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LaughingTree —
Tree sculpture
Published: 2005-02-11 07:26:47 +0000 UTC; Views: 32836; Favourites: 1591; Downloads: 735
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Description
**UPDATE***Woah! Didn't see this coming! I submitted this piece in 2005! If you like my work, (trees in particular), please take a look at where my glass trees evolved to by clicking on my profile and seeing my featured "sky tree series". I consider those to be my most successful glass trees to date! Thanks for the DD and the comments everyone! I'll get to them all in time!
Ever since I started blowing glass two years ago, I have tried to make glass trees... This is the only one I've ever been able to make that I like... I stayed up all night creating a pedestal that would illuminate it from underneath and during the critique I used a bulb that was too powerful... got it too hot... And it cracked... The story of my life...
This picture was taken after it cracked. It has yet to break off or fall apart
I made this piece about a year ago (winter 2004)
Materials: solid and blown glass
This piece is about 20" tall
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Comments: 254
it reminds me of the whomping willow from harry potter
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Thanks! You're not the only person to say that!
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haha well its very pretty
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Wow! As with some others, I'm sorry to read that it cracked. However, I think the little accident gives even more character to the piece. Congratulations on the DD.
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Thanks! Yeah, the first thing you learn (or at least I learned) about glass is to not get toooooo attached to any pieces. Because chances are they will eventually break. Especially the ones you like best...
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You're very welcome! I'd say that's quite a level-headed way to go about things. My sister's a painter and she once had a finished canvas she coveted dearly ripped apart due to an accident. I haven't experienced an understanding like yours, but I certainly have from a third-party perspective. Growing pains!
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If anything, I'd say your sister had it worse... With glass you kind of expect it to break eventually. Usually and hopefully not for a long time... But it's pretty inevitable. With a painting, you just don't expect it, so it hurts that much more...
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True enough. Though painful, I think knowing to expect the unexpected in any situation (or medium) helps more than it hurts.
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Gosh. Tragic story of woe with this piece. I'm so sorry that happened!! Live and learn, though.
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Yes indeed! It was more about the process and the evolution of my work than the end piece.
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Never stop learning creatively because you can never learn and master everything.
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Never stop learning anything and everything! We live in a world of instant research!
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that looks so cool!! How do you blow glass? do you put it over the fire or something and then... blow? them....
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I think your best bet is to google glassblowing videos. I'm not sure how easy it would be to try to explain it in a comment reply. It's a pretty complex process!
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Absolutely beautiful!!! 
I'm so sad that it broke
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I was at first too... But You get over it. Glass breaks... That's what it does!
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Hehe true 
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I saw this in the Daily Deviations and I had to click on it :3 Really beautiful.
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Thanks for stopping by! Glad you like it.
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To create a neat tree texture after you get your gathers marver the glass and then use a optic mold, reheat, then dip into baking soda water, reheat etc...
Sorry to hear it cracked. Glass does that sometimes
Where do you take classes at?
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I went to school for glass at Ohio State. I've actually made quite a few trees using that very technique! It's a great one. You should check out the newer trees I've made either on my website www.mentalfabrications.com or in my gallery on here.
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Love the website! I am a undergrad in glass at Ball State, so we be neighbors
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Well I'm out in Washington State since 2005, so we're pseudo-time-warping neigbors!
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Indeed. Hope you are living the dream!
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Ah, yes, forever cracked...but you know what? Nothing is perfect, but I think this sculpture is pretty close! Love it.
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Wow. Congratulations on the DD! You deserved it
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Impressive
Have you been inspired by bonsai trees? (except they are small)
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Most definitely! I have spent a good deal of time looking at bonsai trees. And some of them are probably bigger than you would think.
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Very beautiful. I hope you are able to make more glass trees that pass your expectations.
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Thanks. I am very happy with my more recent glass trees!
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Thanks. All available work is listed on my website. www.mentalfabrications.com. This piece in particular, I'm afraid, is not available for sale.
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I love it. I want a forest of them that glow. That'd be beyond beautiful.
Gotta love those one offs ey. Bugger of a punch in the face when you can't replicate it yet still easily worth it to have it happen.
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*Eyes widen with awe* It's so detailed and beautiful!
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trees have always been a big part of my drawlings though i have yet to take that leap in my glass sculpture. never the less your piece is inspiring and beautiful...
the cracking issue though... the thermal shock point of boro i thought was higher then that of the light bulb temperature (as the light bulb is usually made of boro itself, though sometimes quartz as with some halogens) so i wonder... could it be annealing cycles/acute angels, that lead to the cracking?
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Problem is that tree was made from soft glass... Not boro...
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