What is Dichroic Glass?
Dichroic coated glass is man made, yet we are continually drawn to it in the same ways we are drawn to any beautiful jewel, mesmerized by the play of light across and under its surface.
Dichroic was first developed for use in the laser industry. It is used in laser and photographic applications and in theatrical film projectors, such as Imax.
The Making of dichroic glass is both lengthy and costly. The process calls for special chambers where glass is suspended from fixed positions on the ceiling of the chamber. Oxides are then placed at the bottom of the chamber and as much air as technically possible is removed by vacuum pumps. The oxides are then superheated, creating a vapor which deposits itself on the surface of the glass. This process is repeated over and over in layers, building up one after another, anywhere from 10 to 15 times or more. The result is a coating that transmits a particular wavelength of light (primary color), and reflects all of the rest (reflected color).
The use of dichroics in glass art is still in its infancy. Glass making has been around for thousands of years while dichroics first appeared in the glass industry a scant 20 to 25 years ago. Its lasting effect on the industry and on the art is yet to be seen.
Why is glass so expensive?
I used to ask myself the same question, why is glass so expensive, I don’t anymore. I have had the privilege to go to Portland, Oregon where the Bullseye Glass Co. manufactures the glass that I use. The process that goes into making every single sheet glass was amazing. There is less expensive glass out there, mostly made by machine. The glass at Bullseye is made one sheet at a time and took four guys to do it. One guy came up to the hand roller with a dipper of molten glass, quickly another guy stretched it out, the next one rolled it and the fourth guy pulled it onto a tray and put it into an annealing oven. The attention to detail was unparalleled. And that was just the process after the sands and chemicals were all mixed perfectly to create the molten mixtures. Having worked with glass since 1980, it is my opinion that Bullseye glass consistently provides a superior product…which is why I use it exclusively. I feel if I am going to all the work to create the pieces that I make, you should be getting the very best.What sets my work apart?
There are many talented glass artists as there are many talented painters, potters, woodworkers etc. The only thing that I have to offer is my particular style. My stained glass pieces are drawn especially for my clients. I will never duplicate that piece again. In my fused glass art work, in addition to using only fine quality glass, it’s my attention to detail that gives my work value. I do a lot of cold work (hand grinding and polishing) on the edges of each piece enhancing the beauty and making the final product as perfect as a hand made piece can be. The same attention goes into everything I do, from the largest plates or bowls to the smallest jewelry pieces.
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