That is not quite accurate. It is actually quite demanding technically to make the artistic glassware like you see out there these days, and is a different set

That is not quite accurate. It is actually quite demanding technically to make the artistic glassware like you see out there these days, and is a different set of skills than scientific glassblowing. Most scientific glassblowers have never worked with color, at all. It's almost funny to see what they do, compared to their skill with clear, which is extreme. Mike Gnann is admired within our artistic field and does well with both... https://www.instagram.com/merge_scientific https://www.instagram.com/merge_scientific But if you compare that with someone like https://www.instagram.com/eusheen https://www.instagram.com/eusheen who is at the top of the artistic pipe niche, I think you can see that there are equal amounts of precision involved. It matters where you're trying to fit in the market, of course. Someone can buy a torch, get rudimentary lessons and be making some sort of income from pipes within a year. You would be able to make some scientific glass items after six months, but not enough to get hired anywhere, except maybe in India (which is really the key here).