Making fused glass art is a process by which individual pieces of glass are fused together to make a new piece of glass. The effects that can be achieved with this process are truly beautiful.

Fused glass is used to make all sorts of decorative objects, including jewelry, home décor and accessories. The process for creating fused glass is quite complex, and it requires patience, attention to detail and special glass fusing supplies and equipment. It's easy to learn the basics, but it can take years to master the skills needed to get the results you want.

Fused Glass 101
The first step to creating a fused glass piece is selecting the proper type of glass. All glass contracts and expands as it is heated. When creating a fused glass piece, it is essential that the types of glass used have the same Coefficient of Expansion, meaning that they all expand and contract at the same rate. Fused glass artists use a variety of glass pieces and rods, cut with glass cutting tools, too make the pieces for a finished design.

Next, the artist will assemble the glass pieces into an attractive design. Here is where the creativity really comes in. Some artists choose to keep their designs simple, using only a couple of layers of glass and simple geometric shapes. Other artists get quite intricate with their designs, using many different colors and layers of glass.

Once the piece is assembled, it gets heated in a kiln. This step by itself requires quite a bit of skill and creativity. The temperatures used, as well as the amount of time the glass spends in the kiln, will affect the finished piece. Firing in the kiln can take hours, depending on the desired effect. Some artists use a hand torch to fuse their glass pieces, which they feel gives them more control over the results.

The final part of the process is called annealing. Annealing involves slowly bringing the fired glass back to room temperature. This is a long, slow process that cannot be rushed, as glass that is not properly annealed is not stable and can crack or explode unexpectedly.

Fused glass art has become quite popular in recent years, due to the beauty and depth of color that can be achieved with the craft. It is certainly not a craft that can be learned overnight, but with patience and perseverance, it can be an extremely satisfying artistic pursuit.