This is practice-based research about glass art, undertaken by an artist specialising in the lampworking technique. Over many centuries, lampworking has been widely used for scientific, industrial and craft purposes. In the early 1990s, there was a notable shift where traditional lampworking began merging with contemporary glass art, but there is still room for further development. The research focus is line-making through lampworking. Building upon Hoyt (1989), who determined the fundamental procedures in lampworking, this research identifies five operations relating to line-making: ‘bending’, ‘stretching’, ‘thickening’, ‘adding’ and ‘tooling’. Before this research, these techniques were already well practised in traditional lampwork training. However, they were recognised as only basics to construct larger pieces, and line-making itself did not gain real attention. Neither has the theoretical concept of making lines in glass been discussed enough. This research re-examines each of these operations and searches for dormant possibilities to exploit for artistic expression. The significance of glass lines is discussed in comparison to other line-making techniques and media in visual art. The taxonomy of lines advocated by Ingold (2007) is referred to as a guide for deeper exploration in this field. The investigation highlights the unique material feature of glass and contributes the idea of ’spatial traces’ and ‘projected lines’ to the discussion. A series of artworks is subsequently made to demonstrate and evaluate the research outcomes. The particular innovation generated by this research is the development of ‘calligraphic lampworking’, which is technically an extension of the ‘stretching’ operation. The act of stretching molten glass is observed to be comparable to ink calligraphy, in that they both leave a trace of movement. The distinctive difference is that the strokes of calligraphic lampworking are spatially liberated, whereas those of ink calligraphy are confined to the plane of a two-dimensional surface. The ‘multi-dimensionality’ of glass lines is also theoretically explored and discussed in terms of the glass’s clarity, reflections and shadows.

This research examines established and emerging practical methods and theoretical ideas in contemporary drawing in relation to studio glass. The Studio Glass Movement, encompassing both applied and fine art practice, originated in the 1950’s and, despite rapid advancements in the subject, glass is still considered an emergent material when compared to most other studio processes. For this reason existing and long established practices in drawing, developed in relation to other materials, may not be as effective in realising or exploring those qualities which are particular to glass, whether aesthetic, technical or philosophical. Parallel to this are rapid changes happening within the field of contemporary drawing as a subject in its own right, which influence the wider context in which studio glass engages. In this research the use of empirical methods provide working examples of how drawing and glass can be integrated, through the production of a body of new work supported by theoretical and contextual findings. The investigation is practice orientated, incorporating both practice led and practice based methodologies. The practice led theoretical research proposes a new drawing taxonomy in which dimension, notation, physiology and improvisation are understood as key components in the theory and practice of drawing. This is examined here in relation to glass as both a subject of drawing and as a material process. Identification and reference to contemporary issues in drawing come from a variety of sources, for example through the Drawing Research Network, contact with specialist drawing research hubs including Wimbledon School of Art and Loughborough University, specific exhibitions and attendance at related events and conferences . The practice based aspect uses facilities at the Glass Department, University of Sunderland and a drawing studio in Newcastle upon Tyne. The main area of exploration is concerned with the use of drawing integrated within kiln cast glass as differentiated from established practices such as engraving and stained glass which use drawing as a surface application to an existing glass body.