Explore every episode of the podcast A Glass Blower’s Companion with Jason Michael -Helping Today's Glass Artist Think Like an Artistic Entrepreneur
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| GBC Ep.31-Burt Murphy: Selling through Amazon | 12 Oct 2023 | 01:48:16 | |
GBC Ep.30-Burt Murphy: Selling through Amazon For many glass artsit's 2020 creating an unexpected uptick in sales as the 2020 pandemic slowly brought retailers to a hault. For many, this dream slowly turned into a finacial nightmare as covid restrictions beagn to ease and reatilers opened their doors again to the public. While todays market place looks alot different then it did pre-pandemic ,new avenues have become available due to the push for online sales but the current state of the economy has caused budgets to become tighter and disposable income allocated to other financial responsibilities. However for many consumers new habits were created now having the ability to order anything online and have it delivered same day in some cases. This includes glass art. Now you may be wondringing what this has to do with glass art sales, so in todays episode my guest Burt Murphy, will reinfiore the the importance of differentiating your lines of work but also the outlets at which you sell them. Burt Murphy links : | |||
| GBC Ep.29- Aaron Brown: From In-School-Suspension to Glass Vegas | 01 Mar 2022 | 02:10:24 | |
| GBC Ep. 20- Quinn: Create, Hustle, and Save for the Future | 18 Dec 2020 | 01:57:40 | |
GBC Ep. 20- Quinn: Create, Hustle, and Save for the Future Find Quinn on Instagram @TLKQ Have any questions or just wanna say HELLO? find me on Instagram WANNA JOIN A DRAMA FREE GROUP OF GLASS ARTISTS AND GAIN ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE CONTENT PLUS ONE-ON-ONE COACHING AND LESSONS???? COME JOIN THE FUN ON PATREON... JOIN TODAY | |||
| Episode161- Chris Aus ( AKA Sunsi Glass) Finding His Way After Being Absent for Over a Decade | 01 Jun 2017 | 02:04:58 | |
Episode 161- Chris Aus (Oz) Owner of Sunsi Glass Hey there!!!! Thanks a ton for tuning into this episode featuring Chris Aus of Sunsi Glass. We had a great conversation regarding his past and present career as a pipe maker and glass artist. After being away for so long Chris had to decide how to make his comeback and so far he's been quite successful at it. Through his social media presence his tribe has begun to grow and become a loyal and dedicated group of fans of personality and work. Don't forget to check out the first students to take the leap of faith and help get the WyzGuy Institute off the ground. With out them the next chapter of this brand wouldn't be possible. @dobbie_wan_glass @gizmoglass @note_glass Trailer for J.D.Maplesden's "Vagabong" https://vimeo.com/187236089 St. Paul, Minnesota-based Chris Aus (Sunsi Glass) began glassblowing in 1998 and quickly earned a reputation for quality, innovative functional glass in the Midwest. After building a successful wholesale/retail business during a tumultuous time for glass artists, Chris walked away from the craft in 2005. In July 2016, Chris returned to the torch - after more than a decade away from the industry - motivated to push his skill set and incorporate classic techniques (line work, foldovers, fuming) into a new era of functional glass art. Chris is currently a glassblowing instructor at Legacy Glass in Minneapolis, MN and has a number of projects in the works. You can connect with Chris/Sunsi Glass the following ways: www.sunsiglass.com Instagram @sunsiglass sunsiglass@gmail.com | |||
| Episode 160- Nathan Belmont Finding His Voice in Glass Through Traveling | 17 May 2017 | 01:18:50 | |
160- Nathan Belmont Finding His Voice in Glass Through Traveling Continuing the May Theme of Lifestyle Design You can find Nathan on Instagram @nbelm
In 2004 He had the opportunity to start a somewhat formal glass apprenticeship at a studio/gallery on Maui. He was there for about 7 years studying under artists Sean Price, Jupiter Nielsen learning how to sculpt solid Boro glass. With great teachers and a fun working environment Nathan was able to learn a lot. He's been an independent glass artist for the last 7 years, and has no plans on quiting any time soon.
Cone follow us on instsgram @wyzguy_radio @jmichaelglass | |||
| Episode 159- Luke the Drifter Living the Glass Dream | 12 May 2017 | 01:35:06 | |
Episode 159- Luke The Drifter Living the Dream Hey how are you? This episode kicks off our month of May episodes themed around living the life you've always wanted to live. Depending on your personality, living the life style as a glass artist opens up opportunity to travel. This includes RVing across the Continental US, traveling through Countires around the world and visiting many studios in the process. In this episode Luke discusses his humble beginning's and his journey over the last decade and more as a traveling glass artist. We bicker about how things used to be and how things are now. Reminiscing on days of old as well as discussing how much the industry has changed in the last decade. Thanks again to Baddaskat for the bumper music the song is called "False Clouds" and can be found along with other tracks at www.baddaskat.com You can find all current podcasts at http://www.wyzguymedia.com/wyzguyradio/ Find Luke on Instagram.com/_luke_the_drifter thanks to all our sponsors
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| Episode 158- Chris Piazza Returns toTalk About His FIrst Time selling at GlassRoots | 02 May 2017 | 01:25:13 | |
Episode 158- Chris Piazza Part Deux
Chris and I sit down and talk about his experience selling at his first visit to a trade show, Glass Roots Madison. Chris unexpectedly took in a bigger sum of orders then planned and had to scramble to figure out the best way to manufacture the orders and have them shipped in a timely manner..We cover all of this and much, much, more.
Live streaming kit. https://kit.com/JMichael Sponsors: | |||
| Episode 156- Why, What, and How? Three questions to ask yourself regarding your motivation to be a glass artist | 25 Apr 2017 | 00:21:59 | |
Episode 156- Why, What, and How? Three questions to ask yourself regarding your motivation to be a glass artist. These three questions are important to ask yourself when finding your way during the journey as a glass artist. With many obsticals that can hinder ones growth as an artist it's important to keep these questions in mind. Why are you a glass artist? What drives your willingness to pursue a career filled not only with a ton of joy but also Heart ache? How will you overcome these obsticals while finding your voice in this creative outlet? The answers to these questions will change through time but it's important to understand the overall foundation and meaning to why you want to be a glass artist.
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| Episode 155- Dan Witmer- Jump Rope fitness like a Zen Dude and Flow State | 12 Apr 2017 | 01:03:18 | |
Hey there. Thanks for tuning in. Today's episode features a great friend and mentor of mine Dan Witmer. Dan is co-founder of a growing community called Zen Dude Fitness where they teach how to get healthy both physically and mentally through proper nutrition and jump rope fitness. This group has been the catalyst of getting me to where I am today in both a mental space and physically. Since Feb of 2016 I've lost 30lbs and changed the way I perceive fitness and mindset. Even though there are still daily struggles personally I've found that a quick 20-minute jumprope workout get my https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYew1VwdbpHnSFG-CQ1A-A https://www.zendudefitness.com
contact me at wyzguymedia@gmail.com | |||
| Episode 154- The importance of building a fundamentally strong foundation | 07 Apr 2017 | 00:25:14 | |
Episode 154-So You Wanna Be a GlassBlower?? Just don't Jump in Head First So you want to be a glass blower? This is something I've heard over and over for years from many folks. The biggest question is how does one get started? With the ever growing popularity of this genre of art many schools have begun to pick up and teach classes in the area of glassblowing. Whether it's in the furnace or a torch or both there are several schools that specifically cater to the glass artist and have programs for the glass artist such as Penland, Salem, and Pilchuck to name a few. With that being said 99% of those that want to be a glassblower don't necessarily want to go to school so here's what I recommend. For starters do some research. Google terms like glass art, glass blowing, or flame work and you'll find many videos and websites pertaining to this topic. The only problem is the majority of the sites only really talk about or show you videos of techniques. My goal with this episode is to talk to you about how to get started by sharing why you need to make sure you have a good foundation regarding technique as well as the proper equipment set up and whether or not you should seek an apprenticeship or keep it simple and just make it a hobby . But first here's a Public Service announcement from our favorite humble Pirate The Goblin King aka Chris Dickey.. "Here is a solid piece of advise,free,from me to you: Cause I can tell you for a fact: So if your cool being poor for a while and doin nothing but melting glass and eating Mac and cheese and eggs everyday ( with no guarante of success) then maybe this is the life is for you
Once you get the opportunity to melt glass for he first time you will feel a sense of excitement and maybe even catch the "glass bug". This medium is easy to fall in love with just don't get too excited. The first few times will feel intimidating but as your understanding for the power of 3000 plus degrees and how the equipment works increases, the feeling of intimidation will begin to turn into excitement and confidence. Just don't let the ego step in quite yet. It takes hours of practice and repetition learning the simplest techniques and processes. Just finetune these stages and slowly progress from one step to the next. Remember this is a marathon....not a sprint. Once you feel you are at a point where making a simple round marvel is second nature it'll be time to begin trying to manipulate the glass into common shapes like a fish or small bird. Once again do some research and find simple shapes in nature that you gravitate towards and pick 3 for starters. This will give you a good starting point just make sure you pick three items that have similarieites but also differences. Making a seahorse can be similar to making a swan. But making a butterfly and then trying to make an elephant can be daunting as they are completely different shapes. Think of progressive steps and how they relate to the different regencies you are trying to allly to your glass. The Swan in my opinion is a great place to start.
Next we will discuss the concepts of what heatbase is, how to tell when the glass is evenly heated, pulling stringers and points...... until next time Happy Melting, Stay Hydrated, and don't forget to take breaks periodically Your body will thank you!!!!!
In my opinion this is the smartest way to start
Starter Kit #100. $549.00 National 6B Oxy/Gas bench torch with stand and barbed fittings * National OX-5 Single Hole Tip
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| Episode 153- Joey Malaquias Peterson...sometimes you have to listen to that voice in your head | 04 Apr 2017 | 01:45:10 | |
Season 3: Episode-153 Joey Malaquias Peterson
Joey has been a flame worker for the last 18 years constantly fine tuning his craft and growing as an artist. Starting with a humble beginning and learning this medium through production and hustle he has made his way through the ranks growing into one of the best glass sculptors in our industry. His whimsical approach to character development and functional design is his driving force. Listen closely to Joeys wisdom and why you shouldnt rush the process of learnig the medium of glass.
contact wyzguymedia@gmail.com
sponsors-
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| Episode 152- Best of Will Young from Torch Talk on YouTube | 14 Mar 2017 | 00:58:50 | |
Hey there. Thanks for tuning in. For starters. This is going to be the beginning of a month of "Best Of" Episodes as I take a little break from the posting while getting the show updated. We are going to be recording a ton of shows as well as making sure the website is up-to-date SURVEY HAS EXPIRED AND NO LONGER AVAILABLE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK THE TIME TO FILL IT OUT A SECONDARY SURVEY WILL BE COMING OUT SOON AS A FOLLOW UP!!!!! Also please leave is a review on ITunes if you haven't already. It really helps the show gain more exposure as well as our ever growing community. You just need to click on the link on the iTunes podcast page that says reviews and it will take you to the destination to leave it. You can find all things Will Young on facebook as well as their youtube channel for Torch Talk Tuesdays which air from 7pm central to 10pm central. Www.youtube.com/torchtalk
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| Episode-Weekend Bonus Edition.. Help Me Help You | 19 Feb 2017 | 00:24:03 | |
Episode- Weekend Bonus Edition. Help Me Help You
As a huge Thank You for taking your time to fill it out I'll be choosing 1-Random person to win a Live Streaming Kit that I've put together on KIT.com. It comes with a Tri-pod, Dydimium lense filter and blue tooth remote to give you the highest quality live video possible. If you're interested in purchasing a kit just goto https://kit.com/JMichael/live-streaming-video-kit-for-glass-artists. This link has a few extras including lighting and a backdrop which you can opt out of when making the purchase. A small percentage of each sales go towards helping fund the podcast!!!❤
Info@wyzguyradio.com. | |||
| GBC ep.19- Austin Hensley: From Renaissance Boy to Business Man | 04 Dec 2020 | 01:56:02 | |
| Episode 150- How to Level-Up Your Glass Game w/ Paul Stephan aka Micro | 14 Feb 2017 | 02:13:15 | |
Episode 150- Level Up Your Glass Game w/Paul Stephan aka Micro Paul has been a full time glass artist for almost 2 decades. He discuses his difficulties during his first year and how he almost gave up and how he is beginning year 7 in his MARIO series. We dive into how to get into the flow state which is a zone of focus and creativivity that reaches an almost spiritual level and out of body experience. There's a chart posted on his page at WyzGuymedia.com/150. Here's a link to the chart as well https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology) He shares his passion for racing and how he started that journey as well as his answers during the crashing the kiln round.
Please leave a review and rating on ITunes or which ever podcast player use. Also if you'd like to help support the show you can do so by bookmarking our amazing portal link which can be found at WyzGuyMedia.com/support. Any purchases you make though our portal won't cost you anything extra we just make a small percentage from Amazon which helps us grow the show. You can also get a free audiobook download at audibletrial.com/wyzguyradio or better yet if you're live streaming while working on the torch you can purchase one of the kits I've created for you at Kit.com/WyzGuy which includes a didymium lense filter, tri-pod stand and a back drop for you to hang any marketing material you may have as well as hide any mess you may not want you audience to see. We now also have an array of tshirts, hand bags, and hats available in our store as well. WyzGuyMedia.com/shop Thanks as always for tuning in. Love you and hope you enjoy this conversation with Paul Stephan. | |||
| 149- Protecting your Back with Proper Body Mechanics | 10 Feb 2017 | 00:35:44 | |
In this episode I discuss the topic of proper body mechanics and potential lower back injuries that can be caused from this topic. Think about how your bench is built. -Are you constantly looking down or feeling like your bending over your torch? - Do you sir or stand or do both ? - Is your torch mounted at the correct height for the best posture. - Do you stretch, take breaks, and stay hydrated by consuming an adequate amount of water?
https://glassalchemy.com/blogs/the-formula/introducing-the-board-of-directors
http://ehs.virginia.edu/ehs/ehs.ergo/ergo.back.html
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| Episode 148- Talking 1K with @JAYSTAX on Instagram | 03 Feb 2017 | 00:32:36 | |
| Episode 146- Best of Featuring Steve Sizelove... How You Doin???? | 20 Jan 2017 | 01:24:53 | |
In this Episode host J.Michael chats with Steve Sizelove who has a 20 year history as a glass artist. They cover the span of thse 20 years including Steve's early days tohis current line of work. Here's the YouTube video of Steves debut in HGTV..... https://youtu.be/f1o3Rq3HHYs www.stevesizelove.com Instagram @steve_sizelove KIK stevesizelove
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| Episode 145- My Journey That Almost Ended From Suicide.. | 12 Jan 2017 | 00:24:10 | |
Episode !45-My Journey That Almost Ended From Suicide..How Anxiety and Fear Ran My Life.. | |||
| Episode 144- Jae Merm @HLKglass ... Yes, She is a Bad A$$!! | 04 Jan 2017 | 02:18:18 | |
Episode 144- Jae Merm @HLKglass...Happy Little Korean Jae was born on November 23, 1988 in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea and adopted out of Seoul when she was just a few months old. I don't know much about my birth parents, other than her birth Mom was 23, Dad was 25 and they were not married. In Korean culture it is not uncommon to be disowned by your family if you have a child out of wedlock. So instead of living a life of uncertainty, Jae, as an infant, was flown into JFK airport on a military aircraft and escorted by a USAF officerafter being adopted. She grew up in a small town near Syracuse, N.Y. and was really involved in extracurriculars and the arts, but lacrosse was became her main focus. She attended Lacrosse camps at Syracuse University and Duke University in North Carolina every summer and played on an elite traveling team. By her Senior year of High school she was forced to sit out the entire season due to a grade 3 ankle sprain. This injury ultimately ended her career and dream of playing collegiate level lacrosse. She attended college and finished out her freshman year and left school for good. Dealing with a serious blow to her spirit she decided to take a completely different path after and went to see an Air Force recruiter. She left for the military on December 4th , and due to her inate leadership skills she was elected to be the Dorm Chief of my basic training flight, graduated school and became a fighter and heavy aircraft mechanic. Jae's orders took her to Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska which became one of the best decisions she feels she ever made. She did a lot of traveling growing up- internationally and within the continental US. She traveled after her time in the Air Force, lived in Brooklyn for a good while, fell in love, and eventually moved to Vegas. Her son was born in May 2012, started blowing glass in 2013. Eventually she built hery own in home studio and purchased a decent sized paragon kiln (F420) at Champs that summer, saved up to buy a brand new 40mm Herbie, and a great friend, Alex (@artbygoon on instagram) decided he'd rather be a tattoo artist instead of a glass blower, and proceeded to give Jae his hoses, gauges, oxy tank, cases of clear Schott, and some basic tools. She's been blowing glass on her own for just about a year now. you can find Jae on instagram @HLKglass www.wyzguymedia.com/144 | |||
| Episode 143 - My 5-Favorite Productivity Apps for 2017 | 02 Jan 2017 | 00:32:46 | |
Episode 143- MY Top 5 Favorite Productivity Apps for 2017 Hey there! Below I have listed the top 5-apps with their appropriate links as well as what I use them for. If you have any favorite apps for productivity I would love to know what they are so write back and let me know so I can share them with the rest of the community. Until next time I truly hope 2017 is your most productive, prosperous year yet!! Jason Michael
1.Evernote- This is by far my favorite app to use. Its great for brain dumps whether you journal via text or even recording an audio file. Evernote is ideal for keeping lists of things to do, grocery shopping, orders pending and setting reminders. Its super easy to use and once you begin to learn how to create folders that you'll keep files in your life will become more organized and you'll forget less. This has been a major change for me personally as someone who deals with A.D.D. I truly needed something in my life that is easily accessible, that I know I will open and read and a simple place to jot done notes at anytime of the day, especially if while commuting or just before getting to bed. In the past I'd purchase a daily calendar/journal and use it for a few days before it would go missing or just simply forget to open it and use it. Because this app is on the phone it's always there and has become routine for me to open it every morning and go through the days tasks at hand. https://evernote.com/ The trick to this app is as soon as you begin to use it you must create folders that you will keep your files in. For instance mine has folders for podcast 2017, braindump 2017, daily tasks/check list, kids schedule for the month, monthly recuring bills with a set reminder 3-5 days before they are to hit my checking account, and a few more folders such as business expense receipts 2017. One feature that I really like is the receipt capture. It will literall store any and all receipts for you throughout the year. If you hold a receipt in your hand or have in on a desk the camera will just take a picture of the receipt and block out everything else that is behind it. Its really cool technology and super helpful. This is just a glimpse into this app so download it and dive in. You will not regret it!! 2.Dropbox- For storing and organizning your photos and file sharing Dropbox is an ideal app that alows you to keep your files safe and accessible. The extent of what you do with this appis up to you as it serves many pruposes. For myself personally I useit to keep nd back up all photos of my glass and family, mp3 and podcast files as well as pdf's. Generally this app is best suited to store large files that you would like to easily access of share with others. If you dont have a website yet but would like to create and share a catalog of your current work this is an ideal place for that. https://www.dropbox.com 3.Acuity Scheduling- This might seem a bit out of sorts but this app will help you better schedule your life and stay on task Not only is this app great for scheduling your appointments with clients but also scheduling in personal time. There is a reminder feature that sends you and the third party involved a text and email sharing the date, time and location of the scheduled event. Even if its a Skype call, meeting at Starbucks, a round of disc golf, or even a scheduled hour of downtime this app will help fine-tune your day and help keep you on task. Even if you set an appointment for your days studio shift this will keep you focused as you'll be reminded of your next scheduled appoint like dinner at home or even a workout. Being able to set a schedule on a visible digital calendar will open your eyes to better time efficiency and development of routines and habits. It will also give you the freedom to let your friends or clients schedule their own "appointment" with you based on the times you have made available on the on-line scheduler. https://acuityscheduling.com/
4.Freshbooks- Invoicing has become hassle free with this app. Easy to use Freshbooks is an great on-line cloud accounting app that allows you to send professional looking invoices, tracking payment, and even receive payments helping keep you and your clients on the same page. There is a free version as well as many upgrades that are useful if you have a larger scaled business. Instead of having to lug around a paper invoice book you can simply email your customers the invoice which is also helpful when growing your email list.https://www.freshbooks.com 5.Everydollar- This app was developed by Dave Ramsey's company which has helped millions get out of debt and stay of top of their finances. This app is a great tool to help establish a monthly budget for your business and personal finances. It is free but for a small fee you can have it linked to your checking which make sit even easier to keep track of expenses, categorize the expenses and make it organized for your accountant when doing your quarterly and annual taxes. https://www.everydollar.com/
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| Episode 142- Reflecting on 2016 | 30 Dec 2016 | 00:23:01 | |
Episode 142- Reflecting on 2016 Below are questions to ask yourself when it comes to reflecting on the last year. This exercise can be done and should be done frequently so you can stay on top of wins and losses. Successes What successes stand out most from this past year? What was it about each event that caused them to be successful? Are any of these successful events repeatable? Are there any things that you could have done to make the success even greater? Failures What events stand out the most that you would consider your biggest failures? What was it about these events that made them a failure? What could you have done differently to either made it into a success ormake it so that event never happened in the first place? What lessons learned can you carry over to similar events to make them successful? In the event that failed do you think delegating specific task to another person or team would have made it a more of a successful event? PDF DOWNLOAD LINK https://www.dropbox.com/s/ur2cw9i08kxa1md/YEAR%20IN%20REFLECTION.pdf?dl=0 | |||
| Episode 141- Jakey Marten a.k.a. Blitzkriega | 14 Dec 2016 | 01:56:09 | |
Episode 141- Jakey Marten aka Blitzkriega
Born in a beach town, culture has always been my primary form of expression- From surfing to music to art to celebrating life and success with my family- Ive consistently expressed my ideas thru media of culture itself- I received my Crafts degree from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Fine Arts with a concentration in glass- There I discovered how to utilize glass as a media to further express how art and culture are one- I feel like American culture has become themed around the artistic remix; or more formally the idea of amalgamation. In my journey to discover the perfect "mix" I've searched for and attempted to create images that universally appeal to everyone. Check him out on Instagram @blitzkriega
as well as his page at
trivia question : In episode 140 Scoz and I talk about his dogs and one in particular who decided to take an extended vacation and was gone from home for 4-days .What type of dog is and what's his name? Send answers to info@wyzguyradio.com You must give me both answers. 1 winner will be randomly chosen from the pool of correct responses Good kick and have fun
winner will receive a $50.00 gift card to Mountain Glass and a sticker pack from yours truly
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| Episode 140- Scott Tribble AKA Scoz ..Taming Dragons and Finding Your Voice in Glass | 09 Dec 2016 | 01:41:29 | |
CORRECTION!! The 35% off sale does not include Illuminati, Lucy or Wonderbars... I misspoke and said they were included. Sorry for the confusion Scott Tribble was born August 10th, 1980 in Kirkland, WA. He has had a love for sculpting as far back as he can remember. In High School it was clay and painting, as those were the mediums available. When he was 19 he discovered glass blowing where his passion began to consume him and he fell into his niche. He has experimented in many styles but his heart is in sculpting. “Scoz” is best known for his dragons, which have won numerous awards including High Times Cannabis Cup “Best Glass” three times. Scoz Dragons have also been featured in Dope Magazine, NW Leaf, and on Billboards in the Seattle, Washington area.
www.wyzguymedia.com/140 | |||
| Best of the Worst Injuries Vol.1(NEWLY REMASTERED) | 21 Oct 2020 | 00:16:06 | |
A Glass Blowers Companion: Best of the Worst Studio Injuries VOl 1. REMASTERED In celebration of Halloween it's that time of year again to share to highlights of the stories, told by the artists, describing their horrific injuries of blood, burns, and mutilation. We are pleased to share these tales in hopes to remind you to always pay attention. Artists featured in this episode: Vol.II REMASTERED will be available soon and the the Premier of Vol. III Stay tuned till next year when we bring you the traumatizing reflections of punctures, burns, and lacerations. Until then.....HAPPY MELTING contact wyzguymedia@gmail.com FInd me on social media Music credit https://youtu.be/73_RJpB4DMQ
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| Episode 139 Matty Phunk- Talkin Torches and Developing "The Arrow" by Nortel | 05 Dec 2016 | 01:41:01 | |
Episode 139- Matty Phunk: Glass Artist and Engineer #boroadvocate #innovator In this episode Matty @torontoflameworking and @jmichaelglass get deep into the talking about Marty's background, glass Journey and inspriration behind #TheArrow. A New, Soon-to-be-Released Torch from Nortel which has been In development for the last 2-yrs, Nortel is pushing the design and innovation for their newest creation. With a New "Re-Mix" Flame Chemistry this torch is going to change the game. Not only only affordable to purchase but also energy efficiency at its finest. Low pressures allow this torch to run Hot and use less gas then most of the hottest torches on the market. I can't wait to get my hands on one!!!!! Hope you enjoy and Please share with you friends and spread the amazing things going on in the glass community!!!!!! Matty Pike (Phunk) was born Sept 5, 1989 in Toronto, Ontario and has lived there for most of his life, with a year on the east coast of Canada and a year on the West Coast. He graduated from Ryerson University for Entrepreneurship and started up the Toronto Flameworking Studio shortly after He finished their program. He started out collecting glass in about 2006 on internet forums and got his first opportunity to try melting in 2009. He had a lot of off/on time between working in a few different home studios while finishing school and decided to open the TFT studio to provide an opportunity for others to learn an practice in a reliable shop. While operating the TFT studio He has been fortunate enough to work closely with Nortel to design and build a new style of burner as well as creating an upgrade for some of their traditional burners. The new Nortel-TFT Arrow has been in development for the better part of 2 years and with a great deal of R&D it is by far their most complex burner. By combining the use of both surface mix as well as premix the Arrow is able to create a very unique "Remix" style flame chemistry. | |||
| Episode 138- Talking Home Oxygen Systems with Scott Fleishman Owner of Oxygen Frog | 01 Dec 2016 | 01:42:41 | |
Episode 138- Talking Home Oxygen Systems with Scott Fleishman owner and creator of The Oxygen Frog Systems..Ribbit Ribbit Here is a list of the topics we covered during this interview. You'll hear that Scott is not only a glass artists but also an engineer who has found his "Zone of Genius" when it comes to his creativity and thinking outside of the box.!!!
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| Episode 137- J.D.Maplesden | 22 Nov 2016 | 02:21:18 | |
J.D. Maplesden shares his journey from his humble beginnings as a glass artist to where he is now. From Vagabon to Vagabong... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sponsors --------------------------------------------------------------------------
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| Episode 136- "Best of" Featuring Dan Coyle | 17 Nov 2016 | 00:37:12 | |
EPISODE 136- "best of" Dan Coyle AKA Coyle This is a replay from Episode 4
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| Episode135- Should you offer free shipping for new customers | 11 Nov 2016 | 00:24:04 | |
Episode 135 -offer free shipping or no Today's question comes from Gary Cottontail asking "When shipping an order to a new customer should you offer free shipping on the first order or in general?" My answer and suggestion is "No!" Instead offer a discount in first orders. Typically I'll offer 10% off first orders but with a minimum of order being $500.00. Depending on how established you are as an artist will determine on what you can legitimately ask in regards to minimum orders. When I first started any order that was an hour or mores drive or had to be shipped was a minimum of $300.00...now it's $500.00. Don't let the shops push you around with this. Give a small discount and let the shop know that basically they're getting free pipe out of it. By offering a discount it allows you to easily manage your book keeping. Shipping is expensive and so is the handling(time). Think of what it costs just in material to ship an order safely. I get into the details of the numbers game when it comes to putting a percentage aside for shipping and office expenses. Hope this helps give you a different perspective when it comes to luring retailers to buy your work.
In episode 134 featuring D-Rock we talked about his little traveling buddy. This weeks question is What type of dog does Derek have and what's his name? Please send answers to info@wyzguyradio.com Entries must be received no later then
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| Episode 134- Derek Ross...... AKA...D_ROCK | 05 Nov 2016 | 01:13:39 | |
Episode 134- Derek Ross aka D-Rock Derek began his established glass career in 1999 under the apprenticeship with Pablo Sag in Colorado. His career spans across the changes and issues the functional glass community has perserveered through including producing glass for Tommy Chong Glass and then having the rug pulled out by "Operation Pipedreams". To his credit, Derek Ross continued to finetune his skills including a postion he took at a scientific glass blowing manufacturer. YOu can find his work on Instagram @d.rockglassart or search online for D-Rock Glass. www.wyzguymedia.com/134 Sponsors: www.mountainglass.com www.theflowmagazine.com www.americanhelix.com www.glassrootsartshow.com | |||
| Episode 133- "Best of" The Worst Injuries in the Studio Vol.I | 05 Nov 2016 | 00:34:31 | |
Episode 133- "Best of" The Worst Injuries Vol.I
This episode features highlights from the "Crashing the Kiln" round where I ask." What is your worst injury in the studio?" In celebration of Halloween I thought it would be fun to share the HORROR as we listen to the tales of blood, lacerations, and burns. You may eve learn a thing or two.
featuring in order : Rashan Jones Lurch Boxfan Willy Joe Skar Lewis Wilson Mongo Bob Harley Dog
The Answer to last weeks trivia question: How many times did I say Ect. in Episode 130. answer is 25...
scary themed background music music created by
Aaron Jones is our winner
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| Episode 132- Be Good to Your Hands | 28 Oct 2016 | 00:32:20 | |
Episode 132- Taking Care of Our Hands(replay of Episode 74- Repetitive Strain Injury revisited....Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)) link to a new natural pain relief and blood stimulator..made by Enchanted Sunshine-Australian oil of eucalyptus spray ..http://enchantedsunshine.com/ TREATMENT FOR pain from: Arthritis
Promotes Circulation Works Naturally Soothing Many Healthful Uses Discover treatment for pain from joint & muscle aches, back pain, sinus congestion, skin irritations and more . . RSI- REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURY Repetitive strain injury (RSI) and associative trauma orders are umbrella terms used to refer to several discrete conditions that can be associated with repetitive tasks, forceful exertions, vibrations, mechanical compression, or sustained/awkward positions.[1][2] Examples of conditions that may sometimes be attributed to such causes include edema,tendinosis (or less often tendinitis), carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, De Quervain syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, intersection syndrome, golfer's elbow(medial epicondylitis), tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), trigger finger (so-called stenosing tenosynovitis), radial tunnel syndrome, and focal dystonia.[1][2][3] Since the 1970s there has been a worldwide increase in RSIs of the arms, hands, neck, and shoulder attributed to the widespread use of typewriters/computers in the workplace that require long periods of repetitive motions in a fixed posture.[4] Treatment
General exercise has been shown to decrease the risk of developing RSI.[9] Doctors sometimes recommend that RSI sufferers engage in specific strengthening exercises, for example to improve sitting posture, reduce excessive kyphosis, and potentially thoracic outlet syndrome.[10] Modifications of posture and arm use (human factors and ergonomics) are often recommended.[3][11] Finkelstein's test From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Other practitioners use a modified Eichhoff's test, below, and ask their patients to flex their thumb and clench their fist over the thumb before ulnar deviation, but with ulnar deviation performed by the practitioner.[2] Eichhoff's test is commonly confused with Finkelstein's test. However the Eichhoff's test may produce false positive results, while a Finkelstein's test performed by a skilled practitioner is unlikely to produce a false positive.[3] Wikipedia info on RSI(Repetitive Strain Injury)
- Operation Pipe Dreams 2.0
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| Episode 131- Selling your work in a new territory | 26 Oct 2016 | 00:21:24 | |
In todays episode we will be discussing the topic of Getting etsablished in a new territory. This topic came to my attention from an inquiry by John Gonzalez whom you can find on the social feeds @probies_treasures on instagram as well as his business page on Facebook Facebook.com/probiestreasures. Have you ever moved to a new city, state or country and felt lost when it came to reestablishing yourself in the local market place? This episode is going to cover some simple ideas to introduce yourself to your local retailers, figure out what your local market is like and create long lasting relationships that will help support your business now and in the future, even if you move again. As an artists we have the ability to pick up and move to almost anywhere in the world. Having a bag of tools to use when getting yourself reestablished is the key to a successful transition. Many times the idea of having to become re established can cause many to not want to move at all due to the fear of having to start all over. Having a clear understanding of where your business is now and where you'd like it to go will make it easier to approach your new territory with your product line in a confident, proud manner. You dont want to be cocky and over confident as this can turn off a lot of shop owners. Having a humble, proud attitude will pay dividends for years to come as your line of work grows with your techniques. With todays technology its easier then ever to promote and sell your work internationally, however the relationships you develop on a personal level with your local retailers and their customers will be a more rewarding experience both spiritually and financially. These 5-steps will ease the stress that can lead to sales paralysis. These can be implemented now to begin the process of establishing and selling in new territories whether your new to glass, new to the area or just new to selling your own work. before we begin lets remember first and foremost that you much know your local and state paraphernalia laws. Every city and state has different laws when it come to cannabis and this is crucial to not only help you fine tune your product lines but also to keep your ass out of jail. 1- locate at least 6-smoke shops in your area.. Try to keep these shops under an hour drive, time equals money. Not every town or city has a bundle of smoke shops so this may be a challenge however if this means you need to travel further then an hour do it.. once you get a good relationship with a smoke shops you can always take orders over the phone or through email. this i why its important to have a consistent, well developed line of work. Once you have located your local smoke shops its time to go on a re-con mission. 2- the re-con mission Step 2 will give you the chance to visit these shops and get an idea of what type of shops they are. Not everyone is going to be high end or low end. This will help you to figure out how to fine tune the needs of each shop. Take mental notes. as well as create a note in your phone... before walking in the door you should have prepped a note for each shop you're visiting with the name and location written down. ask to see products and take notes in your phone of pricing with being obvious about it and don't let them know you're an artist. This may seem deceptive at first but of you walk into a new smoke shop and start talking about yourself you'll more then likely cause them employee or shop owner to put up a mental block and not be as "open" to show you prices. BY finding out the retail of their items you can do the math and figure out the wholesale most shops will mark up their items 2-2.5 times. some mark up 3 times but don't let this discourage you. If for instance you see a bubbler priced at $55.00 then you can assume that the wholesale was around $22-$25.00. Really take notice of what the shop carries and if customers come in while you're there pay attention to what they are asking for and potentially purchase.Ask questions about the artists they purchase from and jot their names down. this leads us to step 3.. 3- talk to other local artists. The local artists in your area that have been their for a while will be able to give you a heads up about sops that they've dealt with. not every artists is going to be willing to spill the beans so take their input lightly bit still pay attention. ask about what they sell and how the owner or mgr of the shop buys.. DO they haggle prices? do they buy in bulk? discounts for bulk? are they a higher end gallery/retail that isn't afraid to drop god money on great glass.? if you're a newer artist ask other artists in the area if they collab if so the artists you collab with cold sell the piece to the local smoke shop and help introduce you to the area through your work. ask your local artists f they ever demo at the shops? etc.. Most artists in your community are willing to share info compared to 10-years ago so don't be afraid to reach out. 4-Meet the buyers Once you introduce yourself to your local artists and have a decent idea of what your local shops offer and what their prices are like its time to introduce yourself as an artist to the shops This can be intimidating and keep you from even leaving your studio. The fear of rejection can be debilitating but just remember that if you make this part of the process fun, not only will you find that your fears can actually fuel your fire but also that few every"no" you get you will be one "no" closer to a bigger "yes". Learning how to deal with rejection is going to be key to your success as a sales person but it will also create a confidence in yourself that will lead to other successes in life. heres how you can make this a ton of fun... Give Your Glass Away!! yep thats all you have to do.... make samples of all your work.. no mater how big or small your line of work is make up a case full of samples. Now if you've been following the podcast for sometime you'll remember that as part of figuring out your base line calculations for your lines of product one step is creating a timed sample which you should keep for a reference. These samples are ideal to carry with you when you go to shops to show them what you make. Along with the sample make sure you have a price list with a high quality colored photo of each item next its respective price. That way you can leave this with each shop so they can call you when they need to reorder of when you call they have a reference to know what you are talking about. Now as far as the giveaways go heres what you can do. Make Pendants and spoons. These will be your freebies. When introducing yourself make sure you keep the names of these contacts in the note file you originally created during your re-con mission. If the shop is a franchise or is run by a manager and not the owner make sure to get their name and contact info. They may be open to give you their personal cell number which will make it easier to get in contact with them but don't abuse this. If upon your visit you only have an employee working make sure to still get the info of the buyer but also create a good repor with the employee, they can be your best advocate when it comes to getting your work in the shop. If you do just have a employee then bring them 1- pipe sample and 2- pendants. 1 for them and 1 for the mgr/owner. If you can give the shop owner or buyer one of each it will give them a physical reference and a gift to boot. tell them the pendant is for them to have and the pipe is for them to sell and give them your MSRP for both. The MSRP is the manufactures suggested retail price which if you did your research of that shop, your pricing will fit right in with other items that are similar in style and pricing. Try to keep your prices consistent across the board but yo will fin that some shops that r higher end and have a higher end demographic in their area will be willing to pay more for your work then say an area that isn't a financially wealthy. Along with your glass gifts and samples, its important that you also have marketing material which leads u to number 5.. 5- stickers, fliers and business cards Along with your gifted pendant and sample hand pipe you will also need to bring along your marketing material This is the best way to spread the word through out your community that YOU HAVE ARRIVED. When it comes to stickers one thing I recommend you get made is a larger sticker that the shop can put on their front door or cases. Besides smaller stickers for the shops customers the larger stickers have the ability to become a semi-permanent marketing strategy giving you a longer advertising effect when it comes to branding yourself. If you don't have a logo or brand yet just a simple sticker made using a high quality photo of your glass and add your artists name will suffice. There's many outlets for purchasing custom stickers which as aways I recommend going local but if you cant ill post links to several companies you can choose from That I recommend an use.. along with your stickers make sure you have business cards made. This is a cheap and simple way to give the shops and their customers a way to get in touch and follow you on your social platforms. its important to include your website or marketplace(if you have one)contact info including email.. if your on a social platform don't forget to include everyone of them from your titter handle to your IG acct. this will give your followers a chance to stay up to date with you and your newer items along with a personal side to you and all your wackiness. In a past episode I discussed why you should use your social media platforms as tool and to not rely on them to sell your work. If you follow these tips you will find that you'll create a strong foundation in your local community and these relationships will be ones to nurture and grow. These can lead to demonstrations at the shops and even the ability to sell work that is experimental as you learn and develop new techniques. Make sure to stay in touch with these shops monthly If you set a call schedule to check in with these shops in a rotation you'll be able to keep consistent orders flying out of your studio and help you grow as an artists while increasing your profits!! | |||
| Episode 130- Selling Your Work During the Holidaze (part 5) | 19 Oct 2016 | 00:34:41 | |
Selling Your work during the holidays. This is the time to begin gearing up for the holiday rush As we all know time disappears even faster this time of year between the studio time, holiday parties, family get togethers and trying to find sleep amongst the chaos. Ideally if you are able to continue the momentum created throughout the year the holidays can be highly successful allowing you to add new items to an already large catalog, try new items as well as create and continue an annual limited edition series or item. Personally I make and sell a limited edition ornament. Platforms like Etsy are a great place to sell and promote these items. Each platform has its own algorithm helping you promote yourself as an artist. They are flooded with a sea of others but with persistence and time dedicated to this process as well as consistancy you can find success. Social media platforms like Pinterest and Instagram allow you to promote the items you are focused on selling during the holidays. As you drive up interest in these items it is important to think about promotional sales for Black Friday and cyber Monday. Personally I hold a Instagram only sale for cyber Monday and use my Etsy account for Black Friday. Even though blackfridau is generally a brick and mortar retail sale day you can still take advantage with online platforms. It is important to remember to promote heavily for at least a month in advance driving up the interest. Each day before the Skar launches you should promote the sale and items. If you are selling different items you can showcase them individually throughout the weeks as well as promote the sales giving your tribe an advanced notice. Another important idea is to think of supply and demand or scarcity of your item. Let your tribe know that you are only making 20 or 50 of a specific item and that they are numbered and dated and signed. This adds to the hype and the need for your tribe to own your limited edition items. Remember if you do go this route that you have to stay true to your word and if you say you are only Making 20 of said item then you have to stick to that number. The item can change and vary over the years and seasons to keep this item a consistent collectors edition item and keep the scaricity mindset associated with it which will drive your tribe to feel the need to buy it now since they'll never be able to get that item again. This is why it is so important to stay up with your social media and stay consistent with your word and posts...... Here's a few tips when it comes to selling wholesale orders to your retailers Shops are busy Visit or call in advance to see what the shop needs. Not wants. Make an appointment and hold shop to it Always make a few extra items that you want to sell Think retail 20-50.00 stocking stuffers. Put together a Christmas or holiday pack. Stockings with goodies Follow up before going to confirm appointment made Platforms to sell retail
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| GBC Ep.18- Madeline Rile Smith: Pushing the Personal Bubble Through Glassical Instruments | 14 Sep 2020 | 01:37:29 | |
A Glass Blowers Companion Ep.18-Madeline Rile Smith Find Madeline on Instagram @madhotglass Artist's Bio-Madeline Rile Smith is an American artist working in glass, specializing in flameworking and performance. She earned an MFA in glass at Rochester Institute of Technology, and a BFA in glass from Tyler School of Art. Madeline draws upon her musical background to create glass musical instruments which explore physical connection between players. She utilizes hot glass as a performative medium to consider notions of intimacy and compromise. Madeline started working with glass in 2007 as a high school student. At the time she was a dedicated musician, planning to become a professional violist. But her passion for glass took over and she decided to devote her life to glass art. Madeline’s sculptural glass work has been exhibited in venues throughout the US and featured in New Glass Review 41 and 35. She has instructed glassworking in schools and institutions throughout the east coast, including Salem Community College, UrbanGlass, The Crefeld School, and Rochester Institute of Technology. Support the show via Patreon | |||
| Episode 129- Production..High Volume vs.Low Volume | 11 Oct 2016 | 00:34:26 | |
High volume low end VS. Low volume High end When it comes to manufacturing and selling production there are many variables that need to be taken into concieration before beginning. 1- do you have an outlet that can move your product lines on a consistant basis and if so is it YOU or a DISTRIBUTOR? 2- how many items and variations of these itmes do you want to create? 3-Can you keep up with the volume? 3-How diverse are you in regards to these lines and the creation of the styles? THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO LOOK AT PRODUCTION..HIGH VOLUME LOW-END VS. LOW VOLUME HIGH-END LETS STARTS WITH THE IDEA OF CREATING A PRODUCTION LINE AND THEN WE WILL MOVE INTO THE DIFEERENCES OF THE TWO AREAS OF CONSIDERATION. pro·duc·tion prəˈdəkSH(ə)n/ noun
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| Episode 128- Dustin Revere.....Finding Healing and Center with Glassblowing | 30 Sep 2016 | 01:10:30 | |
Episode 128- Finding Healing and Center with Glassblowing featuring Dustin Revere Dustin is a wealth of knowledge who has soaked it up from some of the greatest flameworkers in the world. As an artists Dustin has put himself in position to build relationships and gain exposure from artists whom have hundredrs of years of lineage in their families of glass artists. Learning techniques from artists such as Giani Toso http://www.giannitoso.com/, Cesare Toffolo, http://www.toffolo.com/en/, Lucio Bubacco http://www.luciobubacco.com/, Robert Mickelsen http://www.mickelsenstudios.com/ and many more. Dustin has taken this knowledge and created his own version of techniques which has now captivated and taught thousands of aspiring glass artists around the world. Between his Revere school of glass, youtube videos https://www.youtube.com/user/revereglass and facebook posts https://www.facebook.com/revereglass/, Dustin is always pushing himself to find and share tchniques with an audeince who is constantly hungry for more. http://www.revereglass.com/ __________________________________________ Sponsors | |||
| Episode 127- Nick Deviley co/owner of Glassroots Trade Show | 27 Sep 2016 | 01:20:18 | |
Episode 127- Co-Founder Nick Deviley
The Glassroots Education Project THE GLASSROOTS EDUCATION PROJECT HOURS: Interviews focusing on the day the pipe industry stood still. How “Operation Pipe Dreams” and Headhunter affected our lives. BIO: Tito Bern is an American pipe-maker based in Burlington, Vermont. In 1999, Tito discovered the art of glassblowing, his new passion was born. In 2004, he co-founded The Bern Gallery with Mikeala Boman, whom he later married. In 2006 the pair launched the Pipe Classic, the world's first Pipe-Making Competition. Tito's work is often sculptural, and animal-centric. His uncanny ability to sculpt the natural form infuses his work with a vitality rarely seen in the medium. Tito lives in Bristol, Vermont, with his wife and their ever-growing menagerie of rescue animals.
No matter where you find yourself in your glass career, whether a beginner or well experienced, it is never too early or too late to take the time to familiarize yourself with the fundamentals. Often times more experienced lampworkers will find themselves at a stand-still, and beginners will be baffled simply trying to plot a course. Glass can often seem mysterious, fickle, and downright ornery; however, with a proper understanding of the material itself and how it interacts with the heat and chemistry of the flame, the artist is freed form the mystery and variables associated with struggling and is allowed to work more closely oriented to the act of creativity. After all, the fun is in working with the material not wrestling against it. This presentation will focus in more directly on gaining an understanding of the material itself and on tightening up our approach to process. BIO: With 40 plus years of glassblowing under his belt, Roger Parramore consistently seeks to develop his work while teaching others the passion for the medium. Robert Mickelsen writes: “Parramore is known for his decanter and goblet sets, lidded urns, and broad-lipped compotes. Extremely adept at forming relatively large blown forms, Parramore has sometimes been called the ‘human lathe.’ The bodies of some of his vessels are formed of clear borosilicate glass with color being reserved for ornamentation, stems, and handles. The clarity emphasizes the sense of fragility, while the form lends a feeling of strength. Others are built in the Italian incalmo style with heavily reduced colors giving the surface a ceramic-like appearance. Roger’s vessels are precise and impossibly thin. The perfect shapes of his paper-walled goblet bowls and bottles are a testimony to his extremely high skill level. His highly developed technical skills and uncompromising design aesthetics place Parramore squarely among the very best lampworkers in the world today.” Fellow glass artist and author Bandhu Scott Dunham writes: “Among lampworkers, some of the most sublime goblet bowls are created by Roger Parramore, who pays respect to the Venetian tradition. His scientifically-derived technique produces simple, dramatic, deliciously satisfying forms.” rogerparramore.com This is a hands-on lathe technique class which will also provide a mental framework for how to approach scientific glass work. Bring your notebook – there are no hand-outs. BIO: Tracy Drier began his career as a paper engineer, but glassblowing was always his first love. When he turned 30, he decided to make the switch, and moved to South Jersey to enroll in the scientific glassblowing program at Salem Community College. For the last 20 years he has worked as a scientific glassblower in industrial production and university research environments. Erich Moraine is owner of Wild Rose Glass where he designs/builds/repairs custom scientific glassware. He attended Salem Community College in 1977 to start learning the profession. That's where he ran into his first glass lathe. He never fully recovered from that accident.
Germ will talking about his adventures in crowd funding the 10000 Cranes project. BIO: Germ (Jeremy Grant-Levine) is a Philadelphia based glass artist and teacher. His parents are both artists and encouraged him to experiment with all materials from a very young age. Germ has a degree in Scientific glassblowing and spent several years working in the scientific glass industry, before returning to making art full time. He has traveled extensively, collaborating and learning from some of the best glassblowers in the country. He has been teaching in studios around the US and internationally for the past few years.
This class will cover topics such as optic stemware, fuming, using compressed air, and soft glass hot shop techniques to expand your fundamental understanding of glass. BIO: Jason Howard first began working with glass in 1997 as a senior studying ceramics at Hamilton College with glass artist Robert Palusky. Seduced by its alluring qualities of light and the sheer technical challenge, Howard's glass experimentation soon turned to obsession and total immersion. After a two-year internship as Hamilton's ceramic studio technician and a scholarship to The Studio of the Corning Museum of Glass, he began studying both off-hand glassblowing and flameworking. His work has been exhibited in national galleries and is in the permanent collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. He won a NICHE Award in 2009.
Demonstration of how Lathe Setup affects workflow and how a well thought out setup can expand the possibilities of work. Then, a demonstration of ideal setup to make a small beaker style pipe, and a 30-45 minute Q&A. BIO: John Meinke, also known by his torch name Circle, has been a full time glassblower since November of 1999. After becoming disillusioned with what the future might hold for him while pursuing a BA in music performance for classical trombone, he decided to drop out of college and take an apprenticeship at a small shop in the San Fernando Valley. It was there where he first began to learn about real life, the meaning of intensely hard & hot work and the magic of molten glass. Almost 16 years later he still finds great satisfaction working with his hands and moving glass into shapes that function well and are pleasing to the eye. The first 10 years of John’s glassblowing career were spent blowing glass to stock the shelves of the retail store that he and his brother owned together. He has made everything from five dollar clear dry pipes, to downstems, to bubblers, waterpipes, lighting sconces, ashtrays, cheap bowl pieces, headdies and everything inbetween. The skills that he acquired making everything that could possibly be made to put on the shelf of a smoke shop, gave John an incredibly broad skillset that he draws from on a daily basis. 5 years ago he started Mobius, a production scientific glass waterpipe company, where he is the sole owner and designer. When not working, John is an obsessed gardener and beach bum. His garden could be considered a small farm. Both gardening and surfing time are always spent with his family, his wife Rose and 2 kids. He also enjoys camping, fishing and running. Creating a life with a healthy work, family, food and exercise balance has been an ongoing challenge and one that he feels if very important to not lose sight of. John is 35 years old.
Education Project Tickets:
How do you make an artwork that is unique and recognizable as your own? In this workshop we will discuss different methods that can help an artists identify and cultivate themes that they would like to realize in glass. A pipe has the potential to become a work of art when the artist chooses to incorporate political statements, personal narratives, or even pop culture into the work. Ms. Lozar will give a brief lecture on her own artistic journey and then invite workshop participants to complete a series of exercises that will help identify and develop their own unique style. BIO: “The sculpture I create with glass is meant to inspire and provoke imagination. Telling stories has always been my primary objective. Some narratives are sad, funny, or thoughtful but my pieces are always about celebrating life.” Born in 1975, Carmen Lozar lives in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois where she maintains a studio and is a member of the art faculty at Illinois Wesleyan University. Carmen has taught at Pilchuck Glass School, Penland School of Craft, Pittsburgh Glass School, Appalachian Center for Crafts, The Chrysler Museum, and the Glass Furnace in Istanbul, Turkey. She has had residencies at the Corning Museum of Glass and Penland School of Craft. Her work is included in many collections including the Bergstrom Mahler Museum, WI and the Museum of Art and Design, NY. Carmen Lozar was the 2008 keynote speaker and demonstrator at the International Flameworking Conference in Salem, NJ. In fall of 2016, Carmen will travel to New Zealand to present at the New Zealand Society of Artists in Glass conference.
Mr. Mickelsen will construct a life-size clear glass human hand out of borosilicate tubing. Followed by a Question and Answer session BIO: Born in 1951 in Fort Belvoir , Virginia and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Robert's formal education ended after one year of college. He apprenticed with a professional lampworker for two years in the mid-seventies and then sold his own designs at outdoor craft fairs for ten years. In 1987 he took a class from Paul Stankard that opened his eyes to the possibilities of his medium. In 1989, he stopped doing craft shows and began marketing his work exclusively through galleries. Since then, his career has taken off. He shows his work in some of the finest galleries in the country and participates in prominent exhibitions each year. His work is exhibited in many prominent collections including the Renwick Gallery of American Crafts at the Smithsonian Institution, the Corning Museum of Glass, The Toledo Museum of Art, The Museum of Arts and Design, The Carnegie Museum of Art, The Mint Museum, The Cleveland Museum of Art, and The Museum of American Glass at Wheaton Village. He has taught extensively at the major glass schools including the Pilchuck Glass School , Penland School of Crafts, The Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass, and The Pittsburgh Glass Center. He has filmed and produced two videos on his flameworking process, and he has designed and maintains an elaborate web page dedicated to his own work and the galleries that represent him (www.mickelsenstudios.com). He has published numerous technical and historical articles on flameworked glass. He served for six years on the board of directors of the Glass Art Society and was their treasurer and vice-president.
BIO: Berzerker aka Brian Serck, born in 1972 is a Colorado native, currently living in beautiful Gunnison Co. where he attended Western State University, and received a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts. After graduation in 1996 he began his career as a glassblower, and works out of his home studio nicknamed "The Bubble". In 2008 Berzerker invented a technique he calls "Dichroic Extract”, which involves painting the dichroic directly on the glass in sandblasted areas and encasing. Not only did he coin the phrase, but he also created the product with the cooperation of Coatings by Sandberg. Now, Dichroic Extract is used all over the world, in all types of glass. Consistently pushing the boundaries of glassblowing techniques, some of the other discoveries to Berzerker's credit are "Multiple Layered Graal with Watercolor Frit", and "Glow Powder Back Fill", and "Berzerker's Dark Matter", a mold making clay for glassblowing. Berzerker’s favorite thing about glass as a medium is, “the magical quality…the misunderstood nature that has been kept {a secret}. Once you understand the basics, you will find that isn’t even the beginning of knowing.” He claims to obsess over breaking down other people’s techniques to understand them and recreate them as his own.
Education Project Tickets:
(LIMIT 12 STUDENTS) The master class will cover building and dressing up a mini bong. Stacking sections, shaping, how to make a female fitting by hand. What go's into the function, and how to adjust it to your preference. BIO: Forged from the heart of an oak tree and born deep in Bigfoot country southern Oregon, my journey in life began. Destined to be a self sustained artist I quickly dove into the stereotypical life of a “starving artist” with little to no income. I learned fast and found my way doing odd jobs to support my habit of painting on windows or detail accents on cars, some T-shirt designs and lots of drawings on whatever I found cool at the time. Glass found me in the mid 90’s like a moth to a light I could not look away. April 5th 1996 I lit my own torch for the first time under the guidance of my younger brother Carsten Carlile. From that point on I realized the glass world was wide open and all mine to play with and explore as I pleased. Thanks to an incredible community of like minded and equally talented family and friends I have watched this industry grow into something I am very proud to be a part of today.
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| Episode 126- Behind the Scene Updates and Bob Harley Dawg "Best of" | 23 Sep 2016 | 01:58:06 | |
Episode 126 "Best of featuring Bob Harley Dawg...Yes ..thats his real name..
hiw is the heck are you? Hope you enjoy this best of.. Bob is a wealth of knowledge and shares why integrity and leading by example are imperative in today's world of business . Here's the link to The Arribas Borthers where I am employed at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
This is a killer show where Bob and I dive in deep talking business, glass, and passion. If you are not able to handle rejection, criticism, and temporary defeat then you should go find a job instead of pursuing the life of a glass artist.
Bob helps moderate the Torch Talk group on Facebook as well as helps coordinate live glassblowing in a virtual studio call The Living Tree. If you've never seen flame work or lampwork its also known as, check this link as watch artists from all over the world creating work in their studios. Google hangouts
find Bob on instagram at Dawghouseglass or his youtube channel Dawg House Glass video techs any questions or comments or just want to reach out hit me up in email
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| Episode 125- (Best of) featuring Jupiter Nielsen | 15 Sep 2016 | 01:17:42 | |
| Episode 124- Four Stages of Artistic Creation and overcoming Artistic Block | 02 Sep 2016 | 00:32:10 | |
Four Phases of Artistic Creation for the Glass Artist Here is a simple question I have for you. Are you able to draw a sketch or thumbnail to help get the thoughts out of your head and onto paper? The idea is to have the ability to engineer your art on paper first to work out the details and to think about the moves you will make to successfully get from point A-point Z. This will be the starting point in the creative process as you begin this journey of manifesting thoughts into reality. Phase 1-The Thumbnail Sketch This is the first phase of 5-phases that I feel will help simplify and guide you through the creative process. Now this isn't for everyone but In my opinion, if one is having difficulty coming up with ideas or simply feeling a mental block, this path will help alleviate some of the aggravation and heartbreak that can come with artistic discovery. Some may argue that to become a better artist, as well as finding your voice through your work, it is necessary to experience the heartbreak. However a favorite quote of mine, to paraphrase is "....The wise man learns from the mistakes of others...." Throughout my art journey I have learned from trial and error as well as from the mistakes of others. In college I received formal 2-D art training but regarding glass, its been about 85% trial and error. This is why this episode in my opinion is so important to take to heart with the hope to save you from years of frustration and anguish from the mistakes I've made and discoveries learned from along the way. Phase 2-The Glass Sketch When trying to figure out a direction to go this tends to be the most affordable way to experiment with your thumbnail sketches you've created. With any new item, creating something in clear will shed some light on the right direction that you want to go. One of the benefits of creating your "glass sketches" in clear is you can rapidly cool these items, giving you a chance to hold them and study the piece from all directions. This will allow you to get a handle on the areas that you may need to adjust and change for better comfort and function. As the whole cliché goes.. "sometimes it Looks better on paper" can hold true for an idea that might be just out of your range of experience and technique. This doesn't mean give up, it just means that you will have to make adjustments, finding a way to make it function within your means. Once you have fine-tuned your new item through adjustments and trial and error you now have a 3-D reference to study. If needed you can go back to your drawing board per se and fine-tune the work on paper again before getting Phase three, the dress rehearsal. Phase 3- The Dress Rehearsal This is the beginning of the experimentation phase while heading down the path towards the "final design. This is a mock-up of the final product and at this point you will be adding color or use whatever products you have in mind to see how they work together. If this is a never before used material like crushed opals, then this phase will be your test run, allowing you to see how the material works and whether or not it should even be used in the first place. Because of the influx of new materials it is important to learn how specific material work. Glass color comes in different viscocities, which means the consistency of the material works and feels different from one color to the next. Some colors need specific flame settings and work better with similar colors. If you are using a color that reduces next to a color that doesn't the two colors will work and feel differently. Especially if you are trying to avoid the reduction of the color its self. Especially when it comes to using it for different and new project. For example a cobalt blue is going to move easier than a lemon drop or any cadmium color. When referring back to your thumbnail sketches think about the colors you're going to want to use a write them down on your drawing using little lines of reference to point to the area that you think the color would be applied. Once you get though a successful "dress rehearsal" it will be time to begin Phase four......Opening Night. Phase 4- Opening Night As any opening night of a performance, there will be bugs that need to get worked out that may not have come up during the dress rehearsal and rear their ugly heads during opening night. Typically Phases 1,2, and 3 can be done on one day, Phase 4 should be done during its own session. It will give you a true gauge on the particulars of the piece being made. This way if there are any issues like color checking, you will be able to narrow down the specific issues and solve them as they occur. At this point you will have your thumbnail sketches, clear sketch, and dress rehearsal piece that you will use for reference while finalizing phase 4. By having your phase 3 piece available to hold and study, this physical reference will help you down the path towards the end of your final masterpiece. Now that you have successfully moved through the 4 phases of creation, worked out the bugs and fine tuned the path you can now begin the final stage if you want, Phase 5...... Production. In a future Episode, I will be diving deep into the concept of Low-End High-Volume production VS. High-End Low-Volume production as part of the pricing and selling your work series.. | |||
| Episode 123- Jeremy Grant-Levine AKA Germ and 1000 glass cranes | 26 Aug 2016 | 01:22:00 | |
www.wyzguymedia.com/123 Episode 123- Jeremy Grant-Levine AKA Germ and 1000 glass cranes Germ (Jeremy Grant-Levine) is a Philadelphia based glass artist and teacher. His parents are both artists and encouraged him to experiment with all materials from a very young age. Germ has a degree in Scientific glassblowing and spent several years working in the scientific glass industry, before returning to making art full time. He has traveled extensively, collaborating and learning from some of the best glassblowers in the country. He has been teaching in studios around the US and internationally for the past few years. Germs work is always in flux. One series of work could focus on the sea and his New England up bringing (Smoke on the Water, 2015) and the next could reference eastern spiritual practices and communal ritual (Tools for Enlightenment, 2016). For many years he experimented with traditional German glassblowing techniques and tried to give them a more contemporary feel. Currently he is starting a project called 1000 glass cranes. He seeks to follow the ancient Japanese tradition of Senbazuru, folding 1000 origami cranes. The legend is that if you fold 1000 cranes in a year, you are granted good fortune, health, luck, or a wish. His vision is to do this but with glass 1000 Glass Cranes The modern world is moving too fast and we are always onto the next task before we can even finish or evaluate the last. 1000 Glass Cranes is a project focused on spending a full year on one large idea. One artist, without assistance, on a quest for balance. This project is about creating an immersive experience for the artist throughout the year and also the audience as participants during the final exhibit. Once the year and thousand cranes are complete, they will all be displayed at Ruckus Gallery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in a massive installation. Jeremy Grant-Levine AKA Germ has been blowing glass for 13 years. As a working artist, he has made a name for himself in the glass pipe sub-culture, as one of the most technical and innovative makers in the industry. Mixing classical shapes and modern silhouettes, he is able to transform his pieces from merely function into sculptural showpieces. His work has been displayed in galleries in Seattle, Philadelphia, New York, Miami, and Tel Aviv. He has taught workshops and collaborated with other artists all over the world. A Kickstarter campaign is live through September 27, 2016 to raise funds and support to get this project started. Updates and insights into the many layers of this expansive project can be found at www.1000glasscranes.com 1000glasscranes.com 1000glasscranes@gmail.com ____________________________________________________________________ | |||
| Episode 122- Mike Mason... Torch Talk, Taking Classes, and Keeping Your Mind Open to New Ideas | 22 Aug 2016 | 01:49:45 | |
meyers briggs test http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/ http://www.oxygenfrog.com/oxygen-systems.html https://mikeaurelius.wordpress.com/ventilation-primer/ Crashing the Kiln Round - if you could work with any living glass artist that you haven't worked with before who is it and why? jolex- joel meyers -if could describe the sound of glass cracking in one word what is it?-Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuk??!!?? -top 5 favorite colors?-
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| Episode 121- Best of featuring MIke Souza: Princeton University's Glass Man | 18 Aug 2016 | 01:44:15 | |
Episode 121- Best of featuring MIke Souza: Princeton University's Glass Man Michael J Souza Princeton University Dept. of Chemistry Frick Lab /Glass Shop Employment History: W. A. Sales LTD., Wheeling, IL 1986- 92 - Master Glassblower and Shop Foreman - Oversaw operations at Northwestern University & The University of Chicago Wyse Glass, Midland, MI 1986-88 -Master Glassblower - Became business partner for small custom shop that serviced Dow Corning -Dissolved partnership as Dow/Corning faced Chapter 11 from lawsuits involving breast implants W. A. Sales LTD., Wheeling, IL 1980-86 -Master Glassblower -Shift Foreman -In 1981 the company established a contract shop at Northwestern University and I ran the shop full time at the university Valley Design Corp. Littleton, MA 1978-80 -Master Glassblower -Head of Glassblowing Dept. Aldrich Chemical, Milwaukee WI 1977-78 -Completed my Journeyman program under Dieter Dammrow W. A. Sales Ltd., Wheeling IL 1975 -77 -Journeyman at a custom shop to work more independently Kontes / Martin, Evanston, IL 1973-75 -Apprentice at the shop where my father was Production Manager Education -Graduated as Honor Student at Palatine High School -Attended Oakton Community College
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| Episode 120-MIke Luna: Geisha's, Bunnies and Dragons ..Oh MY!! | 12 Aug 2016 | 01:53:33 | |
Episode 120- Talking Dragons with Mike Luna What's going on?? Thanks for tuning in and continuing to follow the show. This was a great conversation with one Mike Luna, someone who's work I have personally admired for close to a decade. Currently Mike is known for his line of dragons but when you dive into Mikes glass past he has a wide variety of work in his portfolio. We discuss his beginnings, what inspires his work as well as discussing his techniques used as he applies color and creates his masterpieces. Hope you enjoy this fun chat with Mike Luna. Hello! My name is Michael Luna, I was born in Torrence, CA in 1978. I was raised in Santa Fe Springs CA up until I was 15 then I moved to O'brien Oregon to start High School at Illinois Valley High. After high school in 1996 I moved back to Los Angeles where I work in automotive retail. By this time my older brother (Chris) had already started his journey of glassblowing. He would tell me on the phone how cool it was! So fast forward to 1999 when I get a phone call from Chris, he said "hey bro, wanna job" I dropped my whole life and moved back to Oregon. I worked in a production shop ran by a guy named Gilbert Velosco (still friends till this day) throughout the time I was there I made friends with a soon to be legend, Darby Holm. Darby took me under his wing and started to apprentice me in about 2000. learning under Darby changed my life! He and the Holms are like family to me. Well, I'm still in Oregon constantly learning and trying different things with glass. @mikeluna300 on instagram
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| Glass Blower’s Companion ep.17- Robert Mickelsen: From Fine Art to Degenerate Art | 06 Aug 2020 | 01:35:58 | |
GBC Ep17:Robert Mickelsen- From Fine Art to Degenerate Art This is a conversation that I’ve wanted to have for years. For myself personally, Robert Mickelsen has been a major influence in my glass work with his refined details and proportions. With 45 years of dedication to this wonderful medium of glass, Mickelsen has a ton of knowledge to share while also understanding he still has a wealth of knowledge to gain. Hope you enjoy this conversation and if you have any questions for Robert you can reach out to him on Instagram @ramickelsen
Other links referred to in the episode: - I am proud to have my work included in some of the most prominent museum collections including Renwick Gallery of American Crafts at the Smithsonian Institution, the Corning Museum of Glass, The Toledo Museum of Art, The Museum of Arts and Design, The Carnegie Museum of Art, The Mint Museum, The Cleveland Museum of Art, and The Museum of American Glass at Wheaton Village. | |||
| Episode119- waste VS. scrap Why it's important to keep track of | 08 Aug 2016 | 00:19:59 | |
SECRET SANTA PENDANT TRADE SIGN UP WyzGuy Radio Facebook Group Page or email Contact via Email please include your full name and shipping info we will randomly pair you up with another artist and forward their info after August 15th(the deadline to enter) Episode 119- Waste vs. Scrap For merchants, cost accounting is rather useful. The idea behind it is simple: buy cheap, sell expensive. To maximize your profits, you should use your limited resources (money) for activities that give you the best return on your investment. Manufacturing, on the other hand, was usually less concerned with bookkeeping. With the different materials coming in and products going out, tools needed, and time used, it would have been difficult to keep track of it all. Historic manufacturers probably used more of a gut-feeling approach and experience to set their prices. Besides, their goal was often not profit maximization, but merely to have a good life. As Daniel Defoe observed: “There’s nothing more frequent, than for an Englishman to work till he has got his pocket full of money, and then go and be […] drunk, till, tis all gone.” when manufacturing product each item has a specific COG required to complete. this incudes the raw material to create,(direct cost), plus the gases, and labor(indirect costs) part of this issue is whether or not we should determine the waste left after the manufacturing process of said item. Whether you pull points or attach blowpipes, there will be material that is scrap and considered waste. In some fields scrap is considered reusable so for this chat I will be referring to the leftovers as waste which is unable to be reused and therefor sold. to use the food industry for an example they have plenty of waste associated with the manufacturing of meals. for example, If broccoli is on the menu then a bulk order of broccoli is needed. say each head of broccoli weighs 1lb and comes in a 10lb box that cost $20.00. . this would mean the cost of each unit of broccoli costs $2.00 Now when the broccoli is being processed to cook a portion of the broccoli is removed and would be considered waste. lets use 50% as how much of the broccoli is removed which would mean 50% is left. this would bring the true cost of each unit to $4.00 per headof broccoli since technically we just removed 50% of the weight but it still cost us $20.00 total. we can use the same concept when it comes to calculating cost of goods manufactured. say for example a 2lb.- 3" wrap and rake spoon costs .50 to make in direct cost (raw material)and an additional indirect cost(overhead) of .50. this unit would initially cost $1.00 to manufacture. after the item is made you are left with a little bit of waste which for the sake of this example lets call it 1/2 lb of material. when weestimated our baseline costs for each item we figured a 3"w/r spoon weighs 2lbs (chunky spoon) which costs $1.00 to make, so if we do the math and break down the cost, we can determine that the waste costs (.50/lb=.25 in waste) now if you work for a week and manufacture 100- 3'wrap and rakes you will have an estimated amount of waste at $25.00 multiply that by 12- months and you'll see that theres approx $300.00 in waste. this is one way to look at it.. 100/week=$25.00 in waste the other perspective is to increase the direct cost to manufacture each item by adding the waste back into the peice. We figured to waste cost .25 and the actual item when complete weighs 1.5lbs. so you can then add the .25 back into the cost to manufacture the item which would mean the 1.5lbs of material costs $1.00. in the end talk to your accountant and ask them what they recomend you do to keep track of this info. whether A- you seperate the true cost to manufacture from waste. or B. you ignore the waste but increase the cost of goods by the amount of the value you predetermined for the item manufactured. Either way before you begin adding new items to your catalog, estimate the direct cost(raw material) to manufacture as well as Overhead(indirect cost) when figuring out costs per item made. this will not only give you a baseline cost of your new products it will also give you a base line number to price your item to be sold at both wholesale and retail. reference http://www.accountingcoach.com/ Manufacturing cost is the sum of costs of all resources consumed in the process of making a product. The manufacturing cost is classified into three categories: direct materials cost, direct labor cost and manufacturing overhead. What are manufacturing costs? Manufacturing costs are the costs necessary to convert raw materials into products. All manufacturing costs must be attached to the units produced for external financial reporting under US GAAP. The resulting unit costs are used for inventory valuation on the balance sheet and for the calculation of the cost of goods sold on the income statement.Manufacturing costs are typically divided into three categories...
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| Bonus Episode: just you and me kid | 31 Jul 2016 | 00:08:46 | |
Hey you. How the hell are ya | |||
| Episode 117- 5 Daily Habits to a More Productive Day | 27 Jul 2016 | 00:36:55 | |
Episode 117-5 Daily Habits to a More Productive Day
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/profit-first-podcast-profit/id940156245?mt=2 https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-talent-show/id998179499?mt=2&i=373052288 | |||