A torso tutorial for the sculpturally challenged
By Heather Ferman
I have been lucky enough to have many teachers in my two years of lampworking. I have learned so many wonderful techniques from each one. I think these beads are a compilation of techniques I learned from about 5 of my past teachers along with many of my own techniques thrown in.
I need to thank Chris Gorman who came over to photograph while I worked on the beads. Without her I could not have gotten accurate pictures to help with this tutorial.
Now for my inspiration. I saw a pear shaped press on CattWalk tools web site and thought….hmmm I am shaped like a pear…..”What if”……..and I had to try it. Thank you Catt for creating the press……it has been so much fun to work with. So here is the what if.
Step 1 Pick any color glass but ivory to start. Ivory is very soft and might be difficult to practice with. Make a half bicone shaped bead. Press in the pear shaped press. You do not even have to worry about over filling the press. I like to have extra glass to work with so I do this on purpose.
Step 2 Add two dots for the behind and a smaller dot for the stomach…..unless you want a more voluptuous women. I specifically remember learning this dotting techniques from Sharon Peters……. You could also create a neck by just adding a donut bead above the pear. Just take out the divit first so you do not trap any air.
Step 3 Now melt from the bottom of the bead to melt in the definition lines from the dots. Then flip the bead over and melt from the top. If you must define the butt crack again from overmelting, just use your magic wand or similar tool.
Step 4 Add a belly button and two creases for the defined area of the hips. I have seen one person add a third little crease. This is up to you…..LOL. At this time you could also move to the base of the pear and add another bicone for legs or a mermaid. But I am only going to cover the torso here….
Now it is time for the breasts. Just put two dots down for the breasts.
Step 5 Next, the bead gets just a little tricky. Start heating the side of the bead. When it is very hot and molten take your tweezers and push up to create an arm pit and a womanly shape. (learned from Lucio) Then heat the other side and try again. If you melt the boobs down in the process just “implant” more, and more, and well she does not have to look like Dolly!
Step 6 Now add shoulders by just adding a little more glass to the under arm area.
Step 7 Heat the overall body up and make sure you have the heat even in the whole bead. It is at this time I put the crease up the back and the nips on.
Step 8 add any finishing touches you want to the bead and then straight into the kiln.
I hope you like it!!!
I use this to move on to mermaid and fairies and larger torso's of women.