ClassicalTwistGlass

Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and my blog to see process pictures, raw-shop-output shots, participate in occasional contests, and other exciting things!

Note: I now live in Jerusalem, Israel, so custom orders are significantly more expensive both to produce and ship.

I love to blow glass. When I was young, I enjoyed ceramics - especially Raku - and was captivated by the idea of making things. As I grew older I acquired some formal art theory training, and learned to draw, but have also pursued various careers making digital systems. My instinctive desire to make objects with my hands is fulfilled with my glassblowing.

My creations have become more beautiful and skillfully made over almost ten years, as I have traveled the country (from workshops in Seattle to working vacations in Corning) and practiced at home honing my craft. When I started blowing glass I was fascinated by the variegations of color as well as the translucency. I experimented heavily with thick, highly colorful forms.

I have since then become more fascinated with the challenges available in thin, Italian style glass. The thermodynamics of thin glass are difficult. By its nature, 'soft' glass (the kind I work with) reaches a point while cooling where minor temperature differentials cause its density to vary greatly, and it cracks. A glassblower can also get a piece too hot, causing its wall strength to disappear, and the piece to fold. Thin and light and delicate and beautiful glass is the most difficult glassblowing to do.

A Special Note on Custom Orders: Custom orders are extremely difficult. I want you to be very happy, so I tend to remake items three or four times in the hopes of doing exactly that. The price of doing this is built into my original quote. In 16th century Italy, when glassblowers were treated like nobility, there was a special title for glassblowers willing and able to make custom goblets to order - 'Maestro di Bikiare a Measure'. (Master of Goblets to Measure) The more custom orders I do, the more I feel they deserved it.

If you're in Portland, use the coupon code 'ImInPortlandDeliver' if you would like hand-delivery and no shipping costs.

If you would like to order some art to rent / lease, let me know. I could make things for you, charge a deposit, and we could work out a contract. I am definitely interested in limited time or rotating coporate installations.

I'd like to mention that it's been fantastic to have help from my friends since I started taking online sales more seriously this year. It's amazing how willing people have been to help me make what I love to do. I'm trying to brand myself as a great glassblower, here, so I feel like I'm tooting my own horn too loud; there are a pile of people behind me pushing me up the hill.

Please check out my blog / website at http://www.dylanbrams.com if you are interested in more information.

Dylan Brams