How to Become a Glass Blower

Glass blowers make glass from sand by heating it. The sand melts into hot molten liquid, and then is shaped with the use of metal rods or poured into molds. This art form lends itself to beautiful art objects. It provides brilliant and luminous color and interesting shapes. Follow these steps to become a glass blower and create beautiful objects of your own.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Take a workshop. Get exposure to see if you are interested in glass blowing and might like doing it for a career or just a hobby.

2. Study up on glass. Read an instructional book on blowing glass. Watch video demonstrations or stop by a workshop to see a live demonstration.

3. Note the skills required. Glass blowers have good manual dexterity, patience and creativity. They are proficient in three dimensional design and drawing. They often work in collaboration with other artists, so teamwork and people skills are essential.

4. Get some training to gain basic skills. Take a college course or go to an art school. Several art schools, craft schools and art centers offer glassworking concentrations or majors in glass.

5. Apprentice with an experienced glass blower. Check out museums, galleries and glass supply stores to find local artists and see if you can assist them.

6. Recognize that you will be part salesperson, part business person and part artisan. Glass blowers sell their work in galleries, jewelry shops or online. Sometimes they work on consignment.

Tips & Warnings

• If you can't afford art school, many colleges and universities now have programs in glassworking. The University of Wisconsin offered one of the first hot glass programs.
• You can join a glass art society and begin meeting other glass blowing artists.
• Be aware that glass blowing is physically demanding work. Glass blowers work in hot and noisy conditions around furnaces or flames. They handle hot molten liquid.