I’ve always been drawn to neon: the brightness, the colour, the association with advertising, graphics and America. Once I’d found this workshop in Wakefield I knew it was a fantastic opportunity to learn more AND get a piece of neon made to use in my final project. I was really impressed with both the course and the piece I came away with: Richard and Julia’s enthusiasm for the science, craft and history of neon-making was infectious. I also have a new-found respect for glass sculptors of all kinds – it looks really easy but it definitely isn’t!
Spiral filled with neon (makes red)
Julia making a bubble. The tube in her mouth keeps the tube’s shape while it is being bent – she gently blows air in to stop it collapsing.
Single electrode neon
Our early experiments with bending and fusing glass
My sign being bombarded
hannahbailey.org 