8 Saturdays, starts Sa 11th January 2025

Borosilicate glass is also called hard glass, known for laboratory test tubes and pipettes and still better known for coffee and tea pots which can one minute be used to pour piping hot liquids and the next minute rinsed out under cold water without the glass breaking. Borosilicate glass has, in fact, a low coefficient of expansion and can survive these temperature differences. Because of this, working with borosilicate glass on the oxygen torch is a totally different experience than working with soft glass such as Moretti that can’t handle such wide temperature variations. Borosilicate glass has become known as “A Glass Maker’s Friend” because it doesn’t go flying past the side of your head so easily!

But borosilicate glass offers another challenge: the hollow tube!! Because of its use as a technical glass, borosilicate glass is available in a wide variety of diameters and thicknesses, all produced with scientific precision. Manipulating a glass tube at the torch actually requires completely different skills than for manipulating a solid glass rod. This course is focused on working with the tube and the goal is: a wine glass with a stem! And for the real go-getters: a perfect wine glass with a stem and decoration!!

Students will receive individual guidance during the course. As a result, the course is open to all enthusiasts regardless of their previous knowledge of torch techniques. The first 2 lessons are group lessons focused on working with solid rods. After that, students receive individual guidance and the more advanced students can shift to working with tubes. Simple animal figures are employed to learn techniques such as: “gathering glass”; “making connections”; “pulling points”; “blowing”; etc. At every step of the way, the objective is to achieve perfect results with attention to body posture, consistent dimensions and thickness, control over the glass, etc. Hereby is the level of perfection and complexity – at an individual level – increased more and more. How much a student learns during this course depends not only on their starting level and natural talent but is also highly dependent on the amount of time he or she devotes to practicing and doing homework assignments between classes. In other words: practice makes perfect!!!

Though trained as a technical glassblower, Jörg Hanowski has predominantly made his name in the art world. With his glass objects, including also neon installations, he’s pulled in numerous international glass awards. And further he regularly creates glass works for colleague-artists.
For more information about Jörg Hanowski, visit his website: www.studio-glas.com.

Workshop hours: Saturdays 11.00 - 18.00 hrs; Scedule: Sa 11th and 25th January, 1st and 8th February, 8th and 22nd March, 5th and 12th April 2025.

Level: From 0 (lampworking).

Costs: EUR 1000,-, including use of torches / ovens and tools, a basic amount of glass and materials, annealing costs, lunch and taxes but excluding special glass and glass for homework assignments. The course fee is payable in installments. Once registered, you are obligated for payment of the entire course fee. There is space for a maximum of 7 students.

Location: Stipglas, Utrechtsestraat 6,Tilburg (centre)

Registration: call or mail.

Taught by JanHein van Stiphout (NL)

Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th April 2025

Always wanted to learn glassblowing but never had the chance? Seize this opportunity to try it out and see if this technique is something for you. During the 2-day workshop students learn the basic techniques of glass blowing on a glory hole.
Instead of a melting pot you start with preheated glass from a pick-up kiln. By heating up and cooling down you learn to blow and/or shape the hot glass.
STIPGLAS regularly organizes “Glassblowing Work Days” throughout the year for students to practice independently. For more information, see: Education PLUS.

Level: 0 and higher (Glory hole technique)

Workshop hours: from 11.00 - 17.30.

Cost: EUR 225,- (includes basic materials and the use of necessary tools, lunch and taxes)

Registration: call or email,