Renee Kingsley
Galway, NY
" Welcome to Beads On Fire"
Services: Glass Work
- $2530 min
- 0Classes Taught
- 2Recommendations
Beads On Fire’s glass artist Renee Kingsley has been creating lampwork glass beads in her Galway studio since 2006. Renee became hooked on melting glass while taking a class simply to see how the beads she was using in her jewelry designs were made. One flicker of the flame and drop of molten glass on the mandrel and an artist was born.
Lampworking is an ancient glass forming technique that employs a small torch flame that is used to melt the end of a glass rod. The molten glass is then wound off the end of the glass rod and wrapped onto a thin tool called a mandrel. Once the molten glass is balled onto the mandrel, the glass artist uses tools and gravity to shape the bead. Often other colors of glass are added to create elaborate surface decorations. The beads are then placed into a kiln to be annealed, a process of slow cooling the beads to avoid thermal shock, making the beads strong and durable. Each bead is then cleaned and ready to be used in one of a kind jewelry pieces.
Student Recommendations
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Robert M. January 12, 2011
"I have taken several class's from Renee and have learned so much from her. The classes I have taken are Intro to lampworking and bead making, Surface decoration, Beads don't have to be round, and Encasing. The next class I take will be Metal Inclusion. Renee has a great personality and makes you feel at ease while taking her classes. She offers constrictive criticism in a non-judgmental way. She has an amazing wealth of information, and is not afraid to share it. She has also helped me to safely set up my studio. I have been to a artists show, at The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls NY, and seen her work. It is truly amazing, and with her instruction I will get better and better. "
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Nancy M. January 13, 2011
"I had never taken a lampworking course and was a little hesitant but after one class with Renee I was hooked. I have taken every class that she offers and plan to take her new open torch classes and metal inclusion. Renee is a very patient teacher, you can never ask her too many questions. I have e-mailed her several times with questions, after the classes were over, and she always replies quickly and with a lot of encouragement. If you want to learn how to make beautiful glass beads and have fun doing it Renee is the teacher you are looking for."