Suellen Fowler: Sharing the Chemistry of Color

Glasscaster: Hot Glass Talk in a High-Tech World

So you think you know a little about borosilicate color, do you? Join Suellen Fowler & I as we take a walk down memory lane and explore the history and chemistry of colored borosilicate glass. Boro is notoriously difficult to color, because traditional coloring agents burn out at the temperatures required for boro. Starting with her early experimentation under the tutelage of John Burton and Margaret Youd, Suellen began creating her own color recipes while still in her teens. Her formulas became the basis of some of Northstar's original formulas back in the '80's. Her hand mixing techniques and incredible attention to detail produced some of boro's best beloved colors, including the rubies & the precurser to the amber purples. Find out how it all happened in this intriguing interview. Excerpts of this interview can be found in print in the Spring 2009 issue of The Flow Magazine. See Suellen in action! Her DVD, “Flamework: An Intimate Art” will show you her famed hand mixing technique, as well as the creation of a fire-breathing dragon, an Aurora bottle, a hobnail perfume bottle with stopper, and a spinning top. You can purchase the DVD at www.firelady.com Note: This podcast contains a telephone interview. At certain moments the audio may be less distinct than in an interview conducted in person. So turn up your volume and enjoy! We would like to thank: The Flow Magazine for sponsoring this episode of Glasscaster.