Glass School

What You Will Learn

This masterclass will introduce you to the process of kiln-casting glass by investing sacrificial small-scale, organic objects, directly in a refractory mould mixture. Objects such as pine cones, small fruits, vegetables, wood, and cardboard will be used to make models. You will learn how to make layered plaster-silica moulds from these models, which will be burnt out in the first kiln firing. In a second firing, the glass will be cast into the moulds.

The masterclass will explore the creative potential of this process and discussion will be had about what natural materials can be used to make your positive form. We will cover the theory behind mould-making methods, recipes and ingredients as well as studying kiln schedules for burnouts and casting. You will be shown various methods for preparing and mixing glass colour through the casting process including frit tinting and pot melts.

Live demonstrations will be accompanied by pre-recorded video clips, technical slide presentations and detailed handouts. 

This workshop is suitable for beginners and experienced kiln-casters alike. The immediate nature of the process is great for those new to casting, whilst more experienced glass makers will benefit from insights into more advanced techniques. 

You can find more about Joshua here: www.joshuakerley.com 

Joshua Kerley, Small Scale Casting of Organic Objects Materials List.pdf

Duration and Place

Duration: 3 weeks, one session per week - a total of 4.5 hours

Online Course

Please note that classes may be slightly longer or shorter depending on student questions.

Session times

• Friday 8th of March 2024 - 5:30 pm-7.00 pm UK time (1.5 hours) 
• Friday 15th of March 2024 - 5.30 pm-7.00 pm UK time (1.5 hours)
• Friday 22nd of March 2024 - 5.30 pm-7.00 pm UK time (1.5 hours)

Class Description

During Joshua's masterclass, you will:

• Develop an understanding of what types of natural materials can be used to make the sacrificial model.
• Learn how to build layered refractory moulds, suitable for multiple firings
• Develop an understanding of refractory mould recipes and ingredients
• Learn how to prepare glass for casting through the frit tinting method and develop an awareness of the effects of glass thickness of colour density and saturation
• Learn how to write kiln schedules and pack kilns for burn-out and casting processes
• Learn simple cold working techniques suitable for the home studio

 Workshop Outcomes:

• New glass cast colour palettes
• You will have the opportunity to produce one or more small-scale cast glass replica of your chosen natural object.

How it Works: 

• The course is made up of three live and interactive online sessions using the Zoom platform. You will find the zoom link via the week chapters in the navigation panel. 
• Joshua will give a step-by-step tutorial with demonstrations, and you will have ample opportunity to ask her questions during the live class
• Each week they will demonstrate a technique for you to try between sessions
• A member of the Glass School team will also be in the Zoom class to assist you and Joshua
• Mix with Joshua and other students on our dedicated community page, open for the duration of the course. Then join our exclusive Glass School UK Online Glass Community Facebook group to continue to mix with those who have attended any of our online masterclasses
• A materials list is provided in the course navigation panel, so you can purchase what you need to create your pieces during the course. You don’t need absolutely everything on this list to be successful, Joshua will discuss different ways to reach our technical goals

We believe that this is the best way to get the very most from the course, but if this doesn’t suit you that’s fine: - If you can’t get to your studio, you can still learn the techniques and benefit from Joshua's extensive knowledge without making the pieces during the course itself.

This is a live online masterclass, but in case a student experiences issues with internet connection during the live class, a recording of each live session will be available to view until two weeks after the final session. This cannot be downloaded or shared and is only available for this limited time. By participating you agree to be recorded for this purpose.

These recordings will be available in the course navigation panel. 

What to Prepare

• You will need a computer, tablet, or phone with a camera and microphone in order to join the online classroom. If you are unfamiliar with using Zoom then please take some time to look at our guide, available in the navigation panel. 
• You should have a reliable internet connection, fast enough to make video calls or stream videos
• Please read the Student Participation Agreement
• Ensure that you have checked the materials list and purchased any materials you may require 
• A pen and paper to take any notes. 
• We restrict the class size to 25 people
• We teach using Bullseye Glass (CoE90)

Inclusivity:

We are committed to maintaining a respectful community where all our students can learn and develop their full potential, within a safe environment.

If you have a learning difference or any specific requirements, please do not hesitate to contact us prior to your lesson so we can accommodate you.

*Price excluding VAT is £112.50. The correct tax will be calculated at checkout based on your location.

Cancellations up to 2 weeks before the course receive a 90% refund, after that date, a 50% refund will be given up to one week prior to the course, and no refund is given for cancellations after this time. In order to keep class costs low for all, we make no exceptions to this policy. In order to cancel your place on the course please contact [email protected]