Another Gather

When the glass has cooled slightly and the artist is prepared, the furnace door is yet again opened and the blowpipe goes in for another coating. The artist carefully gathers an even coat of glass that encases the entire first gather, steps away from the furnace and closes the door.

Gathering is one of the main aspects of glass that draws the artist into this medium. When the glass first comes out of the furnace, its raw state may appear unusual and contrary to how we typically think of glass. This glowing and dripping substance moves like lava. The heat from the furnace, which is overwhelming at first, causes many people to be hesitant. However, the artist eventually learns to tolerate the heat and grows to love the process of glassblowing.