Design of the Month · December 2014
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"Orca Dive Flag"
One of the most beautiful and inspiring creatures in the ocean is the orca, or killer whale.
This month, I'd like to share with you a simple project that will be auctioned off for a charity event.
I started the project with two images found on the internet. Using Photoshop, I superimposed the image of an orca on top of a classic scuba dive flag. I then added that image as a background into Glass Eye 2000. Next, I easily traced the lines in the image and then took a PDF of the design to Kinko's to have a full-size image printed.
Using my low-tech light table (a sliding glass door!) I translated the image onto contact paper, and adhered the contact paper to the glass once the pieces were cut out. I use the same technique for all my projects because it saves me a lot of time in cutting and grinding. Often I can cut right on the line and not have to do any shaping with the grinder.
This was a single-day project. Most of it I completed at my home studio, and finished it at Joe's Glass Shack in Escondido.
I am donating this panel to the WAVES Project. It's a support group for veterans that uses scuba diving to help those who suffer from PTSD or have experienced grievous wounds while in combat. Studies by Johns Hopkins have demonstrated amazing results for wounded soldiers. In one study, after just four days of diving 100% of the participants experienced increases in neurologic function, equal to 6-12 months of task-based rehab. The same participants experienced 80-90% decrease in PTSD symptoms.
I'm very happy with the way this panel turned out. Being only my fourth stained glass project, I'm still getting the hang of it. Glass Eye 2000 sure helps a lot!
~ Steve Moss
About the artist
Steve Moss is a 58 year old who took up stained glass about three years ago. His initial interest in the art came from seeing a stained glass piece of an elk at a roadside shop near Williams, Arizona. He currently works as a Director of Custom Applications for a major semiconductor manufacturer in southern California, and while not working in his glass room he is also an avid scuba diver who volunteers for the WAVES Project. All of Steve's stained glass projects are now donated to charity events. His next piece will combine his love of scuba and will be donated for auction by the WAVES Project as a fund raiser.
This pattern may be used to make one or more artworks for sale or personal enjoyment. This pattern may be printed for personal use only and may not be sold or given away in printed or electronic form.
Each month we feature a project designed using Glass Eye 2000. Do you have a project to share with the world? Contact Dragonfly Software and your creation might be our next Design of the Month.