What an amazing project to work on...
In South Africa stained glass artists do not get a lot of chances to show what they can do. This project kept us busy for 6 months and really made me dig deep.
Today I want to give you a little behind the scenes sneak peak at what happens inside the studio:
We start with the architect drawings and the raw building site...
Today I want to give you a little behind the scenes sneak peak at what happens inside the studio:
We start with the architect drawings and the raw building site...
Then the design has to be done to the specs and the specifications of the client. As this window was for a prestigious boys school with a rich history, we prepared a proposal for Tree of Life Window, which included a lot of symbolism:
The Tree of Life symbolizes the values of growth, support, guidance, shelter and community in its strong branches.
Strong roots as a reference to the solid foundation the boys get at Cordwalles, a variety a fruits symbolizing the values being grown at the school and the rewards of dilligence.
A variety of small animals invites one to come closer and look for them in the branches and flowers and foliage.
The design is transferred to full size:
The Tree of Life symbolizes the values of growth, support, guidance, shelter and community in its strong branches.
Strong roots as a reference to the solid foundation the boys get at Cordwalles, a variety a fruits symbolizing the values being grown at the school and the rewards of dilligence.
A variety of small animals invites one to come closer and look for them in the branches and flowers and foliage.
The design is transferred to full size:
When the design is approved it is transferred to the full size hardboard templates and manually adjusted to fit the window curves.
Now the glass can be marked, cut out and fitted.
and finally the painting can start.
Now the glass can be marked, cut out and fitted.
and finally the painting can start.
From painting on the light table to the kiln...
And then it looks like this when it comes out of the kiln:
Perspective is needed before anything can be approved!
Jan is assembling the first window:
And when everything is out of the kiln, we can start to assemble. Here is the tribute window the Fowler Family commissioned for the Chapel: "As you sow, so shall you reap."
There is building going on while we design, paint and assemble...
Here Jan is installing the Rose Window. It involved scaffolding... I had to get up there...
And here is some close-ups of the Rose Window.
Lizard
Tortoise
Mouse
And Voila!
There are more updates of detail of the Rose Window: Hedgehog and bunny and hoopoe and gecko and all the other animals, flowers and fruits on our Facebook page.
If you want to be notified of the Artist Walk-through, then please send a return email here.
We would love to send you an invitation!
Warmly
Jan & Louise
If you want to be notified of the Artist Walk-through, then please send a return email here.
We would love to send you an invitation!
Warmly
Jan & Louise
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