Phoenix Rising

The process of creating glass art begins by gathering molten glass and shaping it into a round form on a wooden cup. After adding colors and patterns, the gaffer starts inflating the gather into a bubble, shaping it with tools like blocks, paddles, jacks, and wet newspapers. Additional glass is added for features like feet and handles. This process may take up to 2 hours with assistants involved. Once complete, the piece is placed in a 950-degree annealing oven to cool slowly and prevent fractures, with handling allowed only the next day. To clean, simply use a glass cleaner and towel, as no paint is involved.