15607 - 100A Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Phone:(780) 489-1028
Fax: (780) 483-7899
Email: garneau@interbaun.com
Website: myriadweb.ca/garneau

Medium: Glass

To maintain the highest standards, I personally perform all the creative and physical aspects of my work. My carvings reflect a twenty-year fascination with glass as a carving medium. Using sand carving and diamond burrs, I am able to achieve a variety of styles and depth into thick sheets of glass.

I prefer to use Starfire or Opticlear glass because when edge-lit the light travels deeper into the glass to accent the carvings. This form of carving has required me to think in reverse, so to speak. When carving stone, I remove the negative element, but when carving into glass, I have to carve out the positive element.

I strive to remove this initially with sandblasting and finish with diamond bits to complete the detail. The process begins with a concept or idea transferred into a series of drawings. The techniques of previous carvings come into play at this point, since I have to design to maximize the effect. For example, the depth of the carving affects the transfer of light, so I have to ensure that one element does not overshadow another.

Once I have an understanding of the sequence of the carved elements, I transfer the drawing onto the premasked glass sheet. The pattern is then cut to expose the individual elements. I then place the piece into my booth and suit up for protection and wear a positive pressure mask. I use a variety of blasting equipment and use granulated garnet as a blast medium. I remove the masking over each element and blast to a predetermined depth and angle. I continue until the elements are carved and begin detailing the piece, with diamond burrs, with the edge of the glass lit. This gives me the refinement I strive for.

When the piece is finished, I place it into its frame and add the colored gels between the light and the edge of the glass to add to the effect. I then turn off all the ambient lights and study the piece, looking for the depth of the carving in relation to the edge light for future projects.

With proper framing the piece lights only the carving and not the clear glass around it. Since this is a new art form, I can foresee a great variety of applications, including garden sculpture, architectural accents, or as free-standing art pieces. This is an artwork that can be viewed from either side. Subject matter is infinite.

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