ABCs of Hot Glass: Glassblowing for Beginners

ABCs of Hot Glass introduces the essential equipment a glassblower uses for crafting molten glass into unique glass sculptures. For each letter of the alphabet, Belle provides a name, a picture of the equipment in use, and a brief explanation of its role in the process. Videos of glassblowers at work move very quickly, as the glass cools. Familiarity gained here can help viewers of videos recognize the equipment and understand the actions of the artists. Bellenda Jane Mathes “Belle” found her passion for glassblowing at Virginia Commonwealth University in the late 1990s and has been developing her skills ever since. She built her own studio, relying first on found materials and minimizing scrap. She has been exploring the ways a single glassblower can achieve functional art without assistance and bring happiness into people’s lives. Her work is available at BendableGlass.com.