Discover the Best Glass Blowing Classes in Los Angeles
Glass blowing is a technique that involves shaping a piece of molten glass by blowing air into it through a tube. Glass Blowers often work with an assistant, and use a variety of techniques, such as molding and cutting, to create a range of different glass pieces including bowls, vase, glasses, and ornaments. Glass blowing techniques are hundreds of years old, tracing back to the 1st century B.C.E.
Why You Should Learn Glass Blowing in Los Angeles
Some people learn glass blowing as a way to make a living. Glass blowing is a highly specialized skill that can lead to unique job opportunities in art, design, and manufacturing. Some Glass Blowers create artisanal products for art studios or other small businesses. Others mass-produce items in glass factories. Another popular function of glass blowing is to create scientific glassware, so some Glass Blowers end up working for places like universities that use this specialized equipment. Another job that some Glass Blowers find themselves doing is repairing original glass pieces.
Another common reason to learn glass blowing is as a hobby. Glass blowing is very creative, and many people say that they find it to be a fulfilling form of artistic expression. Glass blowing techniques have been in existence for hundreds of years, and by learning this craft, Glass Blowers also connect with a rich cultural history that goes back to ancient civilizations in places like Syria and Rome.
In-Person Glass Blowing Classes in Los Angeles
Los Angeles-area students who want to learn about glass blowing in person can do so at Moonlight Glass in Venice Beach. Located just three blocks from the beach, this studio was founded by John Mooney in 1999. Mooney offers a class called Glass Making, which costs $165. It is appropriate for either beginners, or students who want to refresh their skills. All necessary materials are included in the cost of the class. Students work on paperweights, ornaments, small glass bottles, and glass tumblers.
Santa Monica College, which is located about two miles from the beach, offers many different classes designed to help people enhance their careers or explore their personal interests, and it has classes for those interested in working with glass. Glass Fusing: Big Ideas for Small Projects, runs for 7 sessions and costs $298. Students learn how to fuse glass to create a number of different objects such as ornaments, jewelry, and suncatchers. The course covers glass choices, cutting, composition, wire wrapping, and gluing. A materials fee of $50, or $15 for advanced students with tools, is collected at the beginning of class. Students must have a valid U.S. phone number and a valid California address in order to sign up for this class.
Some people who work with glass also enjoy stained glass. Students who want to learn about this skill can take an in-person class called Beginning Copper Foil at Allen Kenoyer Stained Glass, which is about 30 minutes from downtown Los Angeles. This business specializes in stained glass, and offers a variety of glass-related classes including in mosaics, stained glass, and fused glass. Beginning Copper Foil covers the skill of scoring and cutting glass in both lines and curves. Students also work with copper wire to create a stained glass window. Closed-toe shoes are required, and students should also wear long pants and safety glasses. This class meets five times, and tuition is $150. Participants also need to purchase a kit.
Virtual Glass Blowing Classes
In the past few years, virtual classes have become an increasingly popular way to learn. Just like in-person classes, virtual classes allow students to interact live with instructors and other students, however, they can do it from the comfort of their own homes. In addition to convenience, the flexibility of virtual training opens up a lot more class options for students. The downside to this format is that most virtual classes don’t include access to materials or equipment. This can be problematic in the case of glass blowing, where specialized equipment like a furnace is needed. For this reason, virtual glass blowing classes may be more difficult to find than other types of virtual classes.
While it might be challenging to find virtual glass blowing classes, there are other virtual options that involve working with glass. For instance, the Chicago Botanic Garden runs a class called A Starry Night in Glass Mosaics. This class has two Zoom sessions, and is focused on helping students create a mosaic of the famous “Starry Night” painting. All materials are supplied prior to the start of class, and tuition is $249.
Glass Etching, offered by CraftJam, also involves working with glass. CraftJam is a school that runs both in-person and virtual workshops for many different crafts, with the goal of encouraging individual creativity. Its Glass Etching workshop is $27.22, and is conducted through Zoom. This class is designed for beginners. Students need to supply four glasses, etching solution, brushes, and stencils. In this class, they learn to master the technique of etching onto glass.
Glass-related art is not the only creative skill that can be learned virtually; there are a range of other virtual art classes available. For example, Introduction to Weaving covers different weaving techniques including basket, twill, pile, and twining. Instructors also teach students how to make a loom of their own. This course runs for eight sessions, and is offered virtually through the Chicago Botanic Garden. It costs $374.
Private Group Glass Blowing Classes in Los Angeles
For those people interested in setting up a private group glass blowing class in Los Angeles, CourseHorse has a number of options. Its Virtual Mosaic Tray Workshop can accommodate up to 100 people, lasts an hour-and-a-half, and costs $85 per person. This private class takes place via Zoom, where the instructor walks participants through the entire process of creating a mosaic, from design to grouting. All supplies are shipped ahead of time, and each participant leaves the class with their own mosaic tray.
Another virtual group class option is Virtual Clay Hand Building. Participants do not need any previous clay-working experience. Instructors teach basic pottery techniques, and then help each participant to create a planter or candle holder. All materials are supplied prior to the start date, with air-dry clay, so that no kiln is needed. This class costs $75 per person, and can be attended by up to 500 people.
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