sample of photo-resist carved stone Etched shower panel - closeup Sandblasted for Mercury Glass Company in Phoenix Az. Designed by Bob 

Heathcote / Sandblasted by Ron Branch for Mercury Glass Company in Phoenix Av. Designed and sandblasted by 

Ron Branch for Mercury Glass Company in Phoenix Az. close up Birch trees 

sandblasted on clear glass by Ron Branch for Rich Lamothe and Chuck Franklin Grapevine sandblasted on clear glass for Chuck Franklin Glass Studio in Portland Oregon Grapevine close up Slumped form by Ray Algren of 'Fireart' in Portland Oregon. Carved fluting by Ron Branch Comissioned stained glass and wire sculpture by Ron 

Branch Designed by Miles Macgregor and sandblasted by Ron Branch for Mercury Glass Company in Phoenix Az.

Between Glass and Stone

May 21st, 2015 by Ron Branch

stonecarvedRelief carving by Ron Branch circa 1989 ~ I’d like to do a series of these soon. This is a small piece of flagstone, approximately 8″ x 12″. It has hand crafted mounting hardware by Bill Branch (my Dad).

Between glass and stone I feel stone is the more forgiving medium to work with. As a material, float glass is predictable, as in there are no hidden surprises. As a transparent canvas it is unique, with its distinctly beautiful qualities, but there is no variance from piece to piece… and so it quickly becomes all about the etching.

With stone however, you enter the unknown every time. Oddly though, this is not a source of anxiety. Instead, a great deal of the pressure is off. In those rare occasions that something bad is coming, like a severe crack, or a pocket of nothingness, you don’t see it until it arrives. Blaming yourself for the issue is useless since you really had no way of foreseeing it. Blaming the stone, well… that would just be absurd.

So for me there is a self granted state of acceptance. Besides, most of the “surprises” are often what I like best about the finished piece. There really IS therefore, a strong feeling of interaction, a kind of partnership with the material. By virtue of it’s unpredictable variances, it participates – lending its uniqueness to the art.

Does it sound strange that the more unpredictable material would be less stressful to work with? Think of the difference between what a singer songwriter feels when they perform solo, and when they have others playing with them. This also compares well to say that it doesn’t mean that just because playing solo is more stressful, that the performer doesn’t want to do it anyway, despite that it is not the more relaxing choice.

The analogy easily extends to also cover the subject of collaborating with other glass artists. I so much prefer working with others rather than solo, that it is a large part of my business model for the studio. I think networking with other glass artists and studios that like working this way also, adds more variety into our works, and provides hidden opportunities for unexpected new developments. These interactions have caused some of my favorite leaps in technique.

texturedWorking with designers from other mediums is an even more dynamic process. I’d say my favorite of these was working with painter Marlene Bauer on the library jobs in 2010. It inspired me to try things I may not have thought of otherwise. The resulting textures affected permanently many of the ways I etch today, which continue to develop… and to be similarly affected by subsequent interactions with other artists, designers and of course to be fair, every client.

Overall both glass and stone are relatively unforgiving. There is no erasing in glass etching, and you can’t uncarve a stone. Part of being a sandblaster is all about learning to handle stress, with balance, acceptance, and keeping things in perspective.

Sweating over the details of an etching that you can easily ruin in the blink of an eye… while it isn’t exactly bungee jumping, there is a genuine adrenalin rush occurring just the same.

Admittedly it is… fun, especially when in the end it turns out to have been worth the effort, but too much of that kind of fun can wear a person down. That’s why I’d say by comparison, for me there IS actual relief  in carving stone. A bit of corrective therapy perhaps.  

Detail of door panel for Chuck Franklin Glass Studio 2008grapesclose

The Roswell Rock & the Crop Circle: Not a Match

September 5th, 2014 by Ron Branch

Roswell_Rock_CarvingIn continuation of the ever lengthening Replicating the Roswell Rock, I’ve got a few rocks on the studio table that I’m working on. Found a new handful of quality stones to work with. Here are some of them catching the evening light. I’m particularly excited about the one in the upper right corner which has the smoothest, most chocolaty look I’ve come across so far. Funny thing about that one though, is that it didn’t come from the creek. Micky spotted it while raking yesterday, just laying in the yard. This may turn out to be the best one yet. To find it in my own backyard, no more than 12 ft. from my shop door is Read the rest of this entry »

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‘Tis the Season

May 22nd, 2010 by Ron Branch

sanblast gun

latest rockCrop circle season has begun, which means I’ll be doing some stone carvings again to be sure. One evening recently I had time to make this latest piece – my favorite so far. You can read more on this subject here“.

You may have noticed our store has nothing in it yet, but this is going to change soon. Undoubtedly some of the first items will be various stone products that are almost ready. Our goal is to be heavily stocked with unique gifts by next holiday shopping season.

More info and updates coming soon.

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Pet Memorial

February 5th, 2010 by Ron Branch

pet memorial stoneI got a chance to do something in stone today. This was the fourth pet grave marker I’ve done in about a month.

I like working with stone so much that I think I will actively market this particular product as best I can to the Vancouver area. I’m not yet sure what the best way to do this would be. Probably brochures in pet stores or a small add in the paper? I like that it helps someone who is in pain. The marker is a physical and symbolic statement; it says, “you were important to me, and I’m never going to forget you”.