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
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
- Address: Via Levanna 29, 10143, Turin, Italy
- Hours: Monday to Friday 08:30-18:00
- Phone: +39 1118932530
- Languages: Italian, French
Chiara Ferraris
- Address: Via Levanna 29, 10143, Turin, Italy
- Hours: Monday to Friday 08:30-18:00
- Phone: +39 1118932530
- Languages: Italian, French