About the Glass Artist
‘Philomena Design’
Philomena is a
Western Australian Glass Artist, who creates designs in kiln formed
glass.
About ten years ago, prior to working with glass, she designed and made
mosaic
tables and water features in intricate designs, before she was
introduced quite
by chance to someone who was running a very basic course on glassmaking
at a
studio on the beach at Fremantle.
Her curiosity
was aroused, and Philomena heard that one of the finest International
Glass
Artists and Teacher was moving to Perth, and would be running courses
in fusing
glass. She was his
first student…..and
the rest is history, she immediately moved on to fused and slumped
glass which
is now her first love!
Philomena has
developed personal techniques for specific results, through the fusing
and
slumping processes. Philomena cuts and layers pieces of
richly coloured
glass, dichroic and various other elements to create her original
designs. These
are formed into decorative panels, platters or bowls. Once a
design has
been completed, it’s ready to be fired in her kiln.
Between 650 and
850C all the layers fuse together to become one. After the
piece is
‘annealed’ (cooled slowly), it’s ready
for it’s second firing to create the
shape by placing the glass over a mold, and gradually raising the
temperature
once again to between 650 and 850C. Each slumped piece spends
a total of
48 hours in the kiln.
Philomena
chooses Bullseye Glass for its vibrant
colours and textures, along
with the sophisticated and captivating styles of
Uroboris Glass.
Both of them
fuse to create beautiful bubbles and craters, textured surfaces, and
multiple
shadings, all of which form an integral part of the finished piece.
Platters, Bowls,
Panels and Wall Plaques even tiles ……each piece
that you choose to own is
unique!
Philomena has
developed a deep passion for glass that continues to grow daily. "The
thrill as a beautiful piece is finally lifted from the kiln is hard to
match" she says.
English born
Philomena arrived and settled in Perth with her husband and children in
1973.
She is a member
of Ausglass (Association of Australian Glass Artists) and her styles
are
varied. From designs based on the beauty of
Australia’s Outback and it’s
reef’s, through to the contemporary, vivid geometrics to
delicate butterflies,
fairies ……even frogs, there is something for
those with more sophisticated
tastes, or something if you just want a piece of glass that’s
fun!