How to Apply Blue in Glassblowing

Glassblowing is as much of an art as the final glass product the glassblower makes. A glassblower takes raw glass from a semiliquid glob, much like melted honey, and forms it into a sphere that can be made into a vase or jar. Colors are applied in layers. For example, you can apply a blue color after a green hue has been melted in for a multihued appearance.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Pour small pieces of blue pigment, called frit, onto the marver. Frit is about the shape and size of colored peas. The marver is a steel work table that you can roll the hot glass on. In times past it was made out of marble and the name has stuck even though the tables are now steel.

2. Layer the colors. After you've melted in the green glass, add a blue color to it. Pick up the blue frit by rolling the hot glass on the marver. Reheat the glass and add some more.

3. Repeat this process until you have the amount of blue you like. If this is a second gathering of color, you don't want to coat the entire surface and hide the first color. Use enough to suit your artistic style.

4. Dip the glass into another pot containing molten glass that has already been colored blue for another method to grab color.

5. Put the glass on the end of the puntil (pronounced "punty") back into the furnace to get the blue to melt in. Grab up the blocks. These are pieces of wood shaped like scoops with handles that are held in a bucket of water so they stay wet. Rotate the glass or jar in the blocks to provide more shape to the glass.