The Benefits of Art Glass as a New Hobby for the New Year!

Art glass is an artistic object that can have a purpose or can be used simply for decoration. There are many different techniques when it comes to art glass, for example, stained glass windows, glass blowing, sandblasted glass and copper foil work. “Art glass has grown in popularity over recent years with many artists becoming famous because of their work, and also as a result of colleges that offer courses in glass work. Many amateurs now undertake making art glass as a hobby.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_glass Making glass art has many positive attributes; it can be a rewarding hobby learning a new technique and using your glass art once finished is equally rewarding. Secondly, if you find yourself continuously bored or nervous making glass art can keep you busy and calm while bringing out a creative side you thought you never had. Thirdly, making glass art can also get you out of the house and provide social interaction - by meeting new people if you consider taking a group class learning all the techniques needed to create your glass art. Furthermore, you can make unique glass art items for family and friends which make great Christmas or Birthday presents. Also, if you see that you have a great talent in producing glass art you may even be able to sell your piece to earn a little extra income. Most important of all, making glass art as a hobby offers many pleasant hours of enjoyment and fun. As we end this year and enter 2013 maybe a new hobby for the New Year is exactly what you need to have a little fun while acquiring a new skill and who knows maybe meeting a new interesting friend! Castle Designer Glass works hand in hand with designers, architects, contractors, and corporations to produce unique and elegant glass installations. Commercial installations include hotel lobbies, casino wall murals, restaurant feature walls, and many other functional and artistic designs. Our artists work hand in hand with your staff to meet all your specific needs of your project, no matter how large or small. Please don’t hesitate to e-mail Castle Designer Glass today for any questions related to glass or glass art at http://www.castledesignerglass.com/contact.html

Redecorating or Remodeling Your Bathroom with Glass

Planning on redecorating or remodeling your bathroom? Maybe you wish to only add some color towels and hang a work of art to bring a little pop to detail. On the other hand, if remodeling is an option and getting a new shower or bath tub is in the future plans; did you ever think of incorporating glass into your design? Remodeling your bathroom has many benefits. For one if your bathroom is outdated with wall to ceiling pink tiles maybe a little revamping would not hurt. As we quickly approach to a new year, a new concept might be more appealing to your household. There are many benefits of remodeling your bathroom besides improving the appearance of your bathroom. Don’t get me wrong it is very important that your bathroom should reflect the ideal place to unwind and relax while you either take a shower or a bath and pleases whose ever eyes while entering-in. On the other hand, at the same time, you can increase your home in value and make better use of space. An increase in home value is one of the biggest benefits you'll enjoy when you remodel your bathroom. “When you remodel the bathroom, you end up with an even better home, and larger remodeling projects can really make a difference in the amount that your home is worth.” Another benefit is that you can make better use of space; choosing what goes where and what does not belong can be finally pushed aside allowing you to make the best out of the space you have. Remodeling is a great idea if you wish to create a pleasing and relaxing environment; increase the value to your home and make better use of space. Adding a touch of glass and art will only make it better. Glass is one of the easiest surfaces to keep clean, and as such, can be a fantastic artistic touch to any shower stall. Clear glass can be embellished with glass elements, frosting, or painting, and back-painted panels can serve as shower walls. Picture yourself showering while surrounded by a serene piece of art, such as a waterfall scene, a let me know how relaxing that would be! At Castle Designer Glass we provide glass shower doors and walls that can be incorporated in your bathroom redecorating or remodeling project. If you wish to remodel your bathroom and would like to add a modern, unique, and glass touches come take a look at our shower doors and walls we have to offer at: http://www.castledesignerglass.com/category/5-shower-doors-and-walls.html

Transforming Glass to Art is Eye Delight

Glass is one of the most useful materials that has been used in the past and will surely be continuously used in the future. It is interesting to note what makes glass so useful and the importance of glass being displayed properly to enhance the fundamentals of transforming glass into art. Glass has been around for centuries and as we evolve we continue to use this relatively inexpensive raw material; glass is a non-crystalline solid material made from silica (silicon dioxide), soda ash (sodium carbonate), and limestone (calcium carbonate). In simple terms, the process of making glass is melting these three inexpensive ingredients together usually in large furnaces at very high temperatures until all three ingredients blend together to form a syrupy texture. Although glass is used for its practical components it is also used for aesthetic purposes. For example, glass paintings, glass blowing and contemporary works using glass if you have not already seen some, are so beautiful! Furthermore, when glass is combined with paint or light, they create amazing works of art. The art of glass is becoming more popular each day, museums provide collections where impressive glass art can be displayed and popularity stems from those especially who want to decorate their homes with an artistic touch. The Toledo Museum of Art has given glass a special moment marking the 50th anniversary of the Studio Glass movement. They have not only established themselves as one of the world’s largest facilities for glassblowing demonstrations and live glass design sessions; but have also, chosen a preliminary design for its proposed new North Wing where it has already featured light-filled galleries for its collection of contemporary works in glass. Thomas Phifer and Partners, the architects has created a 100,000-square-foot expansion that will have the purpose of dramatically enhancing the visitor experience for the Museum’s local and international audiences. The building is scheduled to open in 2014 and expecting an increase amount of visitors in the future. http://www.fingerlakes.org/latest-news-information/2012/6/6/corning-museum-of-glass-unveils-plans-for-64-million-expansion Castle Designer Glass, is a true believer of transforming glass to art and have created a stunning wildlife, nature, and native themed art exhibition in collaboration with our artists Gary Natomagan. The show included large stand-alone artworks, as well as paintings and drawings. Each of the pieces is available for sale for more information please inquire by e-mail to castledesignerglass@gmail.com.

Winning Your Customers Over With Glass Art

The Business Exchange Restaurant Industry, states that “The average American eats out five times a week, from a latte and muffin at Starbucks in the morning, to a Big Mac and fries for lunch, to a nice meal at a sit-down place for dinner, and maybe a snack in between.” We eat out more often than before. Considering the uncertainties and slowdown of the economy people are presently searching for the experience of dining. So why not give your customers an experience they will never forget? Customers eat at restaurants because of the great food, friendly service, and a memorable atmosphere. If you are a restaurant owner that has succeeded in achieving all three, you’re getting customers into your restaurant. As for all the other restaurant owners out there I would like to ask you to take a step back and look at the interior design of your restaurant. What are the words that come to mind when looking top to bottom? Does it get people talking about your restaurant for the right reasons? If you are still reading this it probably means the answer is no, not really and you are looking for answers. Having a killer menu and great tasting delicious food is fantastic, having friendly staff with big smiles is exceptional, but think about it the customer will only see the menu, taste the food and exchange words with staff only once he is already inside your restaurant. The question is....What is attracting and pulling customers from the street into your restaurant? Interior design and glass art is an important marketing tool and increases the amount of walk-ins annually. What’s the first thing your customers see when they come in your restaurant? How many people enter your restaurant and then leave abruptly after they take a good look around? At Castle Designer Glass our artists are at creating art that draws attention and get you customers. . Custom pieces are made to order, matching your most imaginative style in textured and painted glass. Pieces can be framed and hung on the walls, mounted directly on the wall with clips, or even displayed on an easel. Pieces range from abstract patterns to detailed realistic paintings – the possibilities are endless! Today, the goal of a restaurant owner is to create a unique space for their customer that is cozy and welcoming, sophisticated but not overly snobby; restaurants are now incorporating many windows, bright lights, unique art, and glass into their interior design. People are on the hunt for the experience of dining. So grab their attention with unique glass art and then smother with tasty food and incredible service!!

The Colorful Language of Glass Art

Although I don’t want to list all of the terms that we use in the trade, I thought that my blog would be a great opportunity to provide my readers with a list of definitions that are used to describe the different techniques. Kiln-formed glass is usually referred to as hot glass and can be broken down into glass that has been slumped or fused. For centuries it was used to shape glass until the Romans developed glassblowing, which has since become the more widely used method. Many modern day glass artists are rediscovering its versatility to produce their glass art works. Glass slumping is the technique of placing hot glass over a mold over which the is being formed,(which can be made of either ceramic, sand or metal and coated with a release agent that will stop the molten glass from sticking to the mold. We use glass slumping techniques to create our backsplash tiles. Glass fusing methods involve stacking, or layering thin sheets of glass, that are mostly different colors to create patterns or simple images. One the glass sheets are layered correctly, they are placed inside the kiln and then heated through a series of ramps (rapid heating cycles) and soaks (holding the temperature at a specific point) until the separate pieces begin to bond together. Sandblasting is a common technique that we use mostly when we are creating our glass whiteboards. By sandblasting the layers of glass away with a sandblaster, a machine that uses compressed air to propel particles of abrasive sand, a design will stand out with every layer removed. Painting is another term that takes on a new significance in the glass art world. Our glass art would look pretty plain if we didn’t paint them using a variety of techniques, employing many types and styles of color. Some of the paints that we use are in a powder form while others including acrylic paints are baked onto the glass creating a permanent hard finish. As you can see there are many ways that we can shape, mould and color your glass art to your liking. Whether your project involves a backsplash, countertop, wall art, glass furniture or glass whiteboard, Castle Designer Glass can help turn your glass idea into a reality.

Creating Glass Art at The Sherbrooke Community Center

We heard about a wonderful project a few months ago at the Sherbrooke Community Center, and we knew that we had to help out. The many talented artists at the Center wanted to create a mosaic to hang in the chapel that would represent the North and Native Spirituality. We couldn't help ourselves and we volunteered resources, materials and time. Since the Sherbrooke Nursing Home was opened February 7, 1966 by Mr. R. B. (Bob) Beavis, it has sought to create a community that supports people to live full and abundant lives.In Saskatchewan, it has represented many first's including the first Adult Community Day Program, the first Respite Care Program, the first facility to offer Physical, Occupational and Music therapy to residents and the first specialized unit for the cognitively impaired. We knew that there was a great need for art to help individuals feel a sense of accomplishment and express themselves artistically. Donald Royal was the lead artist but he couldn't have done it alone and others such as John Pattinson etc... helped him out. This was a collaborative effort and we want to pay tribute to all of the artists that put their time an effort into an art piece that will live on. This project was led by the Center's amazing artist in residence,Jeff Nachtigall who has been a practicing artist for 17 years. After having had his work shown in major galleries throughout Canada and the United States. Upon completing his fine arts studies at the University of Regina and Illinois State University, Jeff has come back to us to help use art in a health care setting. If this story touched you, you can donate to the Sherbrooke Community Center. http://www.sherbrookecommunitycentre.ca/index.php

Inspired by Nature

As I was driving back from Regina earlier today, I couldn't help but notice the changing autumn colors, especially the leaves in the trees. Oranges mixing with greens and browns mixing with reds inspire the artist in all of us to create our next piece of art using nature's vibrant colour palette. Whether I am driving by the Evergreen Parks such as the George Dyck Park or John Brockelbank Park or a Stonebridge Park like the Patricia Roe Park, I am always fascinated by the beautiful tones and shades of colour. And the wonderful thing about these colours is that I will be able to create new textures for backsplashes, wall art, countertops with them in mind. At Castle Designer Glass, the textures that we create will have a large influence in the overall vision of the piece that we're working on. More than ever, customers are trying to recreate nature's beauty through the colours and furniture that they have in their homes. With some pieces they will be limited by technology. But with glass art, it can be customized as to the shape, colour and texture. Without texture, glass would just be plain and not interesting in any way. If you look through our website at www.castledesignerglass.com you'll see a sample of the textures that we can create. Our only limit is your imagination.

The Great Thing About Glass

I've always been a big fan of glass, almost as much as I am of jewellery! In modern day society glass has been used for more functional roles such as to hold a liquid or allow light to enter a building. But glass art has always appealed to me. In fact, the use of glass for practical and decorative purposes dates back to Ancient Egypt and Rome. Glass was most likely discovered by accident when melted sand (silica)was fused in cooking fires. Glassblowing, was used in Jerusalem in the first century BC and spread throughout the Roman Empire. Other glass art techniques, such as stained glass, casting, fusing, and mosaic, evolved over time (i.e. stained glass was a very popular technique used in the cathedrals of Europe during the Middle Ages; 5th to 16th centuries AD). Eventually, glassblowing became the dominant technique with the production of glass art pieces and the industry concentrated in Murano, Italy. Many of the technologies used then including crystalline glass, enamelled glass (smalto), glass with threads of gold (aventurine), multicoloured glass (millefiori), milk glass (lattimo), and imitation gemstones made of glass are still be used today in everything from contemporary art glass and glass figurines to Murano glass chandeliers and wine stoppers. When I founded Castle Designer Glass a few years ago, I was inspired to bring the beautiful designs that I had encountered on my travels back to my hometown of Saskatoon. The versatility of glass allows it to be used in a wide variety of surfaces including backsplashes. glass boards, freestanding or wall art, door inserts, tables, countertops, etc... in the home, the office or in a casino, spa, airport, hotel or store. Glass art gives a piece that special something that makes people take notice. When someone wants their room to standout, I can't think of a better way than with glass art.

Architectural Glass is Like Commuting at an Art Gallery

You really don't know what to expect from one day to the next. When I started my glass design studio a couple of years ago, I never would have imagined that I would see my art at an airport. And when I was approached by the Aspen Pitkin County Airport, in Aspen, Colorado and the Bismarck Airport in Bismarck, North Dakota, that's exactly what happened. When we step out into the world each morning, either walking on the street or taking a bus or subway, we're surrounded by art. From the famous “Whirls and Twirls” by artist Sol LeWitt at the Columbus Avenue/59th Street station in New York to the beautiful statues at the Bangkok Airport, art is everywhere that people commute. In their infinite wisdom, city planners, architects and designers have all realized that art doesn't only belong in an art gallery but where people can enjoy it. And airports are definitely a major touchpoint for art and the community. Airport terminals are becoming the go-to places for contemporary art. While visitors are waiting to pick up relatives from their international excursions or passengers milling about the terminal, on their way to a connecting flight, glass art can add to the airport experience. Airports can be a confusing place, but glass art can make someone stop and relax for a moment. And for people that have a fear of flying, relaxing is a good thing. An airport terminal is the perfect mirror to the world of the contemporary artist. She can offer peace and tranquility in a busy space and make the real world of delays and lost baggage go away, at least for a minute.

The History of Slumping

As glass designers we spend a lot of our time slumping. You heard me right we love to slump. Slumping is the term that is used to describe how we form warm glass into a shape that our customers will want for their backsplashes, wall or stand alone pieces of art, countertops or glass boards. By applying heat to the point where the glass will soften, our glass designers increase the fluidity of the glass causing the glass to 'slump' into or onto the mold underneath. Here's how we do it. Once the oven reaches the right temperature we put a sheet of glass in, 'slumping' it over a form or into a mold. We use molds that are made of plaster, clay coated with plaster, graphite, sand or steel. Once the glass is formed, we reduce the temperature so that it can cool off or anneal. Slumping has been around since the days of the the Romans. They used slumping on everything from vessels to bowls and plates. They would place a sheet of glass over a mold which produced vessels with rough surfaces, which could then be ground or polished to a smooth finish. Some of the other techniques that they used to get their unique pillar-molded bowls was through the use of a special slotted tool to for the glass into a ribbed shape before it would go to slumping. This helped create a ribbed effect on the exterior of the bowl. Glass is a malleable material that can be made into almost any shape that you want. In my coming posts I'll write about them to give you a better idea of the techniques that we use.

Castle Designer Glass Creates Saskatchewan Roughrider Art for Sports Fans

Happy Father's Day to Dad's all around the world. June is one of the best month's of the year. The sun is shining and the flowers are blooming. People are walking around with great big smiles because of the nice weather. And one of the favourite past times of folks on the Prairies is about to kick off. CFL football is about to begin! Soon we'll be hearing the crashing helmets and witness the fine athletic displays put on by some extremely talented football players. The Saskatchewan Roughriders might play out of Regina but they are Saskatchewan's team. Saskatchewan has the best fans in the league. Rain, sleet or snow won't stop mailmen from delivering mail and it won't stop our Rider Nation from attending a Roughriders game. Castle Designer Glass creates tables shaped in the logo of the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League! For the 100 years that the team has been in the league, Rider Pride has burned deep inside the team's loyal fans. And to do our part to keep Rider Pride alive and give the fans something to put their beverages on (football fans don't only drink beer!) we decided to create glass table tops in the logo of our and your favourite team - the Saskatchewan Roughriders. And why stop at tables, we can also create glass wall art for your wall in the basement. We are licensed by the team to create their replica logo, so fans know that they're getting the real thing. The next time that you want to give something special to that Rider fan in the family,remember Castle Designer Glass Saskatchewan Roughrider Glass table art!