This project is my first official nellyglass commissioned work for our good friends Charlotte and Tom Reddon of Fredericton. Charlotte has a large single pane picture window in her living room which gets full afternoon sun. To accent the window, she wanted something simple and timeless with a variety of clear textured glass.
After a few preliminary discussions, we met one morning at Downey Stained Glass in Maugerville to collaborate on the design and select the glass. Brenda Downey, artist and owner of the business, was very helpful in guiding us through her glass inventory and offering design advice. We had great fun and it is so engaging to work alongside a fellow artist (Charlotte specializes in oils, acrylics and watercolors).
Charlotte chose a large central bevel cluster and designed a trio of diamond bevels on either side all surrounded by clear textures (hammered and baroque). Surrounding all that would be 1.5″x5″ bevels. The five distinct kinds of glass in this piece (two clear textures and three different bevels) and the way they are combined create an elegant tension. The eye is carried across the piece by the hammered glass pausing momentarily to follow the lines in the baroque glass. The bevels around and throughout the panel give it form and structure. Simple and timeless.
With materials purchased, it was back to the studio for me to create the paper pattern and frame up the lay out on the workbench (3 hrs). At 5 ft in length, this is the longest piece I have tackled to date and I had to extend my work surface over two benches.
Pattern tracing, glass cutting and a start on the gringing took 4 hrs (I was up and at it at 4:30 am – couldn’t help it… this is what it’s like when a new project is on the table. Grinding continued over the next couple of days (4 more hrs) until all 18 pieces were fitting tightly.
The first pieces foiled were the 28 perimeter bevels to see if they might expand the length of the panel slightly once all were foiled and laying end to end. Result, yes the panel did expand slightly and I expanded it even further (3/8″) to allow for five runs of 20 gauge copper wire down through the panel in five locations. This will add strength to the piece, won’t thicken the solder lines too much and will make hangers at the top- bonus! Total time foiling and wire incorporation, 10 hrs over three shifts.
In one morning/afternoon, I got the frame cut and pinned in place with anchor wires attached and embedded through the piece. Plus the front tack soldered and the back soldering finished. Next morning finished the front soldering. Total framing & soldering (8 hrs). Cleaning and polishing 2 hrs.
Total construction time = 31 hrs plus consultation/design phase and delivery/installation… 35 hrs.
nellyglass studio 