Westlake Village, CA - The Glass Arts Collective, founded by Nancy Dillingham Marks, is a new glass art studio promising to enrich the vibrant landscape of artistic expression for beginners, glass enthusiasts, and professional artists. Nestled in the heart of the Conejo Valley, this niche studio specializes in fused glass—a unique category of glass art known for its warmth and versatility.

“Glass art is far more than a craft; it’s an invitation to explore creativity in the middle ground between the fiery intensity of hot glass and the serene sturdiness of stained glass,” says Dillingham Marks.

Fused glass, considered “warm glass,” occupies a middle ground between the high-temperature processed hot glass/glass blowing and the unheated crafting of cold glass/stained glass. This medium emerged around 50 years ago thanks to innovative engineers at Bullseye Glass Co. in Portland, Oregon, who set out to push the boundaries of traditional glassblowing.

“We source sheets of colored glass made by hand, ensuring each piece is unique. This glass, typically shipped in large 20 by 35-inch crates, can be mixed into stunning creations,” Dillingham Marks explains. “The glass transforms as it’s heated between 1400 to 1500 degrees, akin to thick molten honey, allowing it to blend, soften, and create myriad forms, which fused the glass together”

The fusion process can involve multiple firings: initially to flatten the glass and then to slump or drape the softened glass over molds for shaping into bowls, platters, trays, wall art, garden art, and more. This process opens innumerable possibilities for artists.

For more information about Nancy Dillingham Marks and the Glass Arts Collective, please visit https://glassartscollective.com/