Designing
November 30, 2024
There are times when I get a little carried away and over-design. Usually, there is a transition in my mind when I can’t find what
This blog is about my life in my studio over the last fifty-two years, exploring creativity and being self-directed. I’m sharing this because I am all too aware of the struggle it takes to go out on one’s own and make art one’s life work.
I hope that sharing my experiences will make your journey less complicated and more financially rewarding.
My concern for the future of artists and art drives me. That’s why my blog is free, ad-free, and interactive. It’s a space where we can all share and learn together.
Sponsored by Cain, Inc. Architectural Art Glass
Promotion
November 25, 2024
1985, we worked with St Peter Baptist Church in Glen Allen, Virginia, creating their new stained glass windows. Before social media, we would share our
Beveling
November 23, 2024
I created this fire screen around 1998 for a home in Richmond, Virginia. This couple had an Art Deco room full of beautiful objects. I’m
Bevels
November 19, 2024
I created this window as a shower door for a home in Richmond, Virginia, around 1994. The idea was that one was showering beside a
Etched
November 17, 2024
We created this mirror for a restaurant in Richmond, Virginia, around 1980. Art glass goes through phases of popularity. Stained glass, beveled glass, and etched
Carving
November 11, 2024
Carving is one of the most challenging processes I do. It is almost always on a thick piece of glass; in this case, the glass
Designing
November 9, 2024
For years, getting started was the hardest part. I waited for “inspiration.” I thought I needed to have the image in my mind and then
Designing
November 8, 2024
Sometimes, I draw at my drawing or kitchen table just for fun, following my imagination. I enjoy being a commissioned glass artist. Working in a
Flameworking
November 5, 2024
Flameworking has become an essential part of our art. Four of our current commissions will require thousands of pieces, which we will make one at
Ornamentation
November 4, 2024
Looking closely at this window, you will see small, clear glass sculptures. Each is three to four pieces of 3/8-inch glass that I beveled on
Self
November 29, 2024
Creating the art glass windows I make takes a lot of study. First, I must study the idea, translate it into a drawing, find and
Self
November 24, 2024
I have found a most enjoyable way to exercise. I peddle my stationary recumbent bike for thirty minutes five days a week. Over the instrument
Self
November 9, 2024
I have never liked stereotyping people. I’m not good at it, and I almost always feel bad if I do. Of course, it’s just a
Efficiency
November 7, 2024
John came to work yesterday but was unusually excited to tell me something. Remember when I first started working here? We were beveling one day,
Inspiration
November 3, 2024
Around twenty-five years ago, I sought another outlet for inspiration. I grew bored with traditional stained glass designs and wanted fresh ideas. I found it
Designing
November 2, 2024
When I design a window, I consider how far away the viewer will be. This concept is often seen in church windows. The background design
Spontaneity
November 1, 2024
As I age, I find that being creative is much more spontaneous. When I look back on my younger days, with all of the to-dos
Self
October 26, 2024
My adjustment to our world was painful because of my left-brain—right-brain switch; I have evolved into a very inward person. My self-development, which I have
Rosettes
October 25, 2024
It’s not unusual for leaded glass in a residential entryway to have rosettes over the solder joints as a decorative feature. When restoring a window,
Career Day
October 21, 2024
I have always enjoyed Career Day. I’m usually included as an alternative choice for the students who are most likely not to go past high
Family
November 27, 2024
I designed this window for Tanden Friends School in 2001. We sent our children to this small Charlottesville, Virginia, school modeled after the transcendentalist. There
Self
November 24, 2024
Glass cutting is something I take seriously. Each type of glass cuts slightly differently, requiring varying pressures on the little wheel at the end of
Shop
November 23, 2024
We heat our shop with wood. Living out in the country, there is always plenty of firewood from fallen and dying trees, and of course,
Bevels
November 19, 2024
I created this transom for a home in Richmond, Virginia, in 1994. All the bevel glass transoms I’ve seen in the older parts of Richmond
Self
November 17, 2024
When I started my journey in 1972, I was 23 years old. One of my biggest challenges was pricing my work. I remember how nervous
Design
November 10, 2024
When I design a window like this, I first create the main feature. Much effort goes into the detailing, so I avoid leaning over into
Inspiration
November 3, 2024
Every year, this time is an anniversary for me. It marks my first deep appreciation for nature’s beauty. I’m not sure where my thoughts were
Social Media
October 31, 2024
When I was 13, my mother took my brother, sister, and me to the Virginia State Fair. I enjoyed seeing all the young animals, eating
Potatoes
October 29, 2024
Potatoes grow well in our zip code. Living in the country, we can purchase a pickup truckload of aged manure for $5.00. Add in all
Artist
October 22, 2024
This is not Norman Rockwell. Most mornings, I peddle my stationary recumbent bike for about thirty minutes. Right above the controls is a place for