Glass Work: Harlan discovered the enchantment of flamework more than ten years ago. Today, he works as a glass and jewelry designer, a glass maker, and teacher. In the past nine years, he has taught hundreds of students in workshops throughout Northern California.
Harlan mainly uses Italian and German art glass while on the torch. For certain applications, he also uses borosilicate, a harder, differently formulated glass, designed to withstand the shock of high heat.
Harlan's jewelry pieces - rings, pendants, and bracelets - feature both his flamework glass, and fused glass, in combination with precious metal. With regard to the fused glass component, Harlan typically uses sheet glass from Bullseye, a Portland Oregon art glass maker.
To obtain the desired optical effects, Harlan's work involves the use of traditional colors, frit glass, precious metal foils, and, as well, dichroic glass.
Dichroic glass is unusual in that it has both a reflected and a transmitted (filtered) aspect. Similarly, the very same piece of dichroic glass will show multiple colors, depending upon angle of viewing. In other words, the glass color shifts when it is moved relative to an observer. It is also highly reflective/refractive, and thus prized for its ability to capture and alter light.
This "play of light" is perhaps the single most distinguishing feature of glass craft (and for that matter, of all visual arts - painting, film, etc). Play of light is also the cornerstone of the attraction of gemstones. Harlan continues to research and experiment with this key feature in the design of his glass and glass jewelry.
Currently, Harlan is developing precise and beautiful glass cabochons which combine both flamework and fusing techniques for use in sophisticated jewelry designs. This uncommon synthesis harnesses the organic and intimate one of a kind nature of flamework with economies of scale characteristic of fusing. It allows unique design expressions possible through no one single process. Each new synthesis piece is an exciting new discovery, which previously has literally never seen the light of day.
Metal Work: Factor in the addition of tightly fitting, integrated and holistic metal design, and the results are jewelry pieces of a unique beauty and timeless sensibility.
Thanks for visiting. Find me at a local show, see me on my facebook group page, visit my website, or begin to learn glass making with me in a workshop. See you soon. harlan
