Mesmerizing Marbles Borosilicate Lampwork with Deenie - 12/30/25
Playing with fire! Let's make opaque and vortex marbles.
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About this class:
Enter the hypnotic world of molten color and depth in this 2½-hour Mesmerizing Marbles class. Perfect for ambitious beginners or returning students, this session focuses on the fundamentals of shaping, design, and creating optical effects in borosilicate glass.
You’ll learn how to form perfectly round marbles using color rods, clear glass, and a marble mold. Through guided demonstrations and hands-on practice, you’ll create your own small marble. Receive expert guidance in surface decoration and color design, with the option of using the vortex technique, where swirling color and clear glass create a captivating illusion of depth and motion.
All tools, materials, and safety equipment are provided. You’ll work on a professional torch station with step-by-step instructions to practice shaping, balancing, and finishing your work to a smooth polish.
Topics covered:
Introduction to Borosilicate Glass
- Understanding hard glass and color properties
- Flame chemistry and heat management for round forms
Tools and Materials
- Torches, marble molds, shaping pads, and color rods
- Proper use of oxygen, propane, and ventilation systems
Safety and Studio Etiquette
- Best practices for safe torch use and handling molten glass
- Tips for comfort, focus, and maintaining clean workspace habits
Techniques and Demonstrations
- Gathering and forming glass for spherical shaping
- External color decoration and surface design
- Creating the optical vortex effect using depth and reflection
- Balancing symmetry and controlling heat for a flawless finish
Hands-On Creation
- Create one small marble with an external color design
- Vortex marble technique with optical depth (optional)
Finishing and Annealing
- Kiln-annealing for durability and clarity
- Polishing and display presentation tips
By the end of class, you’ll leave with your own handmade marble that mesmerizes with color and depth, plus the skills to keep exploring the meditative and delightful art of borosilicate marble making.
About the Instructor
Deenie Wallace began working with borosilicate glass in 2003. Over the years, she has sold her lampwork designs to enthusiastic collectors worldwide. Known for her distinctive styles and advanced use of color techniques, her work is sought after for its advanced level of craftsmanship and beauty. Deenie holds a BFA in Intermedia from Pacific Northwest College of Art. She is also a local filmmaker, creative technologist, and plant medicine enthusiast.