Process and Inspiration
A Film By
Michèle Oberdieck

Michèle Oberdieck explores balance and asymmetry through colour, form and surface decoration. Presenting her sculptural works as a gesture, an expressive mark, often composing individual elements together, she is fascinated in the narratives that can be created. Drawn to biomorphic structures found in plant growth, life cycles and decay, such as the delicately aging silhouettes of tulip petals, it is these twisted yet beautiful organic shapes, that she aims to capture in her glass.

With a background in printmaking and textiles, involving hand dying and screen-printing fine silks, Oberdieck understands the relationship between colour and light, a relationship that is perfect to further explore with glass.

As with many artists and their chosen medium, where there is an element of 'magic in the making', it is a real privilege to get a glimpse of the creative process and what is involved. Jack Webber from Eyes + Ears Film on collaborating for the film;

“As well as telling the story of how Michèle creates her beautiful asymmetrical forms, we wanted to capture the contrast between her studio, where ideas are conceived and the immediacy of the hot-shop where the hot glass is formed and shaped.” 




Special thanks to Sonja Klinger for her help & studio

Further Works By Michèle Oberdieck
Fantasy Plants A solo exhibition by Michèle Oberdieck
In the words of the artist;
 
“Unlike other materials where the colour is applied after the shape is made, with blown glass one starts with the colour.  Supplied as glass rods which are cut down and heated in a small kiln, a series of tests are made first, to check how each molten hue moves. Glass pigments are achieved using metal oxides, each of which reacts differently to heat, as well as to one another, for example, opaque and transparent colours move at different speeds. Some are softer, becoming milky and more malleable, whilst other are harder remaining rigid, creating defining lines.

The length of heating time and the proportion of colour used is of particular importance and can impact on a piece dramatically, especially, as the shape blows out and the proportion of desired transparency is revealed. Essentially, colour and form evolve together.

The effect of differing sources of light on a glass object and the resultant shadows, both created internally or cast from it, constantly inspires me. Vivid, subtle, expressive - it is important how the tone works in balance with the shape. The size of the base affects the proportions of the piece, with the rim controlling the amount of light that is allowed to pass within." 

Working on colour palettes


Choosing colours