Please keep in mind that we plan our issues up to a year in advance. All types of submissions are accepted year-round for all issues and are scheduled as space permits. Consideration of your submission for publication in The Flow is as much a matter of editorial and seasonal circumstance as the quality of your artwork and digital photographs. Please review the deadlines and upcoming themed issue information for submissions that are included in the pdf below. Often our issue is filled before our editorial deadline date. Please send in your submission before the deadline, if possible.

Please email any additional questions you may have to Jennifer Quaid at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Upon receipt of your submission, The Flow will contact you to confirm reciept, discuss when your artwork is likely to be published, and other details. Please keep in mind that we plan our issues up to a year in advance. All types of submissions are accepted year-round for all issues and are scheduled as space permits. Consideration of your submission for publication in The Flow is as much a matter of editorial and seasonal circumstance as the quality of your artwork and digital photographs. For a detailed forecast on our upcoming themed issues and deadlines for submissions, please click here. Often our issue is filled before our editorial deadline date. Please send in your submission before the deadline, if possible. We look forward to reviewing your submission!

We prefer that you send your submission on disc by mail.  Please include in your package a labeled disc with your submission files, a completed submission form, and a printed laser proof (optional).

Please mail your submission to:

For all US Postal Service deliveries:        For any Fed-Ex or UPS deliveries:

The Flow                                                  The Flow

PO Box 69                                              8300 Hidden Valley Road

Westport, KY 40077                             Westport, KY, 40077

The Flow's Submission Form is a printable form to aid in our submission process. Please print this document and fill it out to include with your mailed submission. Click here to go to our Submission Form page.

Health, Safety or Technical Submission Information

1. Please send all items below in one text file saved as an rtf (rich text format) file:
s 1000-1500 word text
s Artist Biography (125-150 words)
s Footnote or Bibliography citing your sources
2. 5-25 high quality digital photos relevant to your text
3. completed Submission Form

Please mail your submission to:
For all US Postal Service deliveries:                            For any Fed-Ex or UPS deliveries:
The Flow                                                                          The Flow
PO Box 69                                                                       8300 Hidden Valley Rd
Westport, KY 40077                                                       Westport, KY 40077

Click here to print your Submission Form to send in by mail with your labeled cd.

Glasscraft Emerging Artist Award Submission Information

Glasscraft Inc. (www.glasscraftinc.com) and The Flow are excited to announce the Glasscraft Emerging Artist Award (GEAA). The GEAA will be awarded to up and coming flameworking artists who hove demonstrated outstanding skill and who have contributed to the lampworking community thru technical and artistic innovation. the award is given to twelve lampworking artists a year, one of which will become the Glasscraft Emerging Artist. Nominations can be made by anyone, whether artists, collectors or galleries.

Artists profiles, with background information of the artist and pictures of their work are mailed directly tool and material manufacturers, art agents, art glass galleries, museums, universities, current and prospective teaching facilities, media outlets, show promoters and private collectors throughout the country. This small pamphlet will be a constant source of promotion for glass and the process of lampworking to the world at large.

As an example. the editor of the New York Times art section will be given an opportunity every month to discover the mystifying art of lampworked objects. This mailer is a constant reminder that flameworking is an innovative contemporary art form and it deserves support as a new chapter in American art history.

Please join us by participating in the Glasscraft Emerging Artists Award. Please send your artist profile or biography (300-400 words) and 7-15 high quality digital photos of your artwork on a labeled cd and a completed Submission Form by mail to:

For all US Postal Service deliveries:                            For any Fed-Ex or UPS deliveries:
The Flow                                                                         The Flow
PO Box 69                                                                      8300 Hidden Valley Rd
Westport, KY 40077                                                       Westport, KY 40077

Click here to print your Submission Form to send in by mail with your labeled cd.

Gallery Submission Information

Click on the Submission Form below, print and send in by mail with your labeled CD.

In each issue we feature our readers artwork in a special gallery section. It is very easy to submit for our gallery. You should send 5-10 high quality digital photos of your artwork on a labeled cd and a completed Submission Form by mail to:

For all US Postal Service deliveries:                            For any Fed-Ex or UPS deliveries:
The Flow                                                                         The Flow
PO Box 69                                                                      8300 Hidden Valley Rd
Westport, KY 40077                                                      Westport, KY 40077

Click on the Submission Form below, print and send in by mail with your labeled CD.

Click here to print your Submission Form to send in by mail with your labeled cd.

The Flow's indepth tutorials teach our readers techniques that will inspire and encourage them to develop their own ideas and style. Tutorials should feature a new glass working technique, combinations of existing techniques used in original ways, or a new tool or process that produces exciting results. We include as many and as wide of a variety of creative projects that space and editorial focus will allow in each issue. We accept a broad range of original projects ranging from beginner to advanced-levels.

1. Please send all items below in one text file saved as an rtf (rich text format) file:
s Introductory paragraph stating the theme or inspiration for your idea
s Materials listing (brand names may be included where necessary)
s Clear instructions for each step and the name of the photo that corresponds with that step
s Artist Biography (125-150 words)
2. One photo for each step (2 photos may be sent only if necessary for the step)
3. Finished photos of your project taken from different angles
4. (optional) Photos of variations or tips to inspire our readers imaginations
5. (optional) Photo of yourself or your recent work
6. completed Submission Form

Please clear your bench or table of any unnecessary tooling or material. Clutter takes attention away from the process you are photographing. Please shoot illustrational photos that have a clean, white background. White drywall board or homisote board is excellent for this purpose, or you can use noncoated paper remnant rolls that you can obtain from a local printer. Remember to start with a fresh paper for each project. Caution: Do not use a glossy paper for the work area as the reflection will likely show up in the photographs. It is important that the shots for each project have the same background tone or tint throughout that project, if possible.

When photographing how-to's, for best results take the photo outside of the flame so detail of the progression of the piece can be seen more clearly. Do not include blurry photos. Make sure there is a photo to accompany each step. Include as many views of the finished piece as possible, from all sides as well as top and bottom.

Please indicate where the photos should ideally be placed in the text by inserting each photo number in parentheses at the correct position within the text. Assign each image a number that corresponds to the step where it should be placed in the how-to instructions.

Please mail your submission to:
For all US Postal Service deliveries:                          For any Fed-Ex or UPS deliveries:
The Flow                                                                       The Flow
PO Box 69                                                                    8300 Hidden Valley Rd
Westport, KY 40077                                                     Westport, KY 40077

Click here to print your Submission Form to send in by mail with your labeled cd.

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Customer Service FAQ

Thank you for visiting our website. If you need additional assistance, please contact us in any of the following ways.

• By E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. We will strive to respond to your queries in a timely fashion.

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• By Telephone: 502-222-5631. We are available to assist you Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. If you call and the answering machine comes on, please leave as detailed a message as you can. It is helpful if you include your full name and ZIP code and your subscription record number if you have it available. Be sure to leave your phone number. It is also helpful if you spell your name for us. We will call back as soon as possible. The office is closed on major holidays.

• By U.S. mail: The Flow Magazine, PO Box 69, 8300 Hidden Valley Rd, Westport KY 40077.

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Dear Readers, 

Change Can Be a Good Thing!

There are some changes coming to The Flow™ magazine starting with this issue. Due to increasing costs of printing, paper, and postage, we will begin delivering The Flow™ digitally in PDF format by providing you with a link to a digital download. This will help us continue to reach a global market and expose the world to great glasswork while offering more extensive content, more instruction, and more possibilities.

 As an added benefit, the content within The Flow™ digital issues will be more responsive and interactive by including links that can be hovered over to take readers directly to websites associated with our features, galleries, and advertisements. Plus, you don’t have to wait for the mail! Please be sure we have your current e-mail address so you won’t miss a single issue.

 Exciting changes are also coming to our website to deliver more content and increase benefits to subscribers. Stay tuned for more information.

 What will not change is the quality that we include in every publication, the team that puts it together, and our commitment to share the best instruction, information, and inspiration with the flameworking community.

 We appreciate your support over the years and look forward to your continued involvement and input as we implement these changes.

Maureen James, Publisher

The Flow™

Upcoming Deadlines for Submission

Summer 2020                  Marble and Paperweights
Submission Deadline        March 1, 2020

Fall 2020                           Functional
Submission Deadline        June 1, 2020

Winter 2020                      Women in Glass
Submission Deadline        September 1, 2020

If you are interested in becoming a contributing artist for The Flow, visit www.theflowmagazine.com for a link to themes of upcoming issues, author guidelines, and submission forms.

Digital Photography for Glass Marbles

by Brian Bowden

Marbles—most of them—are made out of glass. Taking pictures of marbles, however, is not the same as taking pictures of other types of glass. This is due to the smooth, spherical surface of marbles, which tends to be highly reflective of everything around it. You’ve most likely noticed this phenomenon. In my opinion, getting rid of these refl ections is the highest priority and will do the most to improve your photos. With that in mind, here is a priority list for tips on taking good pictures.

{xtypo_rounded2} This article is dedicated to Daniel Trilli and the countless other glassworkers through the ages who lost their lives due to preventable illness. Daniel died on April 17, 2007, due to complications directly related to the lack of proper ventilation. This article is not meant to be a complete resource for ventilation. Mike was very thorough in his research, but we urge you to read as much as you can about health and safety. Not only are we trying to create longevity for ourselves and our families, but we are setting the example for the next generation of glass artists. This article is the fi rst in a multipart series on ventilation and shop safety. It will defi ne the basic principles of ventilation as well as the accepted setups applicable to our medium. Part Two, which will be appear on October 1 via The Flow e-newsletter, will focus on system design and airfl ow calculations. Thanks to Mike Aurelius from Aura Lens for the many hours of research.

—William “Boxfan” Menzies{/xtypo_rounded2} .

by Brian Bowden

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i, my name is Brian, and I’m a Marble Collector. (In unison) “Hi, Brian!” Oh wait—this isn’t an MA (Marbleholics Anonymous) meeting? Maybe it should be. I’ve found over the past five-plus years that many marble collectors can tend to get very addicted to the acquisition of marbles for some reason. When asked why this is, none of us really seems to know for sure, other than to point out that perfectly round, smooth glass spheres are just so beautiful and enchanting! For us, there’s simply an incredible attraction that we can’t quite explain. It’s just there once we discover them. I’ve learned that it’s the same for many artists as far as the creation of marbles goes. Maybe it is simply the laws of physics, which seem to favor the creation of perfect spheres in nature. Gravity and such forces are wonderful things, aren’t they, especially when they are used by glass artists to create more marbles! Of course, it may simply be that we collectors are all born with the “collector gene” and can’t help it.