Glassmaker Nathan Purcell takes pride in creating delicate works that play with elements of color theory, sculpting intricate details onto his artworks. His real thrill, though, comes from the most basic aspects of the trade. "It's the flame and the heat," he says. "It can be a really fast medium It's very meditative and it's a process where everything has to be done right the first time or else the next step is going to be wrong."

The hardest part to grasp is the steady turning. "You have to use constant rotation when it's in liquid form. It always has to be on an axis," he explains. "Even when you've stopped working and you're just reaching for a tool, it's always turning or it will fall."

Having worked with glass since 1998, Purcell has these basics down cold, but they are nevertheless ever present in his thinking when immersed in the practice of his craft. They've not been top of mind of late, however, because Purcell has been involved in a more pressing matter: the launch of his new studio/store, Philadelphia Glass Works. This substantial undertaking has consumed the bulk of Purcell's time and energy as well as that of his business partner, Ian Kerr.

The pair had previously run a studio of the same name in West Philadelphia that closed when the building it was in was sold and lease terms started getting iffy. Purcell came up with the idea of relocating to Northern Liberties. "I knew the area was up-and-coming for artists and there's a lot of building going on," he says. "I wanted to be part of it before everything got too expensive."

Their spacious 21,000-square-foot location on Third Street near Poplar, considerably larger than the former operation, is enabling an expansion of business opportunities. As before, the Glass Works is a working studio offering classes in glassmaking, but on top of that, it now sells glassmaking supplies and has a gallery shop featuring works by Purcell and fellow glass artists from around the country. The setup offers nice synergies: Students taking classes can buy supplies right on the premises, and the studio area is viewable from the retail section so shoppers might see artists at work.

Purcell and Kerr are pleased by the enhanced scope afforded by their new digs; still, getting to this point was tougher than they'd imagined. When asked to name the challenges in getting the place up and running, Kerr, who managed the construction part of the project, laughs and says, "Everything."

The partners initially intended to move to a different site, which proved unsuitable due to a bad roof. They then opted for their current space, just down the block, but it too had faults: Custom-made windows wound up leaking, and more leaks sprang up elsewhere. Kerr was not accustomed to organizing and motivating all the required contractors. He had to learn the proper order for building and installing walls, electrical wiring, ductwork and the rest. Certain city permits took longer to obtain than expected. The setbacks were at times discouraging, but Kerr says that he and Purcell took turns "hyping each other up."

Currently the two are hyped up for their grand opening party this Saturday, and their schedule of classes that's ready to roll. Students can learn a style of glassmaking known as lampwork, in which solid rods and hollow tubes are manipulated over a torch. Tools and equipment include tweezers, picks, shears, crimpers, a kiln, a grinding wheel and a sandblaster. Classes provide instruction on the basics of adjusting variously sized rods and tubes along with processes for color application and safety. A special class in "slumping" teaches a method of bending sheets of glass. Another focuses on beadmaking.

Because glass acts like a liquid when heated, it's tricky to work with and learning how to shape the molten material takes much time and concentrated effort. "It takes years to learn," assures Purcell. "It's not like you come in and it's God's gift the first day. It takes practice, just like any medium."

Purcell and resident artist Josh Opdenaker are excited about turning folks on to their art form. However, Purcell says that his instruction can only go so far. "I can teach you ways to master the skills and then you take away what you want," he says. "But I can't teach how to be an artist. An artist is within you."

Philadelphia Glass Works grand opening party, Sat., Oct. 22, 5-9 p.m., free, 908A N. Third St., 215-627-3655, www.phillyglassworks.com or info@phillyglassworks.com.