How and when did you get started in glass art? I saw an article about Kristin Frantzen-Orr along with a step by step example of how to do one of her famous floral beads. I talked about it so much my husband bought me a beginning torch set for the following Christmas. Once I got the kiln and the duel fuel torch, I just kept experimenting and growing from there. Kristin is still my idol and I keep telling myself that one day I will do nice, clean floral beads like hers!
Your jewelry, vases, plates etc. are all beautiful. I especially love the geologic nature of your Copper Reactive dish, its so unique! Can you tell us a little about how you achieved that look? The base glass is Bullseye Steel Blue Opal (000146) and it reacts all on its own! I used clear stringers and broke up chunks of clear to use along the outside edge. Whatever the clear covers stays blue, and the exposed glass reacts and turns metallic. The firing temperature is the key, don't take it above 1400 F. Bullesye lists several projects with reactions on their website www.bullseyeglass.com http://www.bullseyeglass.com
I understand that you teach some classes? What do you teach, and why do you enjoy it? I've always loved teaching and I have a degree in Secondary Education. It's fun to see others catch fire and discover something new. In addition creating my own art, I work for a stained glass studio (Designer Glass Works) and I teach at their facilities. The most popular classes are beginning and intermediate bead making, fused glass jewelry, and soldered glass jewelry. If my students are having fun in class, I've succeeded.
Where do you find your inspiration? Everywhere! I keep my own book of inspiration. I tell my students that when they see a pattern they like, a color combination or something else that catches their eye, cut the picture out of the magazine, print off a copy and put it in a book. When feeling stumped, looking through that book gets ideas to flow; a fabric pattern that translates to glass, for example. I love trying ideas in articles, or things other people share in forums. I feel there are no failures in glass, just lessons learned.
You are involved in several Social Media ventures with your Etsy shop, Facebook profile, blog, etc. What has been successful for you in terms of generating businesses and interest in your work? If you don't have a brick and mortar store, you have to find a way to get people to know who you are. In a marketing mail out, I think a 4% response is considered successful. It may be the same here, it's a very small percentage of each venue that turns into revenue. People need to feel that they know you, even though they may not have met you in person. The more places they find you the more comfortable they feel buying from you online. I sometimes feel like I spend as much time or more online to promote as I do making product. It's something cyber sellers have to balance. The more exposure I get, the better sales are, and I'm not sure I've been able to point it to any one online presence.
Final Thoughts? As I state on my Etsy page, I love glass! The hope is that my passion comes through in my work and my teaching. The fun part is that I know I'll never live long enough to learn everything there is to learn about glass!
Contact Kerry! www.celtcraft.etsy.com
Featured Artist: Kerry Collett
