How to Sculpt a Human Head in Glass

Glass sculptures start out as red-hot molten glass.

Some of the world's greatest works of art are sculptures -- three-dimensional forms or figures created from marble, granite, wood, clay or other material. Unlike wood or stone, which can be carved with a chisel and mallet, glass must be shaped in its liquid or molten state by blowing, casting or manipulating with tools. Sand casting is one method to sculpt a human head sculpture, but glass-making requires specialized training and equipment and can cause serious injury if not done correctly. Work needs to be completed in a glass foundry under the supervision of a skilled glass maker.

Things You'll Need

• Glass furnace
• Molten glass
• Protective gear, including goggles, heat-resistant apron and gloves
• Pouring ladle
• Head form
• Olivine (casting) sand mixed with 7 to 10 percent betinite clay
• Water
• Sand casting box
• Sifting screens
• Spray bottle filled with sugar/water mixture
• Acetylene torch
• Glass shears
• Annealing oven

Instructions

Plan the Project

1. Find a glass-casting foundry that will share its studio and supervise your project.

2. Review costs for materials, studio time and labor, as well as rules and requirements regarding safety, liability and use of equipment.

3. Go over your project plans, including size and appearance of finished piece and due date.

Make a Cast

1. Dampen the sand slightly with water and sift through screens until light and fluffy.

2. Fill casting box with sifted sand.

3. Make an impression in the sand with the head form to create a mold for the glass.

4. Spray the impression with sugar water and blacken with the torch to create a non-stick surface.

Pour the Glass

1. Put on protective gear.

2. Remove molten glass from furnace with a foundry ladle.

3. Pour glass into the impression and snip with shears.

Cool the Glass

1. Poke vent holes in the sand around and under the casting to help it cool evenly.

2. Heat the glass with the torch to prevent it from cooling too quickly.

3. Move the glass to the annealing oven when it reaches 1,150 degrees Fahrenheit and cool to room temperature.

Tips & Warnings

• Talk to the studio owner about other treatments and options available to add interest and color to your sculpture. A variety of colors can be created by melting minerals into the glass, for example. You can also try other techniques, such as glassblowing, in which the head is formed by blowing molten glass through a tube to create a globe-shaped bubble, then manipulating the glass with tools or adding glass pieces to the head to create features.

• When molten glass cools to 1,150 degrees Fahrenheit, it looks like ordinary glass. Be sure it is completely cool before touching with your bare hands.

References

• Glassartists.org: Glass Sand Casting
• East Carolina University: Glassblowing Services
• Id Verre: Glass Techniques