Weisser Glass offers a terrific schedule of classes for beginner through professional levels. Courses are offered in stained glass, fusing and kiln forming, beadmaking, glass jewelry, paperweights, glass casting & mosaic. Our goal is to offer the highest quality of instruction in a friendly and helpful environment! New class schedules are posted about every two months.

WE ALSO TEACH PRIVATE LESSONS AND PRIVATE GROUP CLASSES! SELF-DIRECTED BENCH TIME IS ALSO AVAILABLE. CALL OR EMAIL US FOR MORE INFO.

All classes require pre-registration and payment to reserve your space.
You may register by phone at 301-571-8966.

Batiky Bowls NEW SESSION!

Saturday, August 10, 9:30-12:30

3-hour workshop. Tuition $135.00; includes materials and use of tools. NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!

Join us for a fun workshop on creating amazing batiky bowls. In this class you will work with powdered glass and water on the surface of the glass creating your own unique designs with this technique developed by glass artist Lena Beckeus. The resulting patterns and color are reminiscent of traditional batik cloth design. Nancy Weisser adds her own insight and direction on the process and will help students with color and design ideas. A lot to learn while having a really fun time in the studio! No experience is required so get a friend to join the class. Students will have access to a selection of colors and tools to create their own 9” fused glass bowl.

Batiky Part II: Enhanced Designs NEW SESSION!

Saturday, August 10, 2-5

THIS CLASS IS NOW FULL- PLEASE CONTACT THE SHOP TO BE PUT ON THE WAIT LIST

3-hour workshop. Tuition $135.00; includes materials and use of tools. Previous Batiky Bowl experience required.

The eagerly-awaited sequel to Weisser's popular Batiky Bowl workshop! Explore further ideas in the Batiky process by incorporating the use of stencils and coarser frits with the basic Batiky steps to create new and exciting design motifs. Nancy Weisser will show you her tips and tricks for creating fabulous and unique designs, patterns, and color combinations. Students will have the opportunity to create either an 8"x8" fused and slumped plate or a 9” bowl.

Mastering the Art of Cutting Glass- Pattern Cuts

Saturday, August 17, 10-12

2-hour workshop. Tuition $79.00. Appropriate for all levels, beginner to advanced.

The key to success in any of the glass art forms is good cutting; people are often intimidated by detailed glass cutting challenges, but it’s all a matter of the proper techniques and tools. We’ll teach you to do it well! This comprehensive cutting lesson will cover both simple and more difficult shapes. Learn to cut with ease and confidence; guaranteed to improve your cutting no matter your skill level. An excellent starter class for students with no cutting experience, and a valuable refresher for the more experienced glass artist. Bring any challenges you may have!

NEW CLASS!
A Comprehensive Guide to Colors for Earth with Mark Hufford

Wednesday, August 21- Friday, August 23, 9:30-5 each day

THIS CLASS IS NOW FULL- PLEASE CONTACT THE SHOP TO BE PUT ON THE WAIT LIST

3-day workshop. Tuition $695.00; includes materials and use of tools. NO PRIOR DRAWING OR PAINTING EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!

Colors for Earth has a huge range of versatile fire-in paints and supplements that can create virtually any effect you could imagine. But where do you even begin…? Mark Hufford will share his amazing talent and depth of knowledge of these products in this fun and action-packed class, and pass along his tips and techniques to his students. If you’ve ever wanted a skilled master to show you how it all works, this class is for you!

Suitable for every level of artist, Mark has designed this workshop to showcase the different products that Colors for Earth makes and the endless creative possibilities that can be achieved with them! Students will create many 4” sample tiles with Colors for Earth Glass Enamels, Outline, BubbleArt, Sparkles, and Color Concentrates. By creating this series of samples, students will learn the many ways these products can be used, both through single-layer application and with multiple layered surfaces.

In addition, Mark will provide information on firing, do’s and don’ts, and making repairs on fired glass pieces. Students will explore the use of patterns, guides, photo references and how to best determine the method for transferring of images to the glass in preparation for painting. This is a thorough and comprehensive guide to Colors for Earth products and their assorted uses; a fantastic starter class, or thorough refresher for returning students. All levels welcome!

Powdered Pet Portraits

Saturday, August 24, 9:30-12:30

3-hour workshop. Tuition $99.00; includes supplies and frame.

Create a black and white portrait of a favorite pet or other animal using fusible glass powder! A great introduction to drawing with powders (have no fear-we will teach you), these creations also make amazing gifts for the animal lover in your life. Drawing experience is not required: we will give you tips, guidelines and techniques to assist you in creating realistic portraits. No previous glass experience is required, and all you need to bring is an 8”x8” black and white photo of your favorite pet! We will send you guidelines prior to class. Just look at what some of our students have created in previous sessions

Batiky Part II: Enhanced Designs NEW SESSION!

Saturday, August 24, 2-5

3-hour workshop. Tuition $135.00; includes materials and use of tools. Previous Batiky Bowl experience required.

Batiky Bowls NEW SESSION ADDED!

Friday, September 6, 9:30-12:30

3-hour workshop. Tuition $135.00; includes materials and use of tools. NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!

Join us for a fun workshop on creating amazing batiky bowls. In this class you will work with powdered glass and water on the surface of the glass creating your own unique designs with this technique developed by glass artist Lena Beckeus. The resulting patterns and color are reminiscent of traditional batik cloth design. Nancy Weisser adds her own insight and direction on the process and will help students with color and design ideas. A lot to learn while having an amazing time in the studio! No experience is required so get a friend to join the class. Students will have access to a selection of colors and tools to create their own 9” fused glass bowl.

Batiky Part II: Enhanced Designs NEW SESSION ADDED!

Friday, September 6, 2-5

3-hour workshop. Tuition $135.00; includes materials and use of tools. Previous Batiky Bowl experience required.

Batiky Bowls

Saturday, September 7, 9:30-12:30

3-hour workshop. Tuition $135.00; includes materials and use of tools. NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!

Join us for a fun workshop on creating amazing batiky bowls. In this class you will work with powdered glass and water on the surface of the glass creating your own unique designs with this technique developed by glass artist Lena Beckeus. The resulting patterns and color are reminiscent of traditional batik cloth design. Nancy Weisser adds her own insight and direction on the process and will help students with color and design ideas. A lot to learn while having an amazing time in the studio! No experience is required so get a friend to join the class. Students will have access to a selection of colors and tools to create their own 9” fused glass bowl.

NEW CLASS!
Project Plate Making: Image Collage

Saturday, September 7, 2-4:30

2 ½ hour workshop. Tuition $135.00; includes materials and use of tools. No experience required!

Join us for a fun workshop creating unique fused glass bowls scrapbook style using ready mixed glass enamels and stencils. You will learn about various fire on enamels that can be used, how to apply the paint to the glass for best results, layering images and more. The collage imagery is vintage in feel and with so many stencil designs to choose from you can create your own unique story. Each piece is fused and slumped to form your finished work of art.

Stained Glass- Beyond Beginner

Thursday evenings, 7-9, September 12, 26, October 3, 10

Four 2-hour classes. Tuition $145.00; tools and supplies extra. Previous stained-glass experience required.

This class has an open curriculum allowing students to continue their exploration into stained glass under the supervision and guidance of an experienced instructor. Students might select a new project like a lamp, box, panel, or bring a project in progress. This class is a great way to learn new techniques, get a refresher, have your questions answered, or get help with more advanced projects. We can provide the instruction and extra motivation you need to get that project done!

Print, Paint, & Paper Inclusions for Kiln-Formed Glass
with Sheila Rosa and Nancy Weisser

Thursday, September 12 & Friday, September 13, 10-4:30 each day

2-day workshop. Tuition $395.00; includes materials and use of tools.

Join us for a fun and action-packed class as we explore the many possibilities of paper inclusions in fused glass. See how easy it is to create images and painterly detail using methods like laser decals, enamels for glass, stamping, and much more! Learn to add new dimensions and depth to your fused glass pieces with graphic imagery, subtle watercolor washes, and bold lines, or easily personalize pieces with no fuss and muss. Students will create a series of sample tiles, as well as a finished piece.

Mosaics in Glass

Saturday, September 14, 9:30-4:30 & Sunday, September 15, 9:30-12

1½-day workshop. Tuition $285.00; materials additional. All levels welcome!

Mosaic is a versatile art form that has been used to create intricate and beautiful imagery since antiquity. It is an accessible medium for all skill levels, can be made of different materials, and can be applied to almost any surface. In this workshop, students will focus on the use of colored sheet glass to create their own mosaic in a pattern of their choice.

Previous experience is not required- if you’ve never cut glass, you will learn how to cut, break, and grind glass to fit to your design. All aspects of the mosaic process will be covered, from surface preparation to glass cutting, adhesives, grouting, and finishing. And it’s a great way to use up scrap glass!

Students will have an assortment of projects to choose from, including table-tops and wall hangings; costs will vary depending on surface and materials selected. A variety of patterns will be available for use, or students may create their own.

Contemporary Pâte-de-Vérre Forms with Alicia Lomné

Wednesday- Sunday, September 18- 22

5-day workshop. Tuition $1,150.00

THIS CLASS IS NOW FULL- PLEASE CONTACT THE SHOP TO BE PUT ON THE WAIT LIST

A deposit of $580.00 is required to secure your spot. Tuition balance of $570.00 is due July 1.

Suitable for all levels of experience; returning students are encouraged to sign up!

We’re thrilled to have Alicia Lomné return to teach her unique approach to the ancient art of pâte-de-vérre. Alicia employs her own signature style to create stunning, delicately detailed vessel forms. In this class students learn how to create molds from models they hand build in class. Then Alicia teaches her methods of hand-packing layers of colored glass frit and powder into the mold making a tremendous range of color and design options possible.

This class will provide a solid base of technical information, and students will explore a variety of casting processes used by Alicia in creating her vessel forms. This will include model making, mold construction, color mixing, and color placement. She will also cover the use of inclusions in the mold; returning students will be encouraged to further explore these types of structures in their pieces. Discussions will cover firing schedules and the use of temperature to attain specific effects.

Students new to this technique will receive all the information they need to work on their own after the class and returning students may continue their study by working with more involved designs. By the end of this class, you will feel confident in making a mold, packing it with glass, and then programming and firing on your own.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Alicia Lomné, has dedicated the past ten years to exploring techniques in pâte de verre. She shows her extraordinary work in galleries across the U.S. and has taught pâte-de-verre workshops across the country and the globe including Anla Glass (Denmark), Creative Glass (Switzerland), Pilchuck Glass School, Penland School of Crafts, the Corning Museum Studio and Bullseye Glass Co. Lomné lives and works in Tacoma, Washington. You may see more of her work at alicialomne.com.

Stained Glass Weekend: Copper Foil

Saturday, September 28, 9:30-4:30
& Sunday, September 29, 9:30-1

1½-day workshop. Tuition $275.00 includes use of tools and some supplies. Students purchase glass and framing metal.

The copper foil stained glass technique was originally devised by Louis Comfort Tiffany to be used for his intricate designs. Unlike the more traditional lead came method, the foil technique allows for more detailed patterns, as well as construction of three-dimensional objects like lampshades and boxes. In our weekend crash course, students will learn the art of the copper foil stained-glass technique; we use the same curriculum as our seven-week course condensed into a day and a half. Students do not need to purchase any tools, so it’s an excellent way to try your hand at the medium without having to invest in all the equipment. Each student will complete a copper foil panel approximately 9” x 12”.

Reverse Glass Painting and Design with Cheryl Chapman

Thursday- Sunday, October 3-6
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 9:30-4:30 each day, Sunday 9:30-12:30

3½-day workshop. Tuition $795.00; includes materials and use of tools.

A deposit of $395.00 is required to reserve your spot; tuition balance of $400.00 due August 1.

We’re excited to welcome back glass painter Cheryl Chapman to the Weisser Studio! In this popular class students learn Cheryl’s methods of painting on glass that can then be taken into many styles and directions for fusers. Enamel painting on glass is a fun way to use clear glass to create unique, stunning and surprisingly detailed images. Opaque glass enamels have a bright luminosity and reflective quality all their own. Unlock the secrets to mixing FuseMaster high fire opaque enamels with both oil and water mediums, working in reverse, the texturing style of grisaille and the stages of applying colored enamels, layering glass and firing to a finished piece. Cheryl will work with you on your personal imagery working from books, a sketch or photograph developing your design and finished project over three and a half days using Cheryl’s multi-stage techniques to create your piece of art. The focus of this class is on the technical skills so you will be able to take your knowledge home to develop your glass painting style. Each student will complete an approximately 9” tile or bowl as well as practice pieces.

Stained Glass Weekend- Lead Came

Saturday, October 12, 9:30-4:30 & Sunday, October 13, 9:30-12:30

1½-day workshop. Tuition $275.00; includes use of tools and some supplies. Students purchase glass and metal. 

Learn the traditional method of lead came stained glass construction in this weekend crash course. We use the same curriculum as our seven-week course, condensed into 1½ days. Patterns will be provided, and there’s no need to purchase tools! Each student will complete a leaded panel approximately 9”x12”. 

Master Class in Painterly Glass with Kari Minnick

Thursday, October 24- Monday, October 28

5-day workshop. Tuition $1,095.00.
A deposit of $545.00 is required to reserve your spot; tuition balance of $550.00 due August 1.

Prior glass experience is beneficial but not required.

Kari ups her game again with her newest workshop “Painterly Glass”. In this creative workshop students learn methods of creating a two-dimensional glass composition or panel using glass materials to achieve a painterly or painting-like quality. But…NO PAINT OR ENAMEL WILL BE USED!

We will use Bullseye glass, powder, frit and stringer to simulate paint and highlight the unique qualities that working with glass brings to the process. Gritty, slick, or robust relief, kilnforming materials and processes give us a vast range of painterly styles from creamy impasto to ephemeral watercolor washes. Students will learn painterly effects by utilizing unusual wet and dry powder processes, multiple firings and careful temperature control.

Painterly glass is more than the techniques used to achieve it. It is a mindset; a consideration of “the big picture”; layer by glass layer. Students will explore technique that supports strong composition, rich surfaces, and depth. Color, composition, and the effective use of opacity and transparency will be considered. Students will develop ideas through preliminary sketches, paper cut outs and/or test pieces leading to the completion of two larger glass projects.

Topics to be covered include: color mixing, considering both sides of the glass, layering strategies, light transmission as well as 2D to 3D by slumping, draping or function.

Prior glass experience is beneficial but not required. This highly creative and hands-on course is of interest to kiln glass workers as well as artists of other media.

Pattern Bars for Kiln Work

Saturday & Sunday, November 2 & 3, 9:30-4:30 each day

2-day workshop. Tuition $395.00. Includes glass, materials and use of tools.

Pattern bar making is a fundamental skill for fusers and a fun way to create interesting patterns in fused glass. We will explore various methods for creating bars from simple to more complex. Explore planning your designs, and assorted methods of stacking and damming. Thinking outside the box for advanced design and unique variations will also be discussed. You will also learn how to cut the bars and learn ways to construct and design with pattern bar slices.

This class is great for both the first-time pattern bar maker as well as the student that would like to refresh or refine their approach to pattern bar construction. After creating different styles of pattern bars, students will learn how to cut, construct, fire and finish work. Each student will create at least one completed artwork while learning various methods of designing with the pattern bar slices. Students will also end up with an assortment of components to take home with them for future projects.

Stained Glass- Beyond Beginner

Thurs evenings, 7-9, November 7, 14, 21, December 5, 12, 19

Six 2-hour classes. Tuition $225.00; tools and supplies extra. Previous stained-glass experience required.

Precious Metal Silver Clay and Glass with Gail Stouffer

Thursday, November 7, 9:30-5, & Friday, November 8, 9:30-3:30

2-day workshop. Tuition $495.00, with a $65.00 material fee due at class.

A deposit of $245.00 is required to reserve your space. Balance $250.00 due September 1. The $65 material fee will be due the first day of class.

Learn to combine sterling silver precious metal clay* and fused glass in this exciting workshop with Gail Stouffer! On the first day of the workshop, students will create beautiful and unusual fused glass jewelry focal pieces, as well as matching sterling metal clay “jackets” to set them in. On day two, after firing the components, you’ll put everything together, drilling holes in your glass and metal clay pieces, riveting them, and using some silver soldering techniques as well. Your jewelry piece will have a unique design on both sides, making it a truly reversible piece of wearable art! The perfect workshop for glass fusers or metal clay workers who want to learn more techniques for creating specialty art jewelry projects.

*Precious metal clay can be formed like any soft clay. After firing, the binder contained in the clay is burned away leaving a solid metal form.

NEW FORMAT- NO PREVIOUS METALWORKING EXPERIENCE NEEDED!

Realistic Gardens and Faceted Stones: Metalsmithing with Sterling Silver & PMC
with Gail Stouffer

Saturday, November 9- Monday, November 11, 9:30-5 each day

3-day workshop. Tuition $695.00, with a material fee of $200.00 due at class

A deposit of $345.00 is required to reserve your space; tuition balance of $350.00 will be due September 1. The $200.00 material fee will be due the first day of class.

An amazing class, perfect for beginners who want to learn basic metalsmithing and PMC techniques, or for the metal worker who wants to expand their portfolio and work on their nature-inspired design skills in silver! NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED!

On the first day, students will learn the basics of soldering sterling silver jewelry components using a butane micro torch. Mastering basic soldering skills will open the door to the most exciting jewelry projects. Gail will cover torch safety, basic paste soldering, multi-stage soldering, types of solder, pickling, patinas and polishing. Students will also practice setting a semi-precious stone into one of their pendants in preparation for their garden-inspired pieces. Basic metalsmithing skills will be covered, including using metal shears, filing, basic fabrication and design planning.

On days two and three, students will concentrate on more advanced techniques, to help them create realistic and cohesive nature-inspired jewelry pieces. Some of the techniques students will learn include:

IDENTIFYING & GATHERING FOCAL AND SUPPORT INSPIRATIONS- Design using the real thing! We’ll gather local flora, make still life arrangements, document, sketch, and photograph our inspirations. Using these reference points, we’ll plan the components necessary to create a full body of work.

MAKING MOLDS FOR METAL CLAY COMPONENTS- Sculpture will be our focal point, and our faceted stones are our highlights! We’ll create all the molds necessary to bring our arrangements to life. These molds are the jumping off point that will allow for flexibility in designing the individual pieces in your collection.

MULTI-STAGE SOLDERING- Sterling sheet is the canvas upon which we’ll build our pieces and arrange our embellishments, stone settings, and findings. First, we’ll create the parts we need, and then we’ll solder these multiple components, finally cutting and filing our pieces into shape using the fun and effective JoolTool machine.

SETTING STONES- We’ll highlight our pieces with multiple tube settings and sparkling semi-precious stones. Small settings need special care and process, you’ll learn to manage heat and add multiple settings and findings at once.

Students will leave this class with 3-4 finished pieces. This workshop will serve as an excellent standalone class, or as a great introduction to incorporating more metalsmithing and PMC techniques into your glass work!

Flow Factor with Nancy Weisser

Friday, November 15- Sunday, November 17, 10-4:30 each day

Three-day workshop. Tuition $695.00; includes materials and use of tools

Try a new way to add organic flow and movement to your fused glass. Nancy Weisser has been exploring and developing this process capturing movement in the glass using the heat within the kiln with great success. Through a series of projects, students will learn to use negative space, heat and gravity to impart unique patterns and qualities in your work. You will learn how to make interesting flow parts and how to recycle discarded and unwanted projects into beautiful new works of art. We will cover many variations, materials, and ways to make containment systems for circles, squares, wedges, etc. Calculating volume to control the thickness of your pieces and the appropriate firing schedules will be covered both in class and with a handout that students will receive. Finishing of the pieces will be discussed and demonstrated, and students will have the option to practice these techniques. This is a new approach full of potential!

Glass Combing

Saturday, November 23 & Sunday, November 24, 10-3:30 each day

2-day workshop. Tuition $395.00; includes supplies, glass and use of tools during class.

Experience the fun of moving glass while hot to create amazing combed patterns! Learn ways to set up glass, how to plan controlled designs, how and when to rake the glass for beautiful chevron patterns, and more! There will also be an experimental element to this class as students are encouraged to get creative with combing. Each student will have the opportunity to create three personal combed pieces of glass. There will be demonstration and discussion of how to use and incorporate combed glass into fused glass projects. Firings, strip cutting, damming, coldworking, and finishing options are covered in class. Students will have the chance to coldwork one piece as desired, time permitting.

Blown Ornaments

TWO SESSIONS TO CHOOSE FROM:
Saturday, November 30, 10-12
or
Saturday, November 30, 2-4

2-hour workshop. Tuition $99.00; includes materials and use of tools. No experience necessary! Appropriate for ages 16 and up.

Learn to make blown glass ornaments with a Hot Head torch. Create unique holiday gifts or pretty little garden charms. Starting with Glaskolben pre-made clear glass tubes, you’ll learn the tips and tricks for blowing these ornaments over a simple torch and how to embellish them with color.

A great holiday weekend activity; bring your family and friends and make an event of it! Each student will have the opportunity to make up to six blown Glaskolben ornaments! (additional may be made, time permitting, for an extra fee).