May 16th, 2015 by Ron Branch

Close up of relief carving by Ron Branch circa 1989. I’d like to do a series of these someday. 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… Read More

Etched Glass, Stone Carving

May 13th, 2015 by Ron Branch

Just made this sample for an upcoming job. It’s 3/8″ clear plate with what’s called a “chiseled edge”, or sometimes a “chipped edge”, or most often a “scalloped edge”.

There are special tools (not a chisel) designed specifically for this effect. I don’t have the special tool so here’s proof you don’t necessarily have to have it.

It’s important to finish the edge to the point it is 100% safe to touch. This of course means using your own hand to thoroughly test it when you think it’s finished.

May 12th, 2015 by Ron Branch

High on a lift with Chuck Franklin, installing his glass into the library in Lebanon Oregon in 2011.

It’s a great example of Chucks outstanding abilities in design. I’ll see if I can find a picture of the whole room – a beautiful color scheme, the abstract expression of a river, which flows in Chuck’s recognizable whimsical line work.

It was a big job, 135 feet of stained glass. The project was funded by donation as a memorial to Judith Anne Nichols. Here is a link to a nice write up about it by Alex Paul in the Albany Democrat-Herald .

Chuck Franklin, Glass Art, Stained Glass