Q. How does one learn how to make glass? Is it possible to make glass at home?

There are many techniques for making glass. For example, you may wish to explore glassblowing (shaping glass melted in a furnace); lampworking (using a torch to melt the glass); kilnworking (fusing, slumping, pate de verre, and many other techniques using a kiln to melt the glass).  You may wish to explore pate de verre, making molds, and other kilnworking techniques as well. I suggest you start by taking a class in glassmaking, or visit a local glassmaking studio.

For example, The Studio of The Corning Museum of Glass is an internationally renowned teaching facility that also offers various residency and scholarship programs,  as well as an assortment of classes. Students at The Studio range in experience from beginning to advanced and work in a variety of glass art areas.

The Glass Art Society (GAS) maintains an online list of international schools and workshops, including colleges and university programs and public access studios. GAS also provides a list of members -- look at their websites to find artists who are in your area. Also look for artists who are using techniques that appeal to you. For more information, check out their FAQ or Contact page. 

The Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass lists a variety of technical links that may help you understand different types of glassmaking techniques, as well as information about Regional and Local Collect Groups, a Visionary Scholarship Fund for glass artists, and grant information for educational glass programs. 

Attached is a brief bibliography for glassmaking. We have more extensive bibliographies about other types of glassmaking available. If you wish to borrow copies of library items, please contact your local library. The Rakow Research Library will lend designated books from its collection and will send copies of articles requested by other libraries. Your library can request items through the OCLC WorldShare Interlibrary Loan (ILL) system or by direct request through email at ill@cmog.org. For more information, please see our ILL website.