From Crown Art to Wall Art

After working in dental laboratories for 16 years as a stainer and glazer in the porcelain department, most recently at Ottawa Dental Laboratory in Ottawa, IL, Michelle Rial was itching to apply the skills she had learned to a life outside the lab. Rial had what she calls "a lightbulb moment" during a visit to a glass supply house near her home. At the urging of her husband, Rial bought an instruction book, a kiln, a couple tons of glass and taught herself the art of glass fusion.

Glass fusion is a relatively unknown art form in which layers of colored glass are cut, stacked and fused in a kiln to create intricate, complex pieces that can stand on their own or be mounted on the wall. Powder glass and chips, on the surface or below, add interest to the design and create depth and texture. "Not too many people know what glass fusion is. Everyone thinks it's blowing glass or stained glass but it is much more complex with many variables and analysis involved; change a couple of minutes...