Chiara Ferraris

Glass fuser

©Eloise Nania Photographer

Painting on fused glass

Chiara’s art is a combination of glass fusing and decoration
Her workshop is in the city, but her passion is nature
She is always looking for new projects to express her creativity

Eclectic, determined and passionate about decoration, Chiara Ferraris runs a workshop in Turin where she creates artistic glass pieces both for clients and for art’s sake. After studying the history of the miniature, she attended a restoration school. At the same time, she started working for a small artisanal company, where she soon understood that creating was more exciting than restoring, and that glass fusing – now her signature technique – was going to become a key part of her life. Artisan, teacher, networker and nature lover, Chiara combines her love for hand painting with her skills as a glassworker. The versatility of her craft and her energetic attitude lead her to undertake new challenges and projects on a ongoing basis; she is always looking for more artistic freedom in what she does.

Interview

©Eloise Nania Photographer

©Eloise Nania Photographer

Did you study under a particular master?: Before opening my own business I had several masters, but one I would like to mention is glass artist Miriam Di Fiore. I had the chance to be a part of her workshop on light painting with glass, which soon became my real passion.
What appeals about glass fusing?: It’s a very versatile technique, allowing you to work on both small and very large pieces. It’s different from Venetian glassblowing but a few aspects are similar: you work with hot glass and the final pieces have no welding joins or any similar type of connection.
What do you like most about your craft?: I love the combination of glass fusing with hand painting, decoration being the greatest passion of my life. I like working for clients, being challenged to find new solutions and gain their trust, but on the other hand I try to find more and more time in my life for pure creation, for expressing my artistic side.
As a teacher, what do you advise your students?: Be determined, be passionate, be bold. Craftsmanship is a conservative world – sometimes chauvinistic, too – but you can’t get intimidated. Be curious, never stop experimenting and try to establish a good network with other artisans, like they did in the Renaissance.

Chiara Ferraris is a master artisan: she began her career in 1997 and she started teaching in 2003