Ashes to Art: Fantastic Glass Sculptures

Kenny Scott | May 20, 2016 | Glass Sculptures

Are you looking for a beautiful way to remember a deceased loved one for years to come?

Losing someone special can be so incredibly difficult, but their memory will live on in your heart. Knowing what to do with their ashes, however, is a totally different ballgame.

The good news is that there are so many ways to celebrate their life, including the possibility of transforming ashes to art, in the form of inspired glass sculptures.

Having worked in glass design for over 20 years now, memorial glass and art are two of my specialties – so it kind of made sense to combine the two into a beautiful glass sculpture that’s made to last.

Memorial art glass can come in many different forms, and varies widely depending on the artist/company you buy from. Below, I’m going to talk you through my own process, and why ashes to art is such a wonderful idea.

Why choose a glass sculpture?

A glass sculpture can be a dramatic, wonderful way to honour the memory of a loved one. The thing I love most about this memorial glass option is that you can put them front and centre in the window, and watch them sparkle in the light.

The creation process

Below, I’m going to talk you through my own unique creation process for turning ashes to art, so you can know exactly what to expect.

Step 1:

First, you choose the colours, style and texture of the sculpture you’d like (options can be found either online or in your order pack, but some companies – myself included – will do their best to accommodate a colour of your choosing).

Step 2:

Next, I cut the glass to size, and melt it gently so the pattern, colours and ashes can be laid out to form the design element of your sculpture.

Step 3:

The glass is then heated to 860 degrees to get the desired textures just right. You may prefer a smooth texture to a grainy or pebbly one, but it just comes down to personal choice.

Step 4:

The next step involved putting the glass in a kiln for 24 hours and very slowly cooling it down using my trademark digitally controlled process.

Step 5:

I make a hardwood base for the sculpture using locally sustainable wood – usually oak, which is milled down, cut to size, sanded, coated and preserved before adding chrome brackets to securely hold the glass in place.

Step 6:

Once the finished glass sculpture is ready, I will email photos to you along with an invoice. Your art is then sent out to you via Royal Mail Recorded/Signed For or Special Delivery.

How long does it take?

A big worry for many of my clients is how long they are going to be parted from their loved ones’ ashes, so it’s important to know this before sending them away.

Some companies can take around 6 – 8 weeks to process art or memorial glass orders, but I aim to process all my orders within two weeks, as I know how important it is that you are reunited with them as soon as possible.

Cost

A well-made memorial glass sculpture could cost anywhere between £175 – £300 or maybe more depending on the size of the sculpture.

Although it’s important to keep your costs in mind when ordering cremation art glass, I’d really recommend searching for the different types of memorial glass available before settling on something you really like, from an experienced company that makes you feel at ease and confident that your loved ones’ ashes are in safe hands.

Conclusion

A stunning glass sculpture can be a dramatic and beautifully sentimental way to honour your loved one’s memory – and they sparkle perfectly in the light.

The careful process involved in making ashes to art demands a lot of attention and experience, and the cost can be around £175 – £300 or perhaps more – depending on the size of sculpture you want.

Just remember to always take your time choosing a cremation glass company, and make sure you’re comfortable before sending ashes off in the post.