Visiting Artist Workshop with Zachary Layhew ~ Lines, Rings, and Patterned Things

2025 Visiting Artist Workshop with Zachary Layhew

Lines, Rings, and Patterned Things

$990/person

5 day workshop from November 12-16, 2025

Wednesday-Sunday 9am-5pm (with a daily 1 hour lunch break)

Prerequisite: Intermediate/Advanced workshop. Glassblowing 2 or equivalent required for this workshop. Having taken Cane Techniques and/or Color Application will be helpful, but not required.

Registration Deadline 9/30/25

Course Description: “Lines, Rings, and Patterned Things” will be a deep dive into the world of pattern creation, set up, and workability. We’ll begin with a break down of the pattern making process and demonstrate what can be done with the entirety of a cane pull. Cane, murrini, and a smattering of other techniques will be covered through demonstrations.

Once your patterns are pulled we will discuss and demonstrate how to lay them out so they can be rolled up onto a blowpipe. There will be a heavy focus on the creation of stuff cups, supios, and blanks. After this prep work is made, these patterns will be worked further. We will build upon our skills and gain a fundamental understanding of how to make vessels without distorting or disrupting your patterns. 

A wide range of techniques will be covered to push students to explore and experiment with the layering of line and color. Students are encouraged to come to class with ideas, drawings, and an open mind.

Artist Biography

Zachary Layhew is an American artist born and raised in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Throughout his glass career (2007-present) he has gathered a large collection of knowledge and skill in different processes and techniques in glass. His work revolves around a combination of glass blowing, cold working, and then a further reheating, manipulating, and assembling of these pieces. Zachary’s aesthetics are inspired by themes of the  Baroque period and Cubism. While pulling from these influences, he highlights the beauty in glass through manipulation of line, pattern, color, depth and dimension. Zach takes great consideration and appreciation to the time span in preparation for the work to be completed. Spending days to weeks reflecting on each step in the process in creating these effects. During this process he will alter details of the work to reflect highs and lows in life. Allowing each piece to take on its own unique meaning and personality. In a way, the physical object itself holds the memory from the time span in which it was created.

Artist’s Website