2025: 04/18-04/22 Advanced Pattern Making in Glass: An Investigation of Linear Symmetry, with Ian Chadwick

April 18-22, 2025.  10am-4pm daily.

Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced

Immerse yourself in the captivating world of symmetry in this advanced course with artist Ian Chadwick. Symmetry, as both man and nature's chosen tool for bringing order and harmony to chaos, offers a unique design aesthetic that resonates with balance and familiarity. This course offers you the opportunity to harness this powerful design element in the field of glasswork.

Delve into the complexities of advanced pattern forming in fused glass. With pre-formed Bullseye colored glass striped sheets as your canvas, you will broaden your understanding of kiln forming and coldworking techniques to craft intricate, mandala-like patterns. These patterns draw heavily on geometric symmetry, culminating in an end product that is as hypnotizing as it is harmonious.

Guided step-by-step through the creation process, you will learn to form, fire, deconstruct, and reassemble Bullseye glass striped sheets. Discover how strategic arrangement of tone and color can dramatically enhance the optical allure of your design, and learn to lay out patterns using principles of four-fold and eight-fold symmetry.

By the end of the course, these newfound concepts and techniques will empower you to create your very own glass tile, boasting a pattern design that is uniquely yours. Embark on this journey of symmetry, geometry, and creativity in the fascinating realm of glasswork design.

PLEASE NOTE:  Good cutting skills are a must for success in this workshop.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Ian Chadwick is an awe-inspiring figure in the world of kiln-formed glass artistry. With international acclaim and recognition to his name, Ian’s artistic prowess truly came to light when he clinched the prestigious Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers Award at the British Glass Biennale 2019.

Emerging from a rich background of fine art sculpture and stained-glass window design, Ian has since become a maestro in the realm of kiln-formed glass art. His work is an ever-evolving fusion of traditional disciplines and inventive exploration, resulting in a distinct style that is unmistakably his own.

With a deep-seated fascination in geometry and the profound philosophy and history of mandalas, Ian channels this intrigue into the heart of his work. His glass creations are much more than mere art pieces—they're spiritual journeys. Through a meticulous, almost meditative process, Ian transforms the esoteric essence of mandalas into mesmerizing symmetrical glass patterns, crafting an aesthetic that stands as his unique artistic signature.

In his own words: “The glass I produce uses rotational symmetry as its fundamental design tool. Symmetry is used by man and nature as a device to add continuity, balance and harmony to a chaotic universe. Its use in art and design, therefore, attains an aesthetic of order and familiarity.”

Experience the world through Ian Chadwick’s kaleidoscope of geometric symmetry. His glass artistry not only breathes life into balance and harmony but also propels glass creation into the realm of meditative artistry.

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