Burnt Glassworks- Glass Blowing in Jax, FL

Ever wanted to learn to blow glass? I discovered you can learn the art of glass blowing right here in Jacksonville, FL and recently took a class at Burnt Glassworks. Read on to learn more about my experience at Burnt Glassworks, and what it is like taking a glass blowing class.

The Art of Glass Blowing

Glass blowing has been high on my bucket list for years. I was always fascinated by the colors and shapes that could be formed from dust to glass. When I got my first job working as a security guard for an art museum in my teens, I would admire the glass sculptures by the famed glass blower, Chihuly, that sat in our gift shop and vowed to save up enough money to buy one.

When looking for a college nearby, there was one university that offered glass blowing glasses, but it was not the best option financially, so I had to pass it up. Now as an adult, I still admire Chihuly’s work and even got to see some of his famous installations in Las Vegas at the Bellagio hotel.

glass sculptures in las vegas — Chihuly 2019 Las Vegas

Burnt Glassworks Review and Experience

Fast forward to now and I’m still drawn to the art, and I was finally able take my first glass blowing class right her in Jacksonville, FL at Burnt Glassworks.

This local studio offers a wide range of classes that focus on making one individual item for you to be able to take home with you. These could include glass orb ornaments, hearts, flowers, starfish, or a wine glass.

Most classes range from $40-67 per person and last anywhere from 10 min to 45 min in length depending on difficulty. It includes one-on-one instruction form a glass professional to ensure you go home with what you create in the studio.

You can also take a couple’s class which makes for a fun date night. If you’re feeling especially inspired, Burntglass now offers glass blowing workshops to become a true master of the glass art!

It Starts with Sand

When you sign up for your class, the first step when you walk in the studio is selecting your sand. These sands are made up of different minerals that offer a wide selection of colors in every hue you can think of.

My buddy and I made stemless wine glasses to celebrate my birthday, and my feminine side was drawn to a combination of pink and white sand that reminded me of Valentine’s Day while my friend chose a lovely purple hyacinth.

Our instructor was very fun and detailed in his instructions making it easy to follow without fear of burning ourselves in the process.

We also got the option of making a traditional wine glass or using one of their molds to add “pineapple-like” texture to our creation. With repeated movements from in and out of the kiln to balancing the rods on bases to roll and blow our melted glass into full-blown wine glasses, it was a fun and exhilarating process to take part in.

One-on-One Glass Blowing Instruction

Our instructor provided individual instruction by reading the needs of the glass as is formed right in front of us. The process can be a delicate one requiring varying levels of force when blowing or pressure when shaping for the correct results.

I had a miscalculation when it came time to tap, and even when I messed up, my instructor was able to salvage my piece into something I love to look upon.

In fact, I love to look for the mistake I made on my glass whenever I use it because it reminds me that even mistakes can lead to something beautiful.

See my video below of my creation from Burnt Glassworks:

Check out their website and facebook for upcoming events!

Beyond Monet The Immersive Experience

Beyond Monet, the fully immersive art exhibit featuring the works of Claude Monet, will take you on a whimsical stroll through the artist’s life where the artist’s life’s works comes alive around you in a story of brush strokes and paint splatters.

This new style of installation was created by the Paquin Entertainment Group, and prior exhibits include Van Gogh and King Tut which I heard were amazing as well. They create the magic by projecting images on smooth walls and columns with a soundtrack to match the mood and moving elements of the paintings. If you want to get your culture on but find it hard to embrace the quiet focus required for reading a book or plaque, this may be a fun way for you to learn more about art.

Here’s what to expect at Beyond Monet:

Starting off in the lobby, the mood is set with a dark entrance with the only light coming from large lit displays of several of Monet’s painting to exclaim you are in the right place while also serving as a perfect photo drop. Next room holds a small bar to splurge on a cocktail. I got the themed drink, Th Water Lilly Harmony, which came in, what we called, souvenir “adult sippy cups” to prevent those inevitable spills that occur regardless of age.

Speaking of accidents, the security guard made it very clear before we enter to fight the urge of leaning on the walls because they are in fact sheets that will result in altering the show for everyone and most likely an embarrassing tumble.

Once inside the exhibit, they do a good job making you feel like your walking into a painting with large frames to pass through, sheets of translucent colors to guide your way, and even a bridge to cross as you read how Monet’s gentle appearing Impressionism was actually considered a form of artistic rebellion in a time when carefully planned perfection was considered the rule.

The main room is where the magic starts. Imagjne a large auditorium with walls that smoothly transition from painted seas to busy railways to lush gardens. The floor ripples with colors and a light melody plays as paintings come to life- sometimes brush stroke by brush stroke. There are a few small benches lined around the room to sit and admire but I preferred sitting in the middle among friends to and watch the history unfold.

Finally, after you’re through, you can move on to the lounge where you can grab a bite to eat or cocktail while you share your experience among one another. An element I appreciated about this lounge was their thoughtfully designed kids area complete with child sized furniture and their own Monet coloring pages.

My experience was had with a great group of friends and I look forward to including my daughter soon for a fun way to introduce her the world of art history

Beyond Monet- Find it in a City Near You

The Lost World of Dragons

I have no idea where August went but I had to make a post about The Lost World of Dragons before it’s gone as well! You still have one more weekend to check out the imaginative exhibit at Museum of Science and History (MOSH) in Jacksonville, FL!! Fantastical yet historical, the exhibit has interactive sections that teach about dragon lore from around the world. As someone who grew up with a fascination for mythology, my inner-child was hyped and taking my own little girl just made it that much more special.

Candy Keane and I had the opportunity to set up shop for the opening night and had a blast. We shared our book, I’m Going to My First Comic Convention!, as well as some art and crafts. It was so fun being back in the convention scene again this year even though it is still a much smaller scale. We did get a bit in costume too with some medieval inspired looks and still rocked our masks.

The exhibit itself is full of interactive activites that pull you into the fantasy world with lifesize dragons that tower over you and come to life. Mythology, quizzes, and photo ops make for a fun day at the museum for all ages. Check out MOSH’s website for more details and explore this magical world this weekend while you still can!

Children’s Book for Geeky Families

Surprise!! I illustrated this lovely adventure called “I’m Going to My First Comic Convention!”, and I’m finally sitting down to talk about it!

Children’s book written and illustrated by two geeky moms!

This year has been a whirlwind with work, family, and a changing world along with a pandemic! I don’t really know how we did it but I can say I’m lucky Candy Keane asked me to be her partner in this endeavor. Together we took on this challenge to write, illustrate, and publish the whole thing ourselves. There were many roadblocks and interruptions but looking at this book in my hand is a powerful feeling of accomplishment.

Like any good story, let’s start from the beginning. Candy Keane is a local mom who’s been a professional in the cosplay scene for some time. When she reached out to me, I was flattered. I call myself an artist but i always do it with an ounce of doubt because i didn’t go the traditional route. I don’t have a degree in art- just a passion that is now split many ways due to a busy life as a working mom. I actually illustrated some books years ago, before a full time job and family occupited most of my time, but this opportunity lit a fire to get back into what I love again- illustrating.

*When moms are writing a book, you got to keep the kids entertained*

So we met up at a bounce gym to let the kids run amuck (#momlife) while we got to planning. Candy revealed her story which follows Keelan, a little boy infatuated with the super-hero mascots for the comic convention coming to town. The big day comes and each page of the book is meant to display an exciting activity of what to expect at a convention- from buying treats in the vendor room to trying out new video game exhibits.

Sketches, inside the book, and printed copies!

We began storyboarding visuals to match the pages. The subject matter was right up our alleys and our image of how this book would come together seemed to click in place.With story and ideas in hand, I got to drawing. I was given lots of artistic license to play with perspective and composition which was fun! I also loved sneaking in my personal favorite fandoms into the book Check our the book to see if you can spot them! I also loved adding guest appearances like professional artists from the Florida area which really made the book have this community representation and feel for our very fun, local scene.

Thank you to author and sponsor, Katie Reeds who makes a quest appearance!
https://www.katiereedauthor.com/

With a global pandemic slowing down the world over the past year, conventions almost seem like a thing of the past, but I’m looking forward to the day to safely explore a convention again with my little one. Until that day comes, check out our book to fill that con void!

Available at Amazon at tinyurl.com/firstcomiccon

Kindness Rocks

Have you heard of Kindness Rocks? Well you may have found a colorful rock in a store or along a walkway and never realized you were blessed with one of these little pieces of art! Some mystery artist left it there to brighten your day. These artists get rocks and decorate them with pictures and sayings before hiding them in public for someone to find.

9 rock found.jpg — Zoe finds a Kindness Rock at a playground

What started as a little art project, has become a family tradition for us. We have spent many evenings painting rocks and hiding them around town. We have even been lucky enough to see some of our rocks discovered to the delight of the lucky finder!

Pictured our some of my favorite rocks I have made. It is easy to make your own, inexpensive to start, and a great way to spread some cheer. Here are a few tips to get started.

1. Picking the right rock
Any rock will do but we prefer, smooth river rocks that are not porous which allows for better paint application. We found a local gardening store that let us pick out any rocks we wanted and sold them by the pound which was cheaper than buying by the bag at a typical home improvement store.

2. Picking your paint
It took some time and experimenting but we’ve found our favorite go-to paints for rocks. We love POSCA as well as Artistro acrylic paint pens which are so convenient and come in vibrant and quick setting colors. The points also allow for fine details or print.

3. Setting the rock
A rock can make for a beautiful blank canvas, but if you want an alternate color, you can save time and get a lovely smooth finish, by spray painting a lot of rocks first. Once dry, paint as usual.

It is as easy as that! If you need some help, search Facebook for a local rock group by county or city. Join in and get rocking!

Drink and Draw II- Let’s Get Artsy

Drawing is a creative outlet for me that I usually enjoy in the privacy of my home. Somewhat self-conscious, I never really enjoyed drawing in public, but I thought I’d give the Drink and Draw a try. Hosted by GAAM and local Jacksonville artist, Chappy Lips, it was located at local brewery, Aardwolf Brewery in San Marco area of Jacksonville, Florida.

Mark Pariani Productions

GAAM (which stands for Games, Art, and Music) is an organization making strides in the Jacksonville gaming community (I will have to dedicate post to GAAM in the future) that hosts fun gaming related events throughout the year while raising money for charity. Recently, GAAM, started spot-lighting local, up-and-coming artists to host Drink and Draw where anyone can come, draw, and share a drink among friends.

Chappy Lips , AKA Leslie, wasthe gracious host who set-up a welcoming event and provided her own supplies for guests to explore. Her tools of trade include traditional Japanese inks and brushes that give her often modern influenced art, an old-world charm.

Mark Pariani Productions

After admiring Leslie’s set-up, I grabbed a beer (a saison) and took a seat in a corner where I set up base. Within an hour, the reserved room was full and bustling with activity. As Leslie’s speakers played hip hop tunes, people could be seen sketching, painting, inking, and having a good time.

Enter a caption

All skill levels were welcome but what about ages? Breweries are changing. I’ve seen more locations that are marketing themselves as family friendly or places to enjoy the community. Despite this, I was not sure what it would be like bringing my four year old daughter.

dnd 3 sm
As a mom, there are so many variables to factor in when introducing your child to new experiences…How will my child act? Is she sleepy? Will it be loud? Will she feel comfortable around so many people? How will people feel with her around?…To add to these concerns, being somewhere that resembles a bar crosses into what feels like taboo territory. All concerns aside, we gave it a try and my daughter got to enjoy some art time. She got to meet and see different artists, sample different art tools, and make her own masterpiece. Drink and Draw was a night of creativity and fun! I look forward to the next event.

Zoe titled her art piece “Rainbow Cave”

Check out Chappy Lips on Facebook and Instagram to check out her art or purchase some of her one-of-kind pins and stickers!

gaam drink_draw 2-103 What are your thoughts on children at breweries? I’m interested to hear about your experience!

Photos by Mark Pariani Productions

#momblog #jaxfl #jacksonvilleflorida #momlife

That Nerdy Mom

Mom+Nerd+Artist

Art