Engraving Glass with Eva
Express yourself through glass engraving with Eva, a master sculptor who transforms light and texture into timeless stories. Set in the Austrian Alps, learn to scribe, shade, and grind glass—bringing your ideas from two to three dimensions while reflecting on what it means to create a meaningful object. Outside the studio, enjoy fresh, seasonal meals from Eva’s garden and local markets, and explore the breathtaking Bregenzerwald region.
- Snacks, Coffee, & Tea
Pricing
- One Guest
- USD $1185
- Additional guest(s) (max 4)
- USD $505
Meet the Artist
Eva is an Austrian sculptor renowned for her innovative glass artworks. Guided by artists and craftspeople she admired, her practice evolved from detailed natural landscape drawings to wall reliefs, concrete, cast bronze, Raku ceramics, stone sculpture, and ultimately glass—a passionate “amour fou” that blends the subtlety of painting with the dimensionality of sculpture.
Pebbles are a central motif in her work, symbolizing personal growth, transformation, and connection. She collaborates closely with master glassblowers on Murano Island, guiding the creation of large glass blanks, which she then shapes and engraves in her Austrian studio. Surface texture is fundamental to her art. She developed the Haptoglyph technique, which involves sculpting the glass surface with heavy machinery to create tactile, dimensional forms. This process can take up to six weeks per piece and is a meditative ritual she cherishes. Using diamond-head engravers, she adds fine, poetic marks—geometric patterns, natural motifs, storytelling imagery, and experimental gestures—that transform light into a magical medium.
Engraving glass, for her, is pure magic. She looks forward to sharing her process, inspiring conversations, and enjoying cooking and meals together.
Pebbles are a central motif in her work, symbolizing personal growth, transformation, and connection. She collaborates closely with master glassblowers on Murano Island, guiding the creation of large glass blanks, which she then shapes and engraves in her Austrian studio. Surface texture is fundamental to her art. She developed the Haptoglyph technique, which involves sculpting the glass surface with heavy machinery to create tactile, dimensional forms. This process can take up to six weeks per piece and is a meditative ritual she cherishes. Using diamond-head engravers, she adds fine, poetic marks—geometric patterns, natural motifs, storytelling imagery, and experimental gestures—that transform light into a magical medium.
Engraving glass, for her, is pure magic. She looks forward to sharing her process, inspiring conversations, and enjoying cooking and meals together.
VAWAA Includes:
- Short introduction to the ancient history of engraving, tracing its roots back to early human markings on stone, bone, wood, and rock.
- Development of a concept reflecting on the meaning and message of your personal artwork.
- Sketching ideas on paper and adapting your design to fit the glass form and the engraving technique.
- Experiments on a glass tumbler—structuring, scribing, shading, drawing, writing, and hand-grinding.
- Engrave your personal artwork with a diamond-head tool on an object of blown glass.
- Diamond-head engraver and grinding tools for use during the workshop; eye and dust protection. A glass tumbler for practice and for your artwork a blown glass object in black or crystal, hight ~18 cm.
- If you're interested: Visit a local farm to learn milking, discover traditional cheese-making, and enjoy a dinner of regional specialties.
- Option to visit the Bregenzerwald region, known for its stunning landscapes and innovative architecture; the village of Schwarzenberg; the nearby Werkraum Andelsbuch (designed by Peter Zumthor); or a stop at the Vorarlberger Architektur Institut (VAI) for insight into regional architectural innovation.
Explore Dornbirn
Dornbirn is a picturesque town in western Austria, near the borders of Switzerland, Germany, and Liechtenstein. Eva’s studio sits amid wildflower meadows and an ancient forest, overlooking Lake Constance and the Swiss mountains across the Rhine Valley. Once a textile hub, Dornbirn has transformed its industrial heritage into creative spaces—like Kunstraum Dornbirn, a former machine hall for contemporary art, and the FLATZ Museum, known for provocative photographic and performance art. It is a gateway to outdoor adventures like hiking and skiing, while also offering thoughtful architecture, lively markets, and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere for travelers seeking both inspiration and tranquility.
Additional Details
The best time to visit Dornbirn is from May to October, when temperatures are pleasant and local travel is unobstructed by snow. The summer music festivals are an exciting but busy time to visit, so if visiting during this period, it's best to book your accommodation as early as possible.
This session can be extended for up to 10 days. Please add a note in your booking request.
Children 12 years and older accompanied by a guardian are welcome to participate. Unfortunately, the process cannot be adapted for special needs and the studio is not wheelchair accessible.
Eva speaks German, English, and French.
This session can be extended for up to 10 days. Please add a note in your booking request.
Children 12 years and older accompanied by a guardian are welcome to participate. Unfortunately, the process cannot be adapted for special needs and the studio is not wheelchair accessible.
Eva speaks German, English, and French.
Guest Reviews
Avery S., United States
This was my friend's and I's first VAWAA experience, and it couldn't have been any better!
I have never done anything like glass engraving, so it was wonderful learning from someone as knowledgeable and accomplished as Eva. She was a very patient and encouraging teacher throughout the process, letting us experiment with the glass and our ideas for our final piece. Eva was an amazing host, alway Read more
