Before I could speak I can remember conveying my thoughts and emotions through creative means. Over the years the mediums have evolved from crayons and paper, to paints and canvas, metals and fire and now I’m spending most of my time with glass and the flame. I fell in love with the medium of glass while attending my local community college as a fine arts and graphic design student. I made it a point, after years of talking about wanting to blow glass, to show up very early to register for glass blowing 101. From that point on I was hooked on the medium and took three more classes before returning back to the world of graphic design. My family and I pondered, but couldn’t quite figure out how to run a hot glass studio economically and efficiently from home. With my desire to create my own business based on my artistic abilities, I developed Aspiring Artists of the Earth. Still longing to have glass be part of my creative world, it wasn’t until many years after the classes that I met up with Harmonyworks Glass. Here I was reintroduced to the medium through flameworking from several artists working with the guild. As our relationship grew and still does to this day, I continue on my journey of creativity. Within this group of friends, we help one another in so many ways. From creation and design to business and financial aspects, we all share our ideas under a family based atmosphere. I adore glass for many reasons. First, it instills in me a great respect for beautiful objects and reminds me of the fragility and impermanence of them. Secondly, glass demands focus and respect. “Glass cuts and fire burns” (quote by Bob Snodgrass). Third, it is a very difficult medium to control. You can’t always put it down and come back to it later or continuously pause to admire and decide what to do next. Also, it takes developed skill to create sculptural works that are aesthetically pleasing and artistically sound. I am excited to have such a medium to work with, as I am honored that people enjoy it as much as I enjoy creating with it.

Me at the torch.