
<p>Snake Oil Glassworks Inc., a hot glassblowing studio, makes custom glass art with traditional off-hand techniques. Founded in 1998 by expert glassblower Lorraine Austin, Snake Oil strives to represent artistry, passion and grit by handcrafting beautiful glasswork.</p>


The trash tray accumulates broken chards of glass that accumulate from failed pieces. “People love to admire the broken glass,” says veteran glassblower Lorraine Austin, who believes their appreciation for failure speaks to the beauty of the complicated art. Snake Oil Glassworks Inc. in Skaneateles, New York. Photo by Troy Conner

Joe McNally

Heather Ainsworth

Loarrain Austin blasts her piece with a blowtorch to maintain the high temperature needed to shape the glass. Snake Oil Glassworks Inc. in Skaneateles, New York. Photo by Troy Conner

The hands are everything when it comes to blowing glass, according to Lorrain Austin. She notes it’s easy to be enamored by the glowing glass at the end of the pipe, but the attention to your hands on the pipe is crucial to creating a usable piece. Snake Oil Glassworks Inc. in Skaneateles, New York. Photo by Troy Conner

Lorrain Austin elongated her sphere of molten glass by swinging in periodically in between stints in the glory hole. Snake Oil Glassworks Inc. in Skaneateles, New York. Photo by Troy Conner

Lorrain’s apprentice blows into the blowpipe so she can shape the glass on the opposite end. Snake Oil Glassworks Inc. in Skaneateles, New York. Photo by Troy Conner

Lorrain Austin slowly drops molten glass, which will soon be shaped into a leaf, onto her nearly finished apple piece. Snake Oil Glassworks Inc. in Skaneateles, New York. Photo by Troy Conner

The Alexia Fall Workshop

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GLASS VENOM

Produced by

Troy Conner

Coached by

Joe McNally

Heather Ainsworth