Prices are for 1 Hour Classes Personal 1 on 1

Nicholas Carpenter began his journey in glass in 2014 through a high school mentorship in soft glass with Jennifer Kelting. What started as a graduation project soon evolved into a career when Nick later joined Burner Glassworks in Asheville’s River Arts District. There, he was introduced to the technical world of borosilicate and scientific lathe work, surrounded by some of the region’s most talented artists.

Driven by the mental and technical challenges of the craft, Nick left college to pursue glassblowing full-time. He spent seven years as a founding artist at Level 42 Gallery, where he developed his signature style and established his brand, TheGlassCarpenter. Despite losing his studio space to Hurricane Helene in 2024, Nick’s dedication remains unshaken. Today, he operates out of Grateful Glass Studio, producing a diverse range of scientific and hand-spun glasswork, marking over 11 years as a full-time artist.

The Glass Carpenter 2026 lampworkimg curriculum and hourly price points. 

Bench Work (Hand Torching)

Beginner / Intro Experience: $135/hr

Covers safety, shop orientation, basic heat control, and simple solid/hollow items (e.g., beads, simple handpipes, small marbles, pendants).

Intermediate / Skill-Building: $165/hr

Focuses on hollow shaping, color application, basic prep, and refining wall thickness, pattern work.

Advanced / Masterclass: $220+/hr

Covers complex assembly, deep implosions, heavy wall construction, and precision techniques.

Lathe Work (Scientific / Precision)

Beginner Lathe Operations: $170/hr

Focuses on machine safety, chucking, alignment, basic seal types, and torch placement.

Intermediate Lathe Techniques: $250/hr

Covers heavy-wall tubing manipulation, complex seals, blow-hose control, and geometric shaping.

Advanced / Specialized Lathe Instruction: $300+/hr

Covers high-precision scientific joints, large-scale multi-axis setups, custom tooling, and high-efficiency production workflows.

Rates reflect typical hourly instruction including torch fuel, machine wear, and basic studio consumables; bulk multi-hour packages are commonly discounted 10–15%.