#glasschemistry

[clockworkfeathers]

Squeaking in just before the end of the year, it’s a new zine issue! The main feature in this issue is the write up of my work at the beginning of the year as a resident artist in the Penland School of Craft flame shop where I refined a method for combining ceramics with glass using a torch. . Major thanks to @penlandschool for a fellowship award that made this work possible. . Link to the Patreon post where everyone can download the issue for free is in my bio. . #ceramics #glazechemistry #glasschemistry #flameworking #zine https://www.instagram.com/p/Cmz1CTfLRTn/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[balin-for-dwarves]

Posting so I have a place to find it later...and for everyone else curious about what's in their glass...p.s. all of the elements are inert in glass so no worries if you have a cadmium based color. #glasschemistry #glassart #glassofig #glasseducation

[clockworkfeathers]

A test casting of Chalcedony glass. This was using the leftovers salvaged from the #glasschemistry class I took at #penlandschoolofcraft last summer. This was fired in an electric kiln to cone 04 during a burnout of my experimental inclusion clay, so the reduction in the kiln might have contributed to the results. I’ll probably try and use this as a cab in something, or I might try and carve it into something. . The work continues as much as it can given current conditions. I’ve been improvising ways to work even before things got weird, so it’s not that much different for me in terms of access to materials and equipment. Where I have been hit is in energy and motivation. It’s difficult to concentrate when you’re constantly on edge because your mind is racing. . I figure that if we can continue, we should because there may come a time where we can’t. We should appreciate what we have because we’re seeing that there are ways in which we can easily lose many of the things we take for granted on a daily basis. https://www.instagram.com/p/B-C-ao2noIs/?igshid=1jeftav31rkmj

[clockworkfeathers]

Jesse! We need to cook … . Experimental low temperature glaze formulations! . This stuff isn’t illegal. It’s going to be a glaze ingredient. If you want to follow along… ligand subscribe. . #glazechemistry #glasschemistry #sciencepuns https://www.instagram.com/p/CiMBvPgjXil/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[clockworkfeathers]

#terrasigillata on #flamework #borosilicate #glass . This stuff is fascinating to work with. It gives pieces a satin texture and it makes them look almost fossil like. . #flameworking #coe33 #glasschemistry #glazechemistry (at Penland School of Crafts) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsa1lW9nHMW/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1h0dczmen3v7

[clockworkfeathers]

This bead was made using a tablespoon of clay. When I think about it, I’m absolutely amazed that I can put a piece of ceramic this big into a flame and not have it turn into shards. It’s actually even easier to work with than glass. . This formulation is extremely forgiving. It’s designed to eat stress through its physical properties instead of its chemical properties, and I’ve put it through its paces during this residency. It’s such a simple and cheap formula too. All of the ceramic I’ve used in the past two weeks has been made from scrap/waste. It’s literally just clay reclaim and spent coffee grounds. You can probably get both for free if you asked around. . #lampworkbeads #lampwork #flameworking #ceramic #glass #glazechemistry #glasschemistry #penlandwinterresidency #PenlandWinter2022 (at Penland School of Crafts) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZBU-eFA2_A/?utm_medium=tumblr

[clockworkfeathers]

Making progress on getting my hands competent in working with shapes that are more inconsistent than one who usually makes #lampworkbeads would be used to. . I had to make myself a set of tapered mandrels on which I could slip on and secure the #ceramic #bead forms so I can manipulate them in the torch flame. Because the ceramics are formed by hand, they are rarely perfectly centered, so I have to compensate manually. . #glass #flamework #flameworking #glazechemistry #glasschemistry #penlandwinterresidency #PenlandWinter2022 #penlandschoolofcrafts (at Penland School of Crafts) https://www.instagram.com/clockworkfeathers/p/CY7ZPcZLsVD/?utm_medium=tumblr

[clockworkfeathers]

I’m getting a better understanding of how to get these metallic copper spots on the surface. Being able to watch what happens when you change the flame atmosphere is a chemistry demonstration I wish someone did for me early on. I’m still trying to figure out a way to photograph or record video of it. . With this high copper glaze, I can watch nodules of light blue copper carbonate form as I increase the oxygen of the flame. Then, when I change the flame to a reducing atmosphere, the oxygen hungry flame pulls the carbonate apart leaving behind the elemental copper. Repeating this cycle brings more and more copper to the surface, and I can watch it happen! . #ceramics #glass #flameworking #glazechemistry #glasschemistry #penlandwinterresidency #PenlandWinter2022 (at Penland School of Crafts) https://www.instagram.com/p/CY2m904D5MU/?utm_medium=tumblr

[clockworkfeathers]

I’ve gone into research mode again. I found some of my old notes which spurred some new directions for information (now that I’m actually doing physical experiments, I have some more focused questions). I’m also loving the preliminary results I’m getting. The research process isn’t a prescribed one; it is different for every subject of research especially if it ventures into new territory. But even trailblazers take established paths to their frontiers. No invention or discovery is ever just the work of an individual. It’s built upon the foundations of those that came before. . These papers provide information for how the structure of the chemistry around the phosphate matrix works. The main surprise for me is that sulfur and sulfates seems to play a way more active role than in silica based glasses. I’m guessing it’s because the temperatures needed to work with phosphate glasses are low enough that those compounds don’t volatilize out of the mix. This also means I need to find sources of sulfur since they aren’t typically used much in glazes or or traditional silica based glasses. . The other interesting aspect of trying to formulate a phosphate “glaze” is that many of the reagents that are available for me to use to source the phosphorus are water soluble; people who are familiar with working with traditional ceramic glazes will know that this makes things a little more complicated when it comes to applying them. The problem solving is a part of the fun. . #ceramics #glazechemistry #glasschemistry https://www.instagram.com/p/CO6n2veD8_5/?igshid=1ea9hd68zn63p

[clockworkfeathers]

If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing late. The new issue is out, and you can grab it (and all the other issues) at my Patreon (search for ClockworkFeathers) for any level of support. Also, with the release of this issue, issue 2 is now available to the public under #creativecommons . . I’m not gonna make excuses. Life happens, and good things can detract from getting stuff done too. And honestly, I absolutely put my wedding at a higher priority than this #zine . But, that doesn’t mean I don’t value this project. But we do what we have to, and like the majority of things, it’s not the end of the world. . This issue contains articles that are a bit reflective since that kind of goes hand in hand with life changes. I have an article about pit firing, and another about how we struggle with language around value. . Also in this issue is an article that came to me during the glass color chemistry class I took at Penland this spring. It explores how chemistry is linked to biology and physics, and how understanding color from a biological and physics perspective can lead to a better understanding of color chemistry. . #glasschemistry #glazechemistry https://www.instagram.com/p/B0HIrZfn7rC/?igshid=ocvfb61kip59

[clockworkfeathers]

Mixed into the craziness of the past few months was me taking a one week #glasschemistry class at #penlandschoolofcraft with John Croucher and Mark Peiser. Since I finally have some time now, I’ve incorporated a lot of the math and technical data from that class into the glass calculator spreadsheet that I release a while back. It’s available for download from my Patreon (just search for “ClockworkFeathers”). Anyone can download it, but if you find it useful, please consider becoming a patron. . https://www.patreon.com/posts/glass-calculator-27056751 . . . The spreadsheet now incorporates four methods for calculating COE estimates. . #glass #glassofig https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxx_A-4HeKA/?igshid=iqvsofhig1jy

[clockworkfeathers]

It’s the end of the first quarter of 2019, which means a new issue of my #zine the “Clockwork Feathers Quarterly.” It also means that a year has past since the release of issue 1, so it’s available to everyone under #CreativeCommons now. You can find it along with all other issues on my Patreon (search for ClockworkFeathers). . I understand that Patreon isn’t for everyone, so all four issues from 2018 are available from Amazon as either a digital ebook or in print. Just search for “Clockwork Feathers Quarterly.” . #ceramics #glass #glasschemistry #glazechemistry https://www.instagram.com/clockworkfeathers/p/BvuwmoYHZ8Z/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1j7xlt3xdyek8

[clockworkfeathers]

So, this is something that i guess can be a form of scavo for #borosilicate #glass . . I wasn’t sure was a good idea, since I can only remember coming across in one book on glass blowing in my entirety of glass research, and what I read about sounded like an extremely bad idea to me. However, the idea of it stuck in my mind for years, and just with the past few days did my brain decide to punt it out from its mysterious depths with the tag line “this could do something interesting, but at the very least, it won’t be dangerous... (probably).” . I’ll probably write up the details later when I have time, but the tl;dr of it is that I’m applying #terrasigillata to flamworked glass, and it’s creating some unique textures. . #coe33 #glazechemistry #glasschemistry #glassofig #penlandwinter (at Penland School of Crafts) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsYfrW-nI4D/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1pkw6mpcu7dug

[clockworkfeathers]

Went for a walk up to @penlandglass to pick up some waste byproducts that could be potential glaze material. This cup is full of glass grindings off of the cold shop lathe. Thanks @ericaverymeeker for saving this for me. . From what I know about the nature and chemistry of furnace glass, I believe this stuff can be a substitute for ferro frit 3134. It’s definitely not as pure. There’s likely some contamination from the grinding wheel, as well as some colored glass in the mix, but the price is right, and it’s potentially diverting something that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Also, there is no extra energy needed to melt and then frit the materials. . I’m excited to formulate some glazes using this along with my other locally sourced materials. . #glazechemistry #glasschemistry (at Penland School of Crafts) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo97Ee_H7FK/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=9cfyd7xq3nog