Cutting, fusing, bending, blowing, casting, torch work, coldworking—glass is a delicate material and medium that has entranced artists since 1500 B.C.E. In these guides, we collect the expertise of our 150+ faculty and master glass artists to share with anyone interested in learning how to make their own objects by hand.
In Glass, you can explore the techniques and disciplines of our Enameling, Glass Blowing, Glass Casting & Coldworking, Glass Flameworking, Glass Fusing and Slumping, and Neon & Light Departments. You will learn everything from how to flamework a marble to how to make a neon sign.
The Crucible is the largest industrial arts nonprofit in the country, where we offer classes and studio time in 19+ areas. In these guides, we break down our studio areas and focus on sharing the knowledge of our instructors with you. You can explore our guides, defined by our four main areas: Earth, Glass, Metal, and Machine.
The Crucible’s Guides to Industrial Art are a work in progress. We are constantly working to provide the most up-to-date, informative guides to the industrial arts. Let us know what information you would like to see by filling out the form below.
Learn how to create tin art inspired by repujado and hojalata done in Mexico. After a brief history of the tradtional cultural practice and demonstration of techniques, emboss your...
Line drawings can evolve into beautiful pieces of decorative or wearable art when interpreted in vitreous enamels on copper. Students will practice using transparent enamel to...
In this focused class, students will recreate a leaf in limestone using mallet and chisels. They will start by making a basic model of a leaf in wet clay to show depth and movement...
In this intermediate to advanced class we will explore throwing large forms in parts on the wheel using measurements and heat to assemble a large pot! Students will then return the...
Plique-à-jour (open to light) is the most admired of the many enameling techniques with French names. Enamel is fired into a backless frame creating a luminous effect similar to...
One of the earliest techniques of glass manipulation, pâte-de-verre or “paste of glass” is a versatile kiln casting technique that uses glass paste. In this ornament focused...
Design and fabricate framed Milagros inspired by traditional Mexican artwork and iconography. Create metal imagery like hearts, hands, and nature honoring the special moments in...
Glaze your own ornaments to give to your loved ones! You will select three pre-fired ornaments to paint and glaze, learning about glazing techniques and color application. After...
Create one of a kind glass sculpture using wet clay. We will use ceramic sculpting techniques to create a solid shape that will be transformed into glass. Learn the basic skills...
Open your heart to soft Italian glass, while making unique glass bead hearts in beautiful colors. Using table top Bravo torch, students will shape glass into heart beads, while...
Come learn some of the many ways we can use the sandblaster to etch images onto glass. In this three week intensive you will learn design principles for transferring images onto...
Learn the basics of preparing, shaping, sculpting, cane making, and baking polymer clay. Use brightly colored clay to make small sculptures known as chibis, incorporating them into...
In this fun class you will use the Crucible cold shop to etch onto your own glass dishes and drink ware. You will learn to express your ideas in graphic images, how to hand and...
Learn the art of creating sand molds for casting hot glass into solid glass sculptures. Students explore various ways to work with ladle-cast glass, including using graphite blocks...
One of the earliest techniques of glass manipulation, Pate-de-verre or “paste of glass,” is a versatile kiln casting technique that uses glass particles, mixed with a binder, and...
The Crucible is a fine and industrial arts nonprofit in Oakland, CA that teaches classes in blacksmithing, ceramics, neon, glass blowing, and more. In these guides, we collect the expertise of our 150+ faculty and master craftspeople to share with anyone interested in learning how to make their own objects by hand.