Glassblowing

TIM SHAW

Glassblowing - The 'Graal' technique
This course is ideal for beginners to glass-blowing as well as for those with some experience of glassmaking who wish to develop their technical proficiency and artistic direction, especially with colour and pattern. A typical day may well see you working in small teams and blowing for 4 - 5 hours with a few hours cutting, grinding, sandblasting, finishing work you made the previous day and relaxing around the pool in the evening.
The freedom to use colour and pattern in an experimental and effective way will form an integral part of our course. Methods of doing this, 'hot' at the furnace, and manipulating of it afterwards will be demonstrated and encouraged. In order to take the use of colour & pattern much further a process called 'graal' will be used.

The 'graal' technique originated in Sweden in 1916 - bubbles of clear glass were overlaid with a thin layer of blood red glass and once cooled cut through, cameo style, to create patterns before being reheated and blown to their final form. Today many contemporary artists utilise the technique, replacing the red glass with various combinations of transparent and opal colours before cold working. The 'graal' element of our workshop will use a simplified version of this technique whilst still enabling you to become conversant with all the creative and technical steps involved with the process.

This programme provides the perfect vehicle for teaching glass-blowing at all levels. Beginners will focus on the design and cold working of the Graal blanks and if necessary have these blown with the assistance of the instructors. Intermediate and advanced students will be able to design, cold work, pick up and blow their own Graal and make finished pieces. Advanced students will be able to explore the possibilities and joys of the double, triple and multiple graals.

The blowing aspect of the Graal technique will focus on both the 'free blown' and 'mold blown' form, utilising the extensive collection of molds at the Glass Furnace. You will have a lot of creative freedom during the course and the tutors will offer whatever creative or practical advice you may need.

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Tim Shaw

Tim Shaw has three degrees in glassblowing. BA (Hons) from North Staffordshire Polytechnic, a post-graduate degree from the avant-garde Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam and an MA attained at the prestigious Royal College of Art in London. Since leaving full-time education, Tim has pursued his career as a professional glass artist. He was awarded a scholarship to Pilchuck Glass School in the USA and a fellowship to attend the Creative Glass Centre of America. He has received invitations to teach and demonstrate around the world including The Glass Furnace in Turkey, Bild-Werk Glass School in Germany, educational institutions in the UK and the USA, as well as the University of South Australia and the Sydney College of the Arts in Australia. Tim has been awarded a residency at Northlands Creative Glass Centre in Scotland in 2007. He continues to maintain his professional profile through exhibiting in the UK, Europe, USA, Asia and Australia. His next solo show is entitled "Et in Arcadia ego!" to be held Nexus Gallery, Australia, 2007. Recent exhibitions include 'Art+Glass+Design" (Australia, 2006) "Glasscapes" (Australia, 2005), "Incandescence" (Australia, 2005), "Reves De Vases" (Paris, 2004). The artist owns and operates his own hot glass workshop, nestled amongst the Stringybark forests of the beautiful Adelaide Hills, South Australia, famous for its fine wines and idyllic lifestyle. He is constantly inspired by nature and beauty, and his art glass is seductive alluring. Tim believes his role as an artist is to bring pleasure and joy into people's lives. www.timshawglass.com

* An additional US$20 registration fee is charged during application

** The amount of deposit to be paid is US$320