The new studio is just half a mile away from the old one, like a good Angeleno, I drove.
Here is a fascinating project on one of the tables. I just adore these colors.
Right now it looks like grapes, but who knows?
OK, a bird is taking shape, look at the eye! This looks a combination of fused and traditional painting.
There was a fellow, Sean, who was painting the background for these panels, here the face is being painted. This is the Wyoming commission. The old Studio is where the old style painting usually gets done, but these panels are so large, a lot of the work is done is the bigger brighter modern studio.
These are the three completed panels, well images of them. Very traditional German style Stained Glass.
Getting an explanation about fused glass panels. Behind her are the enormous kilns, they were lowering the cover while we were there. Probably to fuse more of these panels.
This was mid-air, once the top covers everything, they turn on the heat and let the fusing begin, once it all melts together, they let it cool for probably 24 hours, to anneal the glass, so it won’t shatter.
I should have asked what they do with a panel that didn’t come out right…. Maybe the new panels were in the kiln.
I’m wondering how they use these shapes, so many questions!
Three images of projects on the wall. On the right is that wonderful Church in Leawood KS, the amazing structure and an image of the glass window.
Right next to it is a project they are working on right now for San Francisco International airport.
The lower project is a private commission.
Here is a view of the SF Airport project from the back, from outside.
And here it is from Inside. I know that stained Glass started in Europe, but what can I say, the bright intense Southern California light illuminates this like no other. In order to achieve these colors, different metals are infused into the glass, for more info about that, step next door into Bullseye Glass, where they actually manufacture the glass and the frit. Well the manufacturing doesn’t happen next door, but this is a great place for glass and classes.
This is what I’m talking about with the light in Los Angeles, how intense the colors reflected on the concrete floor are. It will be interesting to see what this looks like in the more diffused light of San Francisco.
Every second Thursday of the month, Judson Studios offers these tours. I highly recommend if you are able to go do so! There is nothing like seeing true craftsmen creating beauty in this world.
Leah