Studio Beaux Techniques

All of StudioBeaux glass art has much in common with regard to how it is produced. It really all begins with the original designs also created in studio by the artist so you will never find this work mass produced anywhere else.   The process employs many custom techniques and forms of craftsmanship to see it through to completion.

Here we offer a brief  explanation of the techniques to help you understand as you navigate in search of a special gift or possibly  something that speaks to you and may enhance your surroundings.

Each piece of glass is cut by hand, often ground on a diamond wheel to shape and smoothness and prepared for sandblasting. Air, sand and pressure is the tool we begin with to scratch, frost, etch, carve cut holes and create textures in preparation for the hand painting and the execution of the design. Manipulation of pressure and applications of resists are used for varying texture effects.

Sand Carving is prolonged sandblasting to produce any amount of depth or dimension in the glass. As with any tool, it can destroy as well as create and so requires  constant attention to pressure, proximity, time and so on. The minimum is very delicate variations of depth to the extreme, where we use it to cut away and shape a piece of work as well as blowing holes through the glass.

Surface Etching is the standard  beginning for every  piece of our art glass and is used to "rough up" and remove a very small amount of the surface. (under a microscope it looks like millions of hills and valleys -perfect for painting).  Surface etching produces a frosted finish.  Some clocks have surface etching for the clock face. (examples #516 & 621)

Relief Carving is extended etching in one or many areas of the glass until varied three- dimensional degrees of depth are achieved. Carving creates the 3rd dimension and captures the light and shadow on every edge. (examples # 525 & #604 & #577 # 650)

Pattern carving is done by blasting through prepared or handmade patterns that carve the pattern into the glass. Many of our pieces have multiple pattern carvings. Every pattern must be done individually and separate form the rest of the piece. (example- clock #545)

Textural carving is like pattern carving (they both create texture) but usually refers to a handmade or more organic texture.  (examples #682 TX & #617 & #655)

Linear and or Stage carving The truth is that all carving is done in stages but this refers to every change in dimension that is done one at a time.  For example a flower is created by carving each individual petal, leaf etc. to a particular depth and after the first (petal) is complete, the piece is taken out of the cabinet , prepared for the next petal's carving, put back in the cabinet carved and so on until all are complete. If any segment is cut too deep, too shallow or carved out of order, we start all over from the beginning . . .

Freehand carving is done without protection in certain areas and is controlled (or not) by the hand of the artist. It is sometimes used on the front of a piece to create a softer, more organic or wavy relief carving. (examples- #554  & #551 & #571)

Hand painting is self explanatory; however, we thought it worth mentioning that the painting methods are unique and were created by the artist.  They include many techniques learned while painting in oils, acrylic, watercolor, airbrush etc. The painting, like the entire process, is done in reverse so while creating the piece one has to think backwards.

PLEASE NOTE: with hand painting you will sometimes see brush marks or patterns created as the paint dries etc. This adds to the unique quality of your piece and is indigenous to hand brushed painting.

All of our pieces have at least four layers of paint and protective coatings and as many as eight layers for long-lasting beauty and ease of care.  An occasional wipe with a soft, damp towel may be necessary.  While they should not damage the piece, strong or harsh cleaners are discouraged and unnecessary.

Bases for the mantle clocks are made of MDF (medium density fiberboard) in our studio. They are shaped and grooved on a router, sanded, receive five coats of high quality paint, and are finished with two coats of  high gloss lacquer to compliment the fine finish of glass.

Every piece of art glass is signed by the artist and has a hand-cut gold border around the edges that has also been etched, painted and lacquered.