I have been hearing people express interest in finding glass blowing lessons in the Charlotte area recently and was trying to send them to Glass Impressions, but then I realized they are not showing up as a glassblowing studio when I search, so I thought I would leave this review so that others can find them.
I took lessons from Mark Selleck (the owner) a few years ago with a few friends and had a great time. I doubt there is a more experienced glassblower giving classes in this area (and he's self-taught!). I think he has been blowing glass for over 40 years.
The class that we signed up for was bead making. We arrived out in the country at the Glass Impressions studio, which also happens to be next to Mr. Selleck's home on a beautiful wooded property. In the building that he uses for business, his work office is downstairs and upstairs is a lampwork/flamework studio with enough room for four students. The day I went with my cousin, there were two other students, so the studio was full, and it was a great atmosphere.
After Mark reviewed the safety requirements and gave us safety glasses, we learned to light the torch and heat the glass. First we just started out making small glass balls. We learned to shape the molten glass gradually until we were confident enough to create a shape that actually looked like something! Most of us were able to finish with some cool marbles or our first pair of homemade glass earrings.
I learned that the glass has to be cured just like pottery so that it does not crack, and so we left our creations behind so Mark could put them in the kiln for many hours. He offered to mail them to us or let us pick them up at a later date.
I know that Mark teaches more complicated skills like actual glass blowing, so maybe another day I'll have time to go back. It is cool that someone with so much experience is willing to teach a beginner with basic interest. Thanks, Mark! read more
