I have started working on a new series of cast glass vessels which are made using lost wax casting techniques.  These pieces are individually formed using wet clay as a one time mold for the wax.   I basically hollow out a solid lump of clay and pour melted wax into the void.  The result of this process is that each casting becomes a unique creation.  I am interested in contrasting organic forms found in nature with man made vessel shapes.  In this series I have been able to explore the structure of a vessel form by contrasting the interior and exterior surfaces.  In working on textures in the wax I use a variety of natural materials including wood and stone to create surfaces that have an organic feel.  In the finished castings the luminous quality of the glass can reveal the previously unseen intricate patterns left from the wax forms.  The casting process also allows the colored glass to flow much like a wash in a water color painting.  This quality of transparent color is what inspired me to want to work with glass. I want to see how I can develop the sculptural aspects of a vessel with this process.  I feel that this series of vessels has given me an opportunity to use cast glass in a new way for bringing beauty into the world.

   The result is a wax positive from which a plaster/silica mold can be made.  After any clay remnants are washed off the wax is prepared for a multiple layer mold which is applied by hand.   I am using a mixture by weight of 60% silica and 40% pottery plaster with 10% kaolin added for the first layer or “splash coat”.  After the wax is covered with several layers of the splash coat I use a mixture by volume of 3 parts white hydrocal plaster, 3 parts silica, 1 part pearlite and 1 part fiber glass.  The result is a very strong light weight mold which can then be placed into a large pot to steam out the wax.  The wax will melt out of the mold and can be recovered after it cools.  The mold can now be dried out and placed into a kiln.  The weight of the glass for the casting can be determined by calculating the volume of the wax.  The glass is placed into a terracotta flower pot above the mold.  The flower pot will act as a crucible for the glass as it melts and flows into the mold.  In this process it is possible to combine different colors of glass that will mix during the melt and create unique effects in the casting.