5. Rachael Durkan, glass artist

Just some images today of beautiful works by British fused-glass artist Rachael Durkan. She takes her inspiration from nature—in particular, plant and tree cells—and her pieces are like stained glass, but taken to a new level. Simply gorgeous.

I like to imagine their creation: how, after visualizing a pattern, Rachael chooses the perfect colors (which she sources from Bullseye Glass) and cuts them into pieces, perhaps grinding the edges for cleaner lines; she then carefully lays the small chunks of glass in the form (which see below), layering them in to create complexity. Finally, she shoves the piece into a kiln heated to 1350–1550°F. It's a delicate process, with a schedule that involves heating to bubble squeeze—where the glass begins to soften and trapped gases are able to escape—then process—full fusion—temperature, followed by cooling, first to annealing hold and finally to room temperature. Firing itself may take 40–90 minutes, followed by an hour-plus for cooling. It must be a pleasant experience, to finally view the finished work, fused by fire. The whole process strikes me as meditative, transformative.

A piece in progress, showing how it's assembled.
The finished work is the third one above.

Rachael herself, with the start of a new work.