Tracie Hammond is a born and raised Vermonter.  She continues to live and work in Burlington, VT, as a Physician Assistant.  After years of working with various mediums including charcoal, soft pastels, fabric, wood and clay, she was introduced to glass.  With an interest in color, geometry and science, she fell in love with the process of cutting and designing with glass to form functional and decorative art.  Still early in her glass journey, she continues to learn and grow, focusing on structure and her artistic perspective.

What is kiln formed or fused glass?                           

Kiln formed glass is a form of glass art. Bullseye Glass Company based in Portland, Oregon was the world's first developer of tested compatible glass specially formulated for working in a kiln in the early 1980's. Kiln forming glass utilizes the concept of expansion and the viscosity of glass to fuse it together to form decorative or functional glass pieces. Through the fusing process, the distinct chemical properties of certain colors and types of glass can be manipulated to develop vibrant and unique color patterns and effects. 

Once fused, the glass piece can be coldworked. The shape, edges and appearance of glass can be altered by using various tools such as tile saws, grinding wheels and sandblasters. 

The piece can then be placed back into the kiln for final shaping. This is called “slumping.” The glass is placed on a ceramic or metal mold and the kiln is programmed to go through a specific warming and cooling cycle to soften the glass so that it forms to the mold’s shape without cracking or breaking.

Etsy Shop & Instagram link below.