To Flop or Not

Floppy bowls have a kinda bad reputation in the glass world. They are sometimes seen as chochkies or gift shop art. I don’t think every glass artist hates them but they are a bit of a controversial form.

Recently though, I have been making a lot of them.

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I’ve been reading Ed Schmid’s book about advanced glassblowing and he had a great note on pushing how hot, fast and thin you work with glass. Since I read that note about the importance of pushing that boundary every time- even if I fail- that I will excel faster at glass, I’ve really been trying to put that into practice.

A lot of times when you push your comfort level though the glass crumbles at thin points and folds. If you don't react correctly and fast enough- you’ve lost your piece.

These bowls also let me play with those boundaries with thinness and heat but being able to save it last minute by spinning it out and having gravity finish the piece. It also allows me to play with color applications, combinations and techniques, and then I’m making something people want to buy after playing with all those factors. Win-win!

Glass is so expensive to work with- theres an hourly rate, another charge per hour for an assistant, and the color alone can be $60-80 for one bag! I know these bowls may make me look more like an amateur, but these bowls help me continue to feed my glass addiction. 

The process of making a floppy bowl is also so fun to watch. It’s normally the first example people will demonstrate because it all happens so fast and is a great example of the importance of timing, heat and movement in glass.  Look up a quick youtube if you want to see the process!

Overall- I think it's beautiful to let the universe’s invisible forces (gravity, time, etc) to finish off my piece. It solidifies a moment in time because based on when you stop turning- the angle you are holding the piece- your heat- the weight distribution- that is how the bowl will be shaped. And they will all come out so different!

I know they are a bit cheesy- but for now they are helping me become the glassblower I want to be and they fun to make and aesthetically kinda pleasing.

So for now, I will flop it out from time to time.