I recently began experimenting with glass powders, developing a method of sculpting Pâte de Verre that goes beyond the confines of mold work. The firing process is completed without the use of molds. I do not use any form of 3D printing or modeling at any point in this process.

In late 2017, I began a series of animal bones using this technique. The first pieces, “Bones-Group” included a section of a vertebrae, a tailbone, a section of jawbone, and two leg bone sections, and received an Honorable Mention Bullseye Glass's Emerge 2018.

 “Pronghorn Skull” is a continuation of the series, and is a replica of a real pronghorn skull found by a friend. The early experience I gained shaping glass paste to simulate bone texture, coloration, and appearance of decay, provided the basis for making this skull, but the challenge to shape and maintain the brain cavity was new. This challenge was increased because of the nature of powdered glass to shrink 15-20% during the firing process. By capitalizing on the attributes of this technique, I was able to retain the cavity as well as the numerous openings that allow the observer to view the skull’s interior.