The gap has been due to a virus that started on 3 October and does not want to go! I finally feel able to write something but the last 6 weeks have been pretty useless in terms of work, and energy is out of the window.
The bug started in Germany, where I was at a conference on reverse glass painting, known as Hinterglasmalerei. Held in the Residence in Wuerzbug, we were given a tour of this extraordinary, fully restored building, and in particular of the mirror room, where painted glass covers walls, doors and ceiling.
I am just back from a weekend at Glashuis, Lommel, Belgium, where, despite bug I did manage to teach 9 students. The glass museum, hot shop and study area is in a very quiet area of Belgium, an hour from Antwerp. This was a second visit there this year. I am to go again next year, when we will run a longer class using hot as well as cold techniques. We also have a plan to run a course based on techniques used only in the early 19th century. They have a big pool of students there, from the glass school in Antwerp, and word is getting around gilding and painting on glass is a good thing. And fun.
The book, Glass, Gold Leaf and Paint, which many will know has been in preparation for some time, will be completed and investigations on how to get it printed and published will then start. I am hoping it will be out next year, but self publishing is new territory for me. I tried to upload the poster I made but cannot do it for some reason.
The development of the jewellery will wait until the book is put away, but I have placed several pieces at the shop at Lommel, and made quite a few sales amongst the students. Very encouraging.
So, more rest for me then back, once again to the wheel. If you have been, thank you for reading.
Pic. experimental necklace with inserts of gilded glass. Photographer, Rob Popper
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