Sandcarving
This website documents my journey from 2000 to 2004 to understand and develop skills in glass
carving. It also contains links to old but hopefully still valuable resources on the subject,
shown in the navigation structure on the top of each page.
I no longer carve glass. Health problem have made the process somewhat frustrating. I I still have many friends who carve, and this website - and sandcarver.org - still get major traffic. So, I'll leave these pages up on the web in the hope that they may be of some help to begining carvers.
 In the early 1990s, I was visiting Sausalito, California on business, and
went to lunch at a restaurant that featured several deep carved glass pieces as
part of the decor. That simple experience proved to be life
changing. I later discovered that glass carving would become the nexus
for both the technical and creative passions in my life for the next few years. Developing the
equipment and processes required that I dig back into basic engineering skills;
creating full range images means applying all I ever learned (and then some)
during forty five years doing black and white photography.
So, if this was a "journey", did I ever get there? (Sound of laughter.)
In 2000, I So, if this was a "journey", did I ever get there? (Sound of laughter.)
In 2000, I decided to "get serious" about my carving, and started
on a five year self guided apprenticeship program. Since I'm retired, and
don't have to produce work for sale, I could spend full time (40 to 70 hours
per week) doing glass carving, or designing/modifying equipment. Health issues required that I go back to my roots in photography, but I was able to document my progress through those years.
Mucha Interpretations
 This series takes the work of Alfonse Mucha (1860 to 1939), and interprets
his concepts in glass. Mucha's beautiful work incorporated color, and he didn't
have the constraints of a medium that limited texture, pattern, and shading. That
makes these images tough to do really well,
especially work that features three quarter portraits. Profiles are far
easier to do in glass, since carving a three dimensional nose can be
challenging. So
far, three pieces in glass, Mucha's La Primavera (shown here) and La Plume.
Classic Motorcycles
 Two pieces in glass so far, and many more planned: 1912 Pierce Arrow four
cylinder, 1936 Harley Knucklehead.
Classic Automobiles
Several pieces in glass, many requests for more: 1931 Chrysler Imperial Dual Cowl
Phaeton.
"Pensive Woman" Series
 Inspired
by watercolorist Steve Hanks, I've wondered if the gentle moods he uses could
also be created in glass, without the benefit of soft colors and warm lighting.
One piece of art in progress. Two attempts at this, as I develop the
technique to put fine textures on top of deep carving.
Judy's Angel
 This
piece is based on wonderful art from my friend Judy Powell Free.
Carousel Horses
 These are a kick to do. Especially building the three dimensional
contours of the horse itself. One piece in glass, more planned.
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