Ocean Beaches Glassblowing & Gallery

Although we've gotten to have quite a variety of art forms in the gallery, glassblowing and the resulting product is still the primary medium, and Bob Meyer is the primary artist.

Besides Bob's work, though, there are blown glass pieces now from 4 other artists - all displaying a different focus on the process.

Glassblowing is a glassforming technique that involves inflating the molten glass into a bubble with the aid of a blowpipe. The glass used for this technique starts in liquid form, usually at 2,000 - 2,200 degrees F. The blowpipe is used to obtain "gathers" of glass from the furnace - each "gather" providing another layer of clear glass to the pipe.

Color for the piece also comes in the form of glass, and is melted onto the clear glass. Glassblowing colors vary from large chunks of "color rod" (or "color bar") to finely ground glass powder. The glassblower decides what kind of color to use based on what kind of effects are desired.

Once the color is added to the clear glass and melted, it can be manipulated into whatever color pattern is desired.

The color may be placed between layers of clear glass or on the outer surface - again, based on what kind of effects are desired.

Once all the color and clear glass are in place, the piece needs to be shaped and heated to the point of obtaining as uniform a temperature as possible through the mass of glass, so that a symmetrical form can be blown. Of course, there are lots of variations in what might be done to the shape during and after the blowing, but those are the steps that make each piece absolutely unique.

Take a look at the Blown Glass categories for Bowls, Vases, Memorial Glass, Light Shades, Floats and Treasure Floats to see the various work done by Bob Meyer. Or take a look at what our other glassblowers - Patrick Cahill, Mike Crowley, and Pam Pitts - have to offer.