Process For Fused Glass
To begin with, the glass must be compatible to heat and cool at the the same temperatures. This is called fusible glass.

The glass used is purchased already colored. The coloring is created at the glass factory by adding various chemicals and elements to the silica mixture that is heated to create glass. It is not painted or baked on that is common in much of the “stained” glass on the market today.

Next, the pieces are cut with a glass cutter to the desired shapes to form the design. The pieces are then laid out and ready for the kiln. The glass kiln is similiar to a ceramics kiln with the exception of the placement of the elements within the kiln.

The pieces are placed into the kiln. Glass fusing is the process of using a kiln to join together pieces of glass. If you apply heat to glass, it will soften. If you continue to apply heat, the glass will become molten fuild and flow together. Two or more pieces of glass will stick (or fuse) to each other. When the right kind of glass is heated and then cooled properly the resulting fused glass piece will be solid and unbroken. The glass is usually fired at temperatures between 1100 and 1500 degrees. This stage of the process can take up to 4 hours heating time and overnight cooling (annealing).

Finally the work is completed. The process from start to finish is lengthy and precise. This shows in the work of experienced glass artists.