How does Abe make plates?
Abe laminates oxides and enamels between glass giving each piece texture, character, and bubbles unique to its’ own beauty. He begins by making a mold of clay. As the mold is being prepared for slumping glass,
artwork is finalized and a separate stencil is cut for each color in the design. Colors are ground, mixed, and test fired repeatedly until color consistency and compatibility with the glass are realized.
Next, Abe’s design is applied by dry-sifting enamels, one stencil at a time on glass that has been cut to fit the mold. A second piece of glass is placed on top of the design and both are positioned on the mold. This enamel sandwich is then fired until full fusion and fire polishing have taken place. Upon removing the piece from the kiln, Abe will carefully clean, and inspect it before placing his signature on it.
An important distinction between Abe’s Plates and painted glass is that Abe’s designs are fused inside the enamel sandwich not surface painted on the glass. Therefore the beauty lasts forever and Abe’s plates are food safe, dishwasher safe, and can even be used for microwave warming.
How does Abe make suncatchers?
Suncatchers are made in the same fashion that plates are made with the following exception. The enamels are applied to the top of the glass rather than being sandwiched into the glass. During fusion the enamels do become part of the glass and can never again be separated. Consider Abe’s suncatchers as part of your outdoor landscape. The colors can never fade or wash off which makes them perfect for the patio and gardens.