Best Glass Blowing Classes Near Me: Find In-Person & Virtual Training

Learn More About Glass Blowing Courses

Invented by Syrian craftsmen in the 1st century, glass blowing is the practice of shaping a mass of glass that has been softened by heat and blowing air into it through a tube. Originally, glass was blown into decorative molds like vessels shaped as shells, clusters of grapes, and human heads, but later Syrian gaffers (blowers) executed natural spherical forms without the use of molds.

Glass blowers start by heating glass to more than 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit in a furnace. When the glass is molten, it is gathered onto the end of a hollow metal tube called a blowpipe and inflated by blowing through the pipe. Then it’s molded into a variety of different shapes before it hardens. Glass blowers make bowls, vases, light fixtures, glasses, sculptures, and many other objects.

If you’re interested in learning glass blowing as a hobby, you could attend a virtual or in-person training. Glass blowing requires a lot of hands-on experience, creativity, and a bit of technical know-how, so attending a course can help you gain the experience and confidence needed to become a glass blowing artist.

Why Learn Glass Blowing?

There are two main reasons to learn glass blowing: as a creative hobby or a new career. Many people say that they find it very rewarding to experiment with this medium, creating unique works of art that can’t be found anywhere else. Artistic hobbies have been cited as ways to improve mental health, memory, fine motor skills, and general mental function. Creative outlets offer a way to express and challenge yourself, and can help you become a better, more adaptable problem solver.

If you’re looking to pursue a new creative career, glass blowing can be worthwhile to learn. Professional glass blowers work in a variety of settings like factories, where they mass-produce items like lighting fixtures, or art studios, where they make one-of-a-kind artisan products. Glass blowers can also find work with universities or other scientific organizations, making specialized glassware like flasks and test tubes, or by training the next generation of glass blowers. Another career option is restoration; glass blowers can restore or repair antique glass pieces.

What Will You Learn in a Glass Blowing Class?

In a glass blowing class, you’ll learn the basics like how to use tools, gather glass, and shape it into different forms. It’s likely you’ll also learn about different techniques such as using an optic mold to create patterns or a damp newspaper to smooth the glass. Some classes may also cover how to work with different types of glass, like frit or dichroic glass. Below are some of the topics you might study in a glass blowing class:

Gathering glass: How to gather glass from the furnace
Making shapes: How to make basic shapes like cylinders, bowls, and cones
Using tools: How to safely use torches and other tools to manipulate glass
Communicating: How to communicate with others about what you want to make
Experimenting: How to experiment with different materials and techniques

How Long Will It Take to Learn Glass Blowing?

Most glass blowers say that you can learn some skills within a few months and can start creating fairly complex pieces within a year or two. Typically though, it takes most people years to really master this art. Learning glass blowing usually involves taking at least one class so you can learn how to properly and safely work with glass and glass blowing equipment. Hours of practice time, commonly hundreds of hours, are generally part of the process, too. In addition to formal classes and practice time, many glass blowers also spend a lot of time learning from more experienced artists. Whether that's a glass blowing studio to work or apprentice at, or joining a local artists collective where you can gain hours of guided hands-on experience within a community of skilled glass blowers, those dedicated to the craft continue their education and practice outside of a class environment.

What Are the Hardest Parts of Learning Glass Blowing?

Glass blowing is a unique activity, and comes with some unique challenges. By knowing what some of these challenges are, you can be better prepared to deal with them.

The Behavior of Glass

Expert glass blowers explain that one of the most challenging parts of mastering this skill is learning how to work with glass. For instance, glass blowers need to understand how liquid glass behaves and changes, and how to work with that glass to get the results that they want. They also need to get an understanding of when they need to stop working on a piece, so that it doesn’t break. Most glass blowers say that the best way to learn about glass is simply by trial and error, and also just by spending hours practicing.

Safety

Glass blowing involves constantly being near things like a furnace and molten glass, which can cause severe burns if you don’t know how to be safe. One of the most important parts of being safe is learning to always be aware of your surroundings and mindful of your actions. You’ll want to make sure you aren’t going to collide with others in the workspace, and you’ll need to be careful about what you do with the tools as well. Glass blowing involves hot and sharp tools, and injuries can be common when you aren’t mindful.

Dealing with Failure

Glass breaks all the time, and it takes a bit of trial and error to learn how much you can work the glass before it breaks. In addition to spending a lot of time practicing and getting to know how glass behaves, glass blowers also need to understand that quite simply, failure is a common part of glass blowing; sometimes the glass will break, despite your best efforts.

Finding a Place to Work

Glass blowing requires a lot of specialized equipment that most people don’t have, like a special furnace to melt the glass and an annealing kiln to cool glass pieces gradually so that they don’t shatter. In addition, you’ll need a work bench, a blowpipe, a yoke to hold the blowpipe while it's in the furnace, and a variety of different tools and molds for shaping the glass. Taking an in-person glass blowing class can be a great way to get access to all of this equipment, since all necessary equipment is usually provided. Equipment aside, blowing glass takes up a substantial amount of space and can’t usually be accommodated in a student’s home.

What Are the Advantages of Taking a Glass Blowing Class?

There are many advantages to taking a glass blowing class as opposed to learning on your own. Firstly, glass blowing classes are led by experts in the craft in a safe and controlled environment. The instructors have many years of experience, so they’ll be able to guide you through common mistakes and challenges, and provide you with craft-specific insights.

Attending an in-person glass blowing class also gives you hands-on access to practicing. In-person classes will be held in a studio or workshop that contains all the equipment, materials, and tools needed to blow glass. You’ll be able to test out techniques, get familiar with the tools and equipment, and master the basic skills all under the supervision of a trained glass blowing expert.

Attending an in-person glass blowing class offers many other benefits, too. You’ll be able to learn with other aspiring artists, and potentially make new friends in the process. Studios and workshop spaces are a great way to find a community with similar interests and hobbies, so you can even get to know people outside your class. Finally, glass blowing is a tactile and technical art form, making it a craft that can only be learned in-person. Attending a class is often more accessible than hunting down an apprenticeship, and can be the quickest and most cost-effective way to master the craft.

Should I Learn Glass Blowing in Person or Online?

There are many factors to consider when answering this question. Firstly, you’ll need to decide what learning environment is best suited for you. Do you excel in a collaborative environment that allows you to interact with your peers and receive instant feedback from your instructor? Or, do you prefer a more solitary learning environment, perhaps one where you can learn at your own speed?

You’ll also need to decide how much time you can commit to your education and what level of flexibility your schedule requires. Are you looking to dive deeply into an intensive program? Do you work full-time and require your classes to be scheduled for evening and weekend hours?

In-person classes offer face-to-face interaction with both your fellow students and your expert instructor. This collaborative environment is available for both full-time and part-time classes and provides structure and accountability, two things that can help you succeed. Online courses may lack this in-person interaction, but they make up for it with increased flexibility. Live virtual courses still offer instant feedback from your instructor and interactions with other students, while on-demand virtual training allows for the most flexibility since you can decide where and when you learn.

Finally, it’s important to consider which class option is best for this specific subject. Glass blowing is a physical craft, one that requires hours of hands-on practice. While online courses can teach you the history, terminology, tools, and techniques of the art form, they do not offer a physical space to practice blowing glass for yourself. Online classes for glass blowing should be viewed as supplemental learning, something that you pursue in addition to hands-on learning in a studio or workspace. They cannot teach you to troubleshoot or innovate on the fly and won’t offer the full experience of what glass blowing is like. So, if you’re looking to simply learn about glass blowing, an online class can be the right choice. But, if you want to learn to blow glass yourself, it’s best to attend an in-person course.

Can I Learn Glass Blowing Free Online?

As previously discussed, you can learn the history, basic principles, terminology, and techniques of glass blowing online. YouTube videos, blogs, and free short workshops can all be a great way to learn the basics without investing financially. (Don’t forget to watch the most recent uploads so you’re learning the latest trends and techniques.)

But, when it comes to actual hands-on experience, an in-person training course is going to be your best bet. These courses will consist of a curriculum developed and taught by experts with the chance to receive feedback or troubleshoot any issues with your instructor or a support team. Formal training can also provide the structure and accountability that some students need to stay focused, creating an environment where you’re more likely to succeed. So, if you’re looking to master more than just the basics, a formal workshop or class is a better choice than free online resources.

What Should I Learn Alongside Glass Blowing?

There are several things you can consider learning alongside glass blowing. If you’re interested in working with glass as a medium even more, you could try your hand at stained glass, creating one-of-a-kind light-catching wonders. You could also pursue other artistic endeavors that involve working with fire, like ironwork or various forms of sculpture. These will help you come to understand the many applications of heat on a variety of materials, expanding your skill set and allowing you to work with multiple mediums.

Alternatively, if glass blowing is a potential career path for you, marketing or business may be worth pursuing. You’ll need to master how to market your products at markets or your own shop, and manage budgets, billing, and taxes for a small business. While most will be pursuing glass blowing as a hobby, working towards a new career opens up other potential subjects for you to learn either alongside or after glass blowing.

Best Glass Blowing Classes

UrbanGlass in NYC offers Paperweight Glass Blowing Party, an ideal option for beginners. Students will work together and learn to manipulate molten glass to create one-of-a-kind paperweights. Safety, color application, and tools will all be covered in a fun and exciting environment. The hot shop is a loud studio and can get quite warm, so students should be prepared and come dressed appropriately for the environment.

UrbanGlass also offers Intro to Glassblowing: From Goop to Gorgeous-ish, a seven-session course that will teach you the unique properties of glass as you experiment with texture, form, and color. The course emphasizes cultivating an understanding of possibilities, creativity, and personal expression rather than achieving perfection. You’ll engage in both individual and collaborative projects, promoting teamwork and shared discovery. If you want to squish, pull, and play with glass, then this is the class for you. No experience is required for this course.

Located in the East Bay, Richmond Art Center offers Glass Beads & More. Students will get a brief history of beads and glass technology and learn how to use professional glassworking tools. Finishing techniques are also covered, as are safety procedures, demonstrations, and plenty of studio time for hands-on work. Students will even receive an additional hour of studio time to complete their projects after class.

If you’re in Houston, Juggernaut Glass offers Functional Glass Art (Flameworking), a hands-on experience that offers a unique opportunity to bring your creativity to life. You’ll explore the fundamentals of flameworking as you craft your own functional glass art. Guided by an experienced instructor, you'll create a hollow piece such as a chillum or spoon, mastering the delicate art of shaping borosilicate glass.

Juggernaut Glass also offers seasonal classes. Their Glass Pumpkin & Gourd Class covers beginner glass blowing techniques, the use of optic molds, and basic shaping of molten glass into a pumpkin-shaped sculpture. You’ll master these techniques while creating your own custom glass pumpkin that will fit perfectly into your fall décor. Additionally, their Holiday Ornament Class helps you unleash your creativity and craft beautiful glass ornaments that will add a touch of elegance and charm to any space. You'll learn the art of shaping molten glass into unique shapes and attach loops for easy display. As with all the above listed classes, no experience is necessary and all materials are included.

While this isn’t a glass blowing course, Element Art Center’s Abstract Stained Glass Workshop can help you gain complementary experience with the medium. Located in Los Angeles, this course covers the fundamentals and techniques of stained glass art while you create your own unique abstract glass panel using recycled glass pieces and various finishing options. It will cover topics such as glass scoring, cutting, and sanding. Students will adhere the composition together with copper foil and solder and choose between various finishes to personalize their respective pieces. No experience is necessary; all materials are provided in this course.

Live Online Glass Blowing Classes

As previously mentioned, glass blowing is an art form that requires hands-on teaching. This makes online learning extremely difficult, as does the space, tools, and equipment required. While there are a few online training programs that focus on the history and various techniques of glass blowing, they cannot offer you the physical studio space, equipment, materials, and tools to test out these techniques yourself.

If you’re looking to simply learn the basics of glass blowing like terminology, tools, and history, then an online course can be a good fit. But if you want to actually learn to blow glass yourself, then you really need to attend an in-person class.

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Learn Glass Blowing

Learn More About Glass Blowing Courses

Why Learn Glass Blowing?

What Will You Learn in a Glass Blowing Class?

How Long Will It Take to Learn Glass Blowing?

What Are the Hardest Parts of Learning Glass Blowing?

The Behavior of Glass

Safety

Dealing with Failure

Finding a Place to Work

What Are the Advantages of Taking a Glass Blowing Class?

Should I Learn Glass Blowing in Person or Online?

Can I Learn Glass Blowing Free Online?

What Should I Learn Alongside Glass Blowing?

Best Glass Blowing Classes

Live Online Glass Blowing Classes

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