Serbay Doru 1 - Easy Beasties
Learn How To Construct Creatures In Glass
Serbay Doru 1 forms the foundation of Zurich Glass School's Beasties Series and introduces students to the founding principles of sculptural soft glass construction.
Designed for beginner to early intermediate flameworkers, this course focuses on the essential skills required to build believable creatures from simple forms whilst developing confidence with heat control, assembly and kiln processes.
Throughout a series of engaging demonstrations, students learn how individual components can be combined to create increasingly sophisticated sculptural forms. Along the way Serbay introduces the practical methods he uses to construct insects, marine life and botanical subjects in a way that is both approachable and technically reliable.
This course places particular emphasis on:
• Heat control and shaping
• Component construction
• Hot joins and assembly
• Surface decoration and pattern building
• Marvering and marble mould techniques
• Introductory blowing
• Kiln use and annealing
• Building believable creatures from simple forms
Projects include butterflies, dragonflies, sea anemones, shells, ladybirds, squid and other nature-inspired forms.
By the end of the course students will understand the core principles behind Serbay's sculptural approach and be able to confidently construct attractive glass creatures of their own.
Who Is This Course For?
This course is designed for beginner to early intermediate flameworkers who wish to move beyond simple beadmaking or decorative forms and begin exploring sculptural glass.
The Journey Begins
Serbay 1 asks:
"How do I make this creature?"
It is the construction stage of the Beasties journey and provides the technical foundation upon which the later courses are built.
Included with the course is a library of supporting material, including Zurich Glass School's hand-drawn visual technical maps, student guides, demonstration notes, reference diagrams, and supplementary learning resources. These materials have been specifically developed to help students revisit techniques and reinforce learning away from the torch.
This E-course can be completed entirely at your own pace. Expect challenges, adjustments, experimentation, repairs, and moments of discovery as part of the learning process.
After purchase, access may take up to 24 hours to activate. Access is provided for six months. Learning options and access details are outlined in the Learning Tiers section.
Run Time: Twelve demos - 219 minutes
Our Learning Tier System - Graduated Support
Learning Tiers
Choose the level of access and support that best suits how you like to learn.
All tiers include access to the full E-demo; the difference lies in the duration of access and the level of support provided.Tier A — Watch Only
A self-led option for focused viewing and inspiration.
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Watch-only access to the full demo for 6 months
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Learn at your own pace with pause and replay functionality
Best suited to students who want to explore the technique independently, without additional materials or mentoring.
Tier B — Supported Learning
For learners who value reference material alongside the video.
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Everything included in Tier A
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Complimentary downloadable course materials
(reference images, notes, diagrams, and/or process guides) -
Watch-only access for 6 months
Ideal for students who want structure and resources to support practice at the torch.
Tier C — Mentored & Certified
A guided learning experience with personal support and lasting recognition.
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Everything included in Tier B
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Extended access for life to the demo
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30-minute one-to-one online consultation with Zurich Glass School
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Official printed Certificate of Completion, posted to you from Switzerland
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Priority support during your learning period
Designed for students seeking guidance, confidence, and formal recognition of their learning.
Access is activated after purchase and may take up to 24 hours.
Consultations included in Tier C must be booked within six months of purchase.-
About Serbay Doru
Turkish flameworker Serbay Doru is internationally recognised for his highly detailed sculptural interpretations of insects, marine life and botanical forms. His work combines strong technical construction with a deep fascination for the natural world, resulting in pieces that are both visually striking and carefully observed.
Over many years Serbay has developed a distinctive teaching approach that helps students move beyond simply following instructions and instead understand the underlying principles behind successful sculptural work.
The Beasties Series represents the culmination of this approach, guiding students from construction, through observation, and ultimately towards interpretation.