Freeing myself from captivity is a recurring theme in my life. I knew by the second grade that not only was I unhappy, but the structure forced upon me would not serve the life I wanted to live. I wasonly one person, and I knew that I could take care of myself. I considered this intrusion into my life an insult to my person. I found my place in art. There were little to no rules, and I could use my imagination, which I had honed, to protect myself from the mediocrity of institutions.  One of the first things

There are times over my career when I would feel quite sad. Not so much now, but there have been times when I thought I would give up on my quest to be a glass artist. There was one time I came close, almost sold everything, to move to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to work as a carpenter, bartender, or something similar. As with most things, I wanted answers right away, which made me quite harsh on myself. Grasping at almost every idea that entered my mind, I missed the subtle cues of my emotions, rubbed raw,

I have learned over the years that the best investment I can make is investing in myself. Never having much money at any given time, I would use any extra to treat myself to a well-deserved experience like eating out, taking a few days off, or both. As I worked on my projects, I always put in extra effort, considering it an investment in myself and my marketing plan. I was simultaneously building my skills and reputation, hoping to recoup my investment in future commissions. Over the years, I began to see the quality of my commissions and compensation

When I read, I struggle to remember what I have read. I’m aware that much of this comes from the confusion between my left and right brain, which results from being forced to use my right hand instead of my left. This switching also affects my ability to concentrate and focus and, to a large extent, my memory. I’ve learned to adapt. Not only have I learned to adapt, but there are times when I wonder if I’m not better off. Not being able to comprehend as quickly as others, I learned not so much from the words of

I am so overwhelmed with projects that I have been considering how to become more efficient. With so much going on, I move around throughout the day, from my drawing table to the area where I study glass samples, visiting each table where there are ongoing projects, sharing ideas with the artisans who assist me, and keeping records and communicating. Moving around benefits me the most. If unsure how to proceed, I’ll study the information before me, believing it will pass into my subconscious. As I move around throughout the day, studying how to move this mass of work

Almost every evening, as I open the door to leave my shop, I turn around and take one last look. I am overcome by a wave of satisfaction almost every time. Here, I create not only my art but also my own work culture. As a young man, I dreamed of such a place. Looking back forty-two years after working ten years in my studio in downtown Richmond, Virginia, I can fully appreciate the courage it took to move sixty miles up the James River to Bremo Bluff, start renovating a 1906 farmhouse and jacking up an old buggy

I’m going to be seventy-six in a couple of weeks. I spend considerable time thinking about life, especially the changes that have occurred during my lifetime. When we couldn’t use calculators in statistics class, NASA was the only one with computers, and I relied so heavily on my paperback Webster Dictionary. I remember how others laid out our lives with medals, ribbons, and negative feedback, creating a well-defined course. For some, this provided security, comfort, and certainty. I was miserable. I love this electronic age. I feel connected to friends, to the rest of the world, to what people

Focusing on color enriches my life every day. As a young man, I was so busy trying to meet others’ demands that my mind was consumed by clearing hurdles as fast as I could. At this age, I understand why the blinders were so routinely attached. I’m past the stage where I resent what I believe was stolen from me, leaving me with a clear head to enjoy the pleasures of the world around me. I now drive slower, walk slower, eat slower, and sit longer as I absorb the beauty in our world that captures my imagination. Every

I believe it is essential to have a rich emotional life. Not only to be aware but to dive deeply into its meaning, to better understand ourselves, and to fully appreciate this aspect of being a human. Over the years, I have learned that I need to take mine “out for a walk ” to appreciate and evaluate them from a different perspective from where they evolved. Studying other countries, history, philosophy, and just about anything else removes me from this little environment where I tend to find comfort, safety, and certainty. It introduces me to many other possibilities

The proper title for what I do is artist/craftsman. I first heard of this description when I was in my early twenties. I was drawn to it because it is all-encompassing. I didn’t have to include anyone else in my creation; it set the stage for my free expression. I’m not fond of titles. This goes back to my experience dealing with too many people with credentials who need to have the minds of their professions. Around thirty years ago, a much younger artist asked me how long it took me to begin to feel like an artist. I

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 select the colors, make a pattern that will meet the mechanical requirements of a well-built window, and study the best way to execute the piece. Over the years, I have become comfortable with creative processes: thinking and doing, doing and thinking, and reevaluating new information.They are quick and easy to execute and fit my mental makeup. As a student, I struggled with focusing, memory, and concentration. I learned later that being born left-handed but

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 panel is a place for my iPad, where I entertain myself with music and stories about other artists and research my latest projects around the house. Lately, I’ve been watching episodes of America’s Got Talent on YouTube. It is so interesting to me when someone or a group comes out of nowhere with a fresh new routine. It renews my faith in our uniqueness, reinforced by the effort required to pull it all together.

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 part of who we are for many reasons. When we were working on a lot of church restoration, if I drove up to a church with mostly management people, I would often since I was facing an uphill battle if I wanted to continue pursuing the project. Or, as we say in the country, he must have jumped the fence, or he’s on the other team. If I pulled up to a church with

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 taken responsibility for, has evolved from reading, observing, and thinking. I’m especially aware of how extraordinary life is, as we have evolved on the only known planet that can sustain it. We are here for a short time, and the quality of that time is mainly in our hands. And that there are others in this world who would like a piece of my life for their gain. There are times when I lie

I realized something was wrong from my first days in the first grade. I had trouble understanding what was going on. The instructions were unclear, reading was laborious, and letters and numbers kept jumping around. In some way, I didn’t know if I was sane in an insane world or insane in a sane world. I learned that if I sat in the back of the class and didn’t participate, most adults would leave me alone; this protected me from the devastating barrage of failing grades. It also allowed me to live in my little world of daydreaming, filled

Around eight years ago, one of the provosts at Virginia Commonwealth University asked me to speak to a graduate class in advertising about creativity. Toward the end of my talk, I was asked if music helps to make people creative. I said no. I would like to correct this notion now. When I’m working, I find listening to music distracting. Every morning, when pedaling my stationary recumbent bike, I hear a lot of music. I’m especially fond of Dave Mathews’s tune Jimi Thing. I greatly respect Dave’s creativity in his music and his incorporation of other creative musicians into

I moved from Richmond, Virginia, to Bremo Bluff, Virginia, in 1981, when I was thirty-two years old. I didn’t realize it then, but this was the turning point in my life, from putting all my efforts into creating a commercial business to creating an artist studio. I found a 1906 farmhouse on seven acres that seriously needed repair. It had a falling-down “buggie” barn that I jacked back up and made into my studio. By living off of referrals, I reduced my time to make a living to four months a year. The other eight months I devoted to

I like to motor in my 2001 Miata when I have some spare time. Visiting antique shops is high on my list as I travel through the countryside of central Virginia. Since we have all the furniture we’ll ever need, I focus on “collectibles,” usually in the $5 to $35 range. I have found some beautiful objects that have great form and color. Some are handmade, and others are early production pieces. What I enjoy the most is that I can sit in my study and hold the pieces, studying them up close.Museums tend to frown upon this practice.

Sitting on the hillside between my junior and senior years in college, I thought about how I wanted to live my life. I knew I wouldn’t fit into the corporate world and would not allow someone else to profit from my development. I believe one should work when the work is there and then take time to enjoy the other things life offers. I had done everything everyone else wanted me to do; now, it was my turn to take control of my life. I wanted a shop, my product, and, most importantly, to be in control. I wanted

When I moved to the country in 1982, I was back working by myself, by choice. I chose to live as inexpensively as possible so I would have the time to focus on learning about myself, something I didn’t have much time for when I was building my company in Richmond. I could do this because I had a strong networking system with other artisans who would contact me when they saw the potential for my art when working on their projects. Networking was the norm before the Internet. If someone referred you, you were usually accepted on their

On each project, we reach a point where we ask ourselves, “Is it finished as is?” As we gather around, it is like a four-way chess game. Each of us picks up additional pieces and places them for observation. Mostly, we communicate in grunts and groans, like a bunch of Neanderthals tasting something we just cooked but never had before. The emotion in our voices replaces everyday adjectives. We’re guys, and we’re proud of it. Our journey as artists/craftsmen provides us with the lifestyle we need to sharpen our creative skills. Creativity is no longer a sideline but necessary

My mind likes to work 24/7. It probably has 15-20 of these “snippets” in the works now. It’s not nurotic it just has a good work ethic. I learned many years ago that when an idea appears, I write it down and let my subconscious go to work. My subconscious doesn’t like having an unsolved problem. There are 86 billion neurons traveling between 156 to 270 miles per hour, and they live right next to each other. When some of those neurons have an idea, they flash it into my conscious mind. By flash, I mean a nanosecond or