GAYNOR RANSHAW

Orange Route

I am a Glass Artist that works in an improvisational manner – somewhat akin to a jazz musician. I set the parameters for each piece laying down the boundaries of use of colour, depth & texture. I experiment with glass and metal content to develop different reactions embracing some & rejecting others. I use a variety of molds to create sculptural vessels that have an organic and sometimes fractured form.

I am fortunate to live on the Scottish Solway Coast where the light and weather are constantly changing, surrounded by wonderful flora & fauna this is the fundamental inspiration for my work.

The beauty of our planet is constantly threatened & subsequently very fragile and I intend that my work should convey this fragility and its heroic survival.

Behind the Scenes
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About My Practice

My journey into Glass started with the copper foil technique but since studying with Susan McKay in Dumfries I now concentrate on kiln formed work that explores the elasticity & reaction of glass when stretched to a fragile state.

During my decades of working as a graphic designer I had the opportunity to produce a number images for the covers of classical CDs. Many of these images were inspired by artists such as Gaudi, Miro, Matisse, Klimt & a range of glass artists who were contemporaries of the composers on the discs. Studying these works sparked my initial desire to work with glass.

Tools & Materials

I work in a very large former barn which doubles as both my hot glass studio and garage for my car. It is a huge space with excellent overhead light and airflow which allows for several work stations and houses my wonderful Kiln. The kiln is my most useful (and expensive) tool, in addition to a wide range of glass cutters & smashers.
I draw, either onto fibre paper or base glass using combinations of frit (crushed glass of various sizes), glass pieces, enamel paints, silver & gold leaf and often also incorporate other metals.
Once the drawing & collating of glass is complete this is flat fired in the kiln, possibly reshaped and either polished and hung if it's a 2D piece or re fired over a mold to create a vessel.

Examples of work

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Spring Fling Activity

I will be preparing some new pieces throughout Spring Fling and both opening and re-loading the kiln daily. Kiln firings take approximately 24 hours, visitors can have daily escorted viewings.