Glassblowing with Robert Mickelsen

Robert Mickelsen is probably the foremost flameworker in America. Here he demonstrates a technique called "graal", where different layers of color are built up, (almost like a jawbreaker). Then sandblasting is used to remove select areas, creating surface patterns. This is an excerpt from our Elements DVD. I remember the day we shot this...During set up our cameraman accidentally knocked over the graal center section of the vessel and it crashed to the floor! Mickelsen made a replacement section (which held up the shoot by two hours!) Anyway, here it is, and I hope you enjoy it. You can see a little more about what Mickelsen has to say on www.fireladyproductions.com...We've got a podcast on "creativity" where he shares his life's philosophy, one bleary eyed morning on a Melbourne, FL beach.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• flameworking
• glassblowing
• Mickelsen
• graal
• sculpture
• podcast
• arts
• crafts

[sandwichsteen]

HIs glass is so light and even. It's really in a totally different class of elegance.

[dethmetalderique]

butterscotch glass=smashed up butterscotch candies.

[travism420]

powdered glass?? scary!! dont go breathing that in!

[destructovision]

you dont have to worry around Robert, he's a ninja.

[oxchiccan]

I am looking forward to getting good enough at glass blowing so I can take a Mickelsen class. This vid is awesome and shows the dedication involved to get good at the graal technique.

[MarJo138]

nice. his studio assistant is wearing flip flops in a glass studio.

[mapexlb]

thats a cobalt color wrap, coilpotting is taking a color rod and coilling it around the end of a tube to create a solid color bubble at the end of the tube.

[solidifiedpaint]

when he puts the cobalt on, is called coilpotting right?

[SonicJup]

Thanks for putting this up. I cant really play my VHS copy any more.

[mauiglassblowing]

My first class was with Mickelson ! - He is a great Master