This July, I am incredibly excited to partner with the City of Leduc to introduce young creatives to the luminous world of kiln glass.
As part of Leduc’s summer art camp programming, I will be hosting a hands-on workshops designed for children and youth aged 7 to 15. Campers will discover how to design, assemble, and create their very own fused glass suncatchers. For nearly all of these young artists, this workshop will mark their very first introduction to glass as a professional artistic medium.
What Campers Will Learn in the Fused Glass Workshop
One of my favorite aspects of teaching is watching students discover their own creative instincts when given the freedom to experiment. Glass is a mesmerizing medium that offers endless possibilities through color interplay, geometric shapes, texture, and light design.
During this community art program, campers will explore:
- The Foundations of Glass Design: Understanding how transparent and opaque colors interact.
- Composition & Layering: Arranging glass elements safely to achieve beautiful patterns.
- The Kiln Transformation: Learning how raw glass fuses together under intense heat to create a smooth, unified piece of art.
By the end of the camp, each participant will have a unique, custom glass suncatcher they can proudly display in a window at home.
Safety, Confidence, and Creative Problem Solving
Safety and accessibility are the absolute pillars of this class design. Because working with youth requires a highly controlled environment, the curriculum focuses strictly on the creative placement and design aspects. Students get to experience the magic of the medium while learning about the precise firing processes that transform separate components into a finished heirloom.
Youth art programs like these do so much more than teach a craft—they actively nurture:
- Creative Problem-Solving: Thinking spatially about how shapes fit together.
- Confidence & Agency: Making independent design choices from start to finish.
- Artistic Exposure: Introducing kids to specialized fine art mediums they wouldn't normally encounter in school.
A Note from the Studio: As a local Alberta glass artist, sharing this craft with the next generation is incredibly rewarding. I cannot wait to see the imaginative, bold designs that emerge from this year’s Leduc camp participants!
Looking for Glass Art Classes Near Edmonton?
If you missed out on registration for this summer session or are looking for future family-friendly art workshops, kids' art camps, or beginner glass fusing classes in the Edmonton area, let's stay connected!
Be sure to follow my studio updates or subscribe to the newsletter to get early notifications for upcoming community classes, seasonal workshops, and new collection launches.
