Melting My Soul into the Art of Glass Fusion, YMCA Estes Park, CO

The tips of my fingers these days carry many tiny cuts. Each one earned through my love of working and creating art in the Glass Fusion studio.

Spending my days off here feels like absolute heaven. To immerse myself in the creation process of Glass Fusion has been a beautiful new gift in my life.

I love everything about it: the thinking process, the hands-on work with tiny details, and the freedom to explore different techniques of Glass Fusion.

When I explain it to guests at the YMCA, I describe it like this:

• Full Fuse: When the glass fully melts into each other, creating a very smooth surface, it is a process of surrender, because the high heat of the kiln means you give up control and let the melting happen as it will. It is a beautiful way of teaching me the art of letting go.

• Tack Fuse: When pieces of glass “glue” together while keeping the essence of their shapes, their edges soften, but are still present. Tack allows for more detailed, textured designs.

  
  

I often like to combine both techniques. One of my favorite things is to create my own glass gems. Layering beautiful colors of glass and letting the kiln perform its magic, then breaking the results into smaller sections and fusing them again, to stand alone or be part of a larger design. The result is a blend of smooth surfaces and raised textures, capturing movement in glass — a moment of energy, light, and color frozen forever.

It took time for me to discover what feels like my style. I am drawn to color and texture, and each piece unfolds differently. Sometimes the design flows effortlessly; other times I let my soul guide the process.

What fascinates me is seeing how people’s personalities come through in their approach to Glass Fusion. I am curious about the way each person interacts with the medium, and I enjoy inspiring them to think outside the box and to allow the practice of letting go become part of their creation. Watching their unique sparks take shape in glass is one of the most rewarding parts of being a Glass Fusion instructor.

Here is a glimpse of my designs. Each one carrying a piece of my heart, my love for color, and the quiet lessons of surrender.