high5 glass: michael janis’ glass powder images

These intricate glass powder drawings are the work of Washington School of Glass Co-Director Michael Janis. An architect for many years, Janis loved the formal aesthetic of the drawing process and as he transitioned from architect to artist this process became the foundation for his work with glass.

The Tower, Tarot Card Series
cast glass with sgrafitto glass powder imagery, 18″ x 36″ x 2″

Janis developed the sgraffito technique he uses, manipulating glass dust into powerful images that beg you to lean in for a closer look. He sifts powder onto glass sheets, scraping and scratching the black glass dust to create drawings that are soulful and questioning. The drawings are fired, fusing the glass powder to the glass sheet, which allows him to build up the imagery by fusing several layers of drawings together.

Words Left Unsaid
kilncast glass, steel, glass powder imagery, 12″ x 12″ x 1″

Often mistaken for photographs, the depth of the layered images help the viewer experience a sense of falling into the story. With names like “Words Left Unsaid” and “Who But You Would Let Me In,” the titles speak volumes and each piece delivers on the promise its name implies.

Luck, Chance and Fate
engraved fused glass with glass powder imagery, each 18″ x 8″ x 4″

Fate, detail

As I strive to translate ideas and concepts, taken many times from found objects, life experiences and popular culture, I often combine them with text to provide clues to content and meanings.

Who But You Would Take Me In
kilncast glass, steel, glass powder imagery, 12″ x 12″ x 1″

As in old blueprints, the images and words are equal in importance; written information crosses over or lines up as soldiers in formation. In my work, text adds to the visual composition, and evokes wandering through thoughts and memories.

The Magician, Tarot Card Series
cast glass, steel, glass powder imagery 18″ x 36″ x 2″

In this documentary about the artist we see Janis at work creating one of his detailed drawings.  He talks about the process and shares some thoughts about taking an essentially flat drawing and shaping it into a three dimensional sculpture.

Links:

Michael Janis’ website

Washington Glass School

More about the High5 series here

High5 features Mary Van Cline

High5 features Lino Tagliapietra Makes a Cane

More layered glass images from the DAM archives:

Miriam DiFiore’s Painting with Glass

Carol Cohen’s Layered Glass Sculptures

High5 Update

Make sure to look for the High5 afternoon posts in the ‘Latest Post’ category on the front page of DAMuse, (just under the featured post) and keep watching the sidebar – this morning I added another school to the list and several additional books under ‘Inspiration For All’.