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The Common Raven

There is something about a silhouette of the common raven that invokes the feeling of evil. These scavengers are members of the genus corvus family. Their black bodies seem to be a common part of any Halloween scene.

This is another dichroic etched pattern. Glass is a difficult material to trace a pattern onto. This specific pattern was etched without having to draw anything on the glass.

Etching the Design:

What I have done is to print out the pattern and then using scissors cut out just the raven. Then the black raven is discarded and the other piece is placed on the glass. Place the opening on your glass where you want the raven to be placed. Using a Dremel tool with a diamond bit, the design is then etched into the cut out piece of the pattern. Make scratch marks also to give the piece a mysterious antique appearance.

common raven, genus corvus, raven, black raven

Materials:

Dichroic background glass

Clear capping glass

Pattern

Glass cleaner of choice

Chapstick or Beeswax

Glass saw

Dremel tool with diamond bit

Fiber Paper

Kiln

Prepared kiln shelf

Protective glasses

Two part Epoxy

Pin Back

Directions:

1. Copy and cut out the pattern.

2. Put the section on the correct shade glass and sketch around the guide with a permanent pen. Liberally shelter the traced design with beeswax or Chap Stick.

3. A glass saw is needed to cut out the shape. Follow close to the outline to retain the shape and all the precise fine points. Cut the clear capping glass just a tab larger so that it will completely enclose the dichroic piece.

4. Sponge down with dish soap and dip in plain water or use glass cleaner to delete the design and scum. Air dry the pieces.

5. Cut out the raven design and using a Dremel etch the glass. Information on how to do this is written above in Etching the Design.

5. Arrange the portions on a primed kiln ledge and put the shelf within the unit. At all times hold the glass by the edge to avoid fingerprints.

6. Close up the lid or door. Turn on the kiln.

7. Monitor the piece at roughly 1450 degrees Fahrenheit. When peeking at your hot glass put on glasses with IR and UV shield.

8. When the glass has your desired look, turn off and disconnect the oven. If the unit is constructed with heavy fire bricks, you can let it cool down on its own. If however it is made with ceramic fiber, the oven must remain on and monitored so that it doesn’t cool off more than roughly 300 degrees Fahrenheit per hour.

9. As soon as the pyrometer drops beneath 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the kiln can be opened.

10. When the piece has cooled to room temperature, add a brooch back. Stick on the brooch back with a two part epoxy.

Common Raven Pattern

common raven, genus corvus, raven, black raven

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