

Material Includes

Advanced Sculptural Forms: Surface, Texture & Color in Glass

A course by

Description

What I will learn?

Course Curriculum

Module 1: Review & Surface Foundations • Recap of form, proportion, balance • Intro to decorative surface techniques: texture, pattern, and color layering

Recap of form, proportion, balance

Intro to decorative surface techniques: texture, pattern, and color layering

Module 1 Quiz

Module 2: Working with Color • Transparent vs. opaque color glasses • Frits, powders, rods, stringers, enamels • Color gradients, blending, layering

Transparent vs. opaque color glasses

Frits, powders, rods, stringers, enamels

Color gradients, blending, layering

Module 3: Texture & Pattern Techniques • Marbling and veining • Fuming and surface treatments • Etching (acid, sandblast), engraving

Marbling and veining

Fuming and surface treatments

Etching (acid, sandblast), engraving

Module 4: Inclusion & Casting Techniques • Embedding materials (metal shavings, organic matter, etc.) • Using molds • Slump casting, sand casting, lost-wax methods for glass

Module 5: Light & Optical Effects • Working with light transmission, reflection, refraction • Optical textures, bubble control, surface polish • Shadow & silhouette in sculpture

Module 6: Final Advanced Project • Student proposes and executes an original sculpture which reflects advanced surface, color & form integration • Peer & instructor critique

Target Audience

Requirements

Material Includes

UPCOMING EVENTS

PURCHASE WORK

ONLINE COURSES

Module 1: Review & Surface Foundations
• Recap of form, proportion, balance • Intro to decorative surface techniques: texture, pattern, and color layering

Module 2: Working with Color
• Transparent vs. opaque color glasses • Frits, powders, rods, stringers, enamels • Color gradients, blending, layering

Module 3: Texture & Pattern Techniques
• Marbling and veining • Fuming and surface treatments • Etching (acid, sandblast), engraving

Module 4: Inclusion & Casting Techniques
• Embedding materials (metal shavings, organic matter, etc.) • Using molds • Slump casting, sand casting, lost-wax methods for glass

Module 5: Light & Optical Effects
• Working with light transmission, reflection, refraction • Optical textures, bubble control, surface polish • Shadow & silhouette in sculpture

Module 6: Final Advanced Project
• Student proposes and executes an original sculpture which reflects advanced surface, color & form integration • Peer & instructor critique