The Delphi Blog

Behind the innovative molds we’ve all come to love from Creative Paradise is an intensely creative artist, Stephanie O’Toole. She recently sat down for a fascinating interview with Delphi.   Creative Paradise – where creativity takes shape – is the kind of place that doesn’t sound like work. Stephanie let us in on her creative process regarding how she came to design molds to make complex artwork more accessible for everyone to enjoy.   She draws her inspiration from all over. Whether it’s from surfing around the internet or while out shopping at stores, Stephanie looks for interesting shapes and ways to constantly change things up. Some of the amazing creations from Creative Paradise include drop and drape molds that allow for more elevation in fusing. Stand-up molds were another idea that Stephanie pioneered, making it easy to achieve vertical heights with fused glass. Her ideas also come from talking with friends, family, and even the customers she chats with when they visit Creative Paradise.   Stephanie believes creativity should be a vital part of everyone’s life. “It’s good th

Something better than pumpkin spice is coming…Michael Dupille will soon be at Delphi’s Lansing location for a 3-day class on frit fusing . Micahel Dupille, making Seattle frit and fabulous since the 1970s, brings with him his expertise, charmingly referring to his technique of painting with glass from crushed glass bits or frit as we know them along with firing methods as fritography.   Considered a pioneer in the field of kiln-formed glass, Michael’s sold out class will be held for those who seek to garner his wisdom at any level from beginner to pro. The 3-day event will begin with a class on Beginning Fritography. Those in attendance will get the special chance to learn and explore new techniques that will help them design on a completely new level and add more sophistication to their pieces.   Michael will also show how to create distinct shapes, give surfaces unusual finishes, the proper firing schedules, and how to make murals. A variety of frit sizes will be incorporated, resulting in unbelievable effects.   Spending 3 days with Michael is a treat for many new and avid glass artists. He’ll be sharing his thoughts on color

The biggest names in glass are coming to Delphi Glass and you don’t want to miss out on joining a class!   As glass artists, we’re always looking for ways to improve our techniques. Every day that we create something, we learn something new. But when we’re presented with an incredible opportunity to work with award-winning artists, we’ve just got to get in on it before our chance to learn from one of the greats is gone.   This summer, Delphi Glass is excited to present you with the opportunity to join in on classes from some very special guest instructors. You don’t want to miss your chance to sign up with these talented folks. Class space is limited to ensure you have the best and most intimate learning experience.   Coming up in June, there’s still some room left to join in on Joseph Cavalieri’s class for stained glass painting. If you’re not familiar with Cavalieri’s work , he owns and runs the CAVAglass Studios in New York City. His projects are amazing, showcasing his expertise in hand-painted, silk-screened and airbrushed stained glass. It’s amazingly unique and if you sign up now, you&rsq

Late Summer and Fall 2015 provides an opportunity to expand your artistic horizons. Delphi's Creativity Center in Lansing, MI presents new techniques introduced by Guest Instructors on the cutting edge of art glass innovation. This season renowned glass artists Wesley Wong, Margaret Zinser and Tim Drier impart their innovative new ideas and techniques to student glassworkers at Delphi. Get to know each artist and their work, then see which class is right for you! Class sizes are limited so register now to ensure your opportunity to work with these amazing artists. Wesley Wong Wesley Wong is an award-winning artist who designs and produces custom glass art from his studio in San Jose, California. His passion for glass started in 1981 with stained glass, which eventually lead him into mosaics and fused glass. His work features lots of bright colors and intricate patterns and has been exhibited in many juried glass and mosaic shows throughout the United States. Receive a 10% discount on any 2 of Wesleys September classes. Receive a 20% discount on all 3 of Wesleys September classes. Please call Delphi Creativity C

The Summer 2015 session of art glass classes at Delphi's Creativity Center in Lansing, MI is gearing up to start soon. This season renowned glass artists Peter McGrain and Deb Crowley impart their innovative new ideas and techniques to student glassworkers at Delphi. Get to know each artist and their work, then see which class is right for you! Class sizes are limited so register now to ensure your opportunity to work with these amazing artists. Peter McGrain Award winning artist/designer Peter McGrain has been working with stained glass for over 30 years. During this time he has handled every type of stained glass project imaginable; ranging in scope from intimate experimental panels to large-scale architectural installations. In all, it is his attention to composition and technique that make his imagery so successful. Check out Peter's work on his website or our Pinterest board. Class: Introduction to Traditional Glass Painting Friday, June 5, 2015 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Register Now Description Painting on glass is by far the

The Spring 2015 session of art glass classes at Delphi's Creativity Center in Lansing, MI is all set to start. This season renowned glass artists Cathy Claycomb and Margaret Zinser join Tim Drier and Carol Shelkin to help expand the scope of your glassworking skills. Get to know each artist and their work, then see which class is right for you! Class sizes are limited so register now to ensure your opportunity to work with these amazing artists. Tim Drier Tim Drier has been a glassblower for 25 years, and applies his scientific glassblowing expertise to artistic flameworking. He concentrates on creating decanters, goblets, vases, and human sculptural forms. Drier has taught flameworking courses at The Studio and the Pittsburgh Glass Center, and has demonstrated at the International Flameworkers Conference at Salem Community College. Check out Tim's work on his Corning Museum of Glass page or his Pinterest Board . Class: Introduction to Hollow Forms Friday-Saturday, April 17-18, 2015 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Register Now! Description Tims two day c

We are gearing up for the Winter/Spring 2015 session of art glass classes at Delphi's Creativity Center in Lansing, MI. This year accomplished glass artists Tim Drier and Carol Shelkin will bring their talent and expertise to Delphi to help students upgrade their skills. Get to know each artist and their work, then see which class is right for you! Class sizes are limited so register now to ensure your opportunity to work with these amazing artists. Tim Drier Tim Drier has been a glassblower for 25 years, and applies his scientific glassblowing expertise to artistic flameworking. He concentrates on creating decanters, goblets, vases, and human sculptural forms. Drier has taught flameworking courses at The Studio and the Pittsburgh Glass Center, and has demonstrated at the International Flameworkers Conference at Salem Community College. Check out Tim's work on his Corning Museum of Glass page or his Pinterest Board . Class: Introduction to Hollow Forms Friday-Saturday, April 17-18, 2015 10:00am-4:00pm Register Now! Description Tims two day

This Spring Delphi is excited to host two amazing glass artists at the Delphi Creativity Center in Lansing, MI. Mosaic artist Carol Shelkin and master of beveling, Kent Lauer, will both be teaching this Spring at Delphi. Each artist brings their own unique skill set and techniques that any student from beginner to professional artist would enjoy. Get to know each artist and their work, then see which class is right for you! Class sizes are limited so register now to ensure your opportunity to work with these amazing artists. Carol Shelkin Carol Shelkin creates contemporary fine art and intricate mosaic designs that feature eminent care and attention to detail using hand-cut, high-quality stained glass. Her life-long passion for art has been honed through studies at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art and under the tutelage of mosaic masters in Italy. Her one-of-a-kind works can be found in galleries, community centers, libraries and private collections. Explore Carol's work on our Pinterest board or on her website .

We are excited about the Spring 2014 lineup of talented glass art experts teaching classes at Delphi's Creativity Center in Lansing, MI. Each artist brings their own unique skill set and techniques that any student from beginner to professional artist would enjoy. First up is cast and kiln formed glass artist, Gloria Badiner. Badiner is a former scientist and studio artist living and working in rural Southwest Michigan. Her studio, Arts & Artifacts, makes commissioned and custom kiln formed glass for architects, designers and furniture makers. Commissioned work includes cast panels, high relief tiles and sculptures as site-specific installations in businesses and residences. Her sculptures include fused, kiln cast, sand cast and dalle de verre works mostly on an intimate scale and are often mixed with copper, silver, stone, bone and found elements. The themes of night and day, nature and human ritual are strong themes woven into her work. For those interested in attending Badiner's class at Delphi this Spring, check out the details below. Hurry, as seats are limited and filling fast! Class: Kiln Formi

Delphi Glass is pleased to welcome guest instructor Michael Dupille. Michael will be teaching two classes this May and June at the Delphi Creativity Center in Lansing, MI . Get to know this innovative glass artist and be inspired by his techniques. See a collection of his works on our Pinterest board . Michael is considered a pioneer in the field of kiln formed glass and has created many of the working processes and techniques which are considered standard in the warm glass industry today. Artist Bio A Seattle resident, he has worked in art his entire career as both creator and educator. Experienced in a variety of media including animation, illustration, print and textile design, he continues to challenge himself through invention and innovation. Michael was part of the glass blowing program at Central Washington University in the early 70s. Since the late 1980's he has worked extensively with glass, having developed and refined a technique for 'painting with glass' that uses crushed glass (frit) in combination with kiln fired methods. He refers to this process as fritography. Michael pioneered many kiln forming processes, especially in the area of mold maki

In 1979, a journey began. That's the year Janet Schrader began working with glass, and she was immediately hooked. "Color is a very important part of who I am, so finding all the properties of changing color in glass has held my interest for many years. I love how glass changes color depending not only on the light source but also that it changes from morning to night as the light quality changes." Around 1988, Janet encountered dichroic glass for the first time, and fusing became the new focus of her glass art launching her successful line of handmade jewelry which she sold nation-wide. Janet's one-of-a-kind stained glass, jewelry and fused art have been met with enthusiasm, and winning awards including 1st and 2nd prize in the professional artist category for Fusion/Cast/Kiln work at the 2012 Glass Craft and Bead Expo in Las Vegas. Her love of learning and trying new things has kept her engaged in creating with glass as a medium. She is continuously seeking out opportunities to study new techniques. Janet shares this wealth of learning and experimentation in the many warm glass classes sh

Think of it this way: you're attempting to capture something that doesn't actually exist. A mythical creature that can change shape, even meaning at any given time; and you're expected to do it, again and again, over and over, til the end of time. Sounds all kinds of easy, right? It's actually about as easy as it sounds. Creativity is the mythical creature, I'm the person that's supposed to capture it. That's my life as an artist. More specifically, a stained glass artist. My love of glass started at a very young age--the exact age doesn't matter--but I know I was short enough to be patted on the top of my curly head by hundreds of people while they called me small boy since I was too painfully shy to introduce myself. I was dragged through hundreds of cathedrals and museums here and abroad. I saw the works of the masters in every gallery but no Picasso or Giacometti or Degas ever related to me the way stained glass did. There was just something about the interaction of the windows with their environment and the way it played with light and its surroundings that made me fall in love. So, how does one capture creativity? Patience is a great starting point. Noticing eve

Katalin Szabo completed a 9,000 piece jigsaw puzzle about a year ago , and found herself bored by completion. The puzzle lacked the creativity Szabo was seeking. Her husband suggested she learn the art of stained glass and now she's hooked! This was her first stained glass lampshade (we were impressed to say the least). Szabo says she made all the mistakes possible in the process of making her lamp, but learned a lot in the process! What did you learn in the process of making your first lamp? Tell us in the comments section below, and on Friday, May 11, we'll pick one person to receive Making Stained Glass Lamps book , complete with full-sized patterns!

Jo Kinnaly is a glass artist living in Northern Virginia . Happily retired from her government job, she spends much of her time playing with glass. She has been creating glass art for a little over eight years, and finds that the more she learns, the more there is to learn. Over the years, her work has evolved into animal portraits which she creates from photos, but she tries to find time for a wide variety of projects. Kinnaly says she usually doesn't spend more than a few weeks on a project, but this lamp took her several months. She made the grapes herself in her kiln. The shade is roughly 12 tall and 18 in diameter. You can see more of Kinnaly's work on Etsy.

Over the weekend I attended the 23rd Annual Hyde Park Village Art Fair. The trendy area of Hyde Park, located in Tampa, FL, was the perfect setting for a show of its kind. The brick-paved streets were lined with booths showcasing high end art - everything from life-sized sculptures and paintings, to handcrafted sterling silver jewelry. One of the exhibitors was world-renowned glass artist and Delphi customer Vincent Pernicano . I recognized his work three booths away. There is something so captivating about his approach to mixed media. Pernicano, who has won several awards for his work, including the 2009 Delphi Art Glass Festival Online Competition, uses layers of colored glass that have been cut into shapes and fused together with glass frit and fusible glass paints to create three-dimensional components. The glass components are then backed with wood and attached to a canvas-covered wood-backed panel and frame that has been pre-painted with acrylics and/or oil paints and sealed with five coates of varnish. Dichroic glass stones are sometimes added as accents to the finished piece. Pernicano lives and works in a small community in Northern Michigan, but his ar

You may know Judi Rusho by the Epic Kiln Carving post we shared on Facebook last week, or by one of her many jewelry pieces floating around on Pinterest. Jodi is a glass artist who is known for stacking, tacking, slumping, fusing and etching discarded glass items into tasteful, functional art. How did you get started in glass? I was originally interested in lampworking , bought a kiln and couldn't afford to buy glass or any more equipment. Not being particularly patient, I promptly rounded up some bottles and started melting them. I liked the recycled aspect, and when other artists told me that it couldn't be done, I was in for the duration. I'm nothing if not determined. I began in 1999, and have learned so much since then! Happily, I finally made my first lampwork beads last year. Why glass? If you look around your home or office right now, I bet you'll see more glass things than you expect. Glass is everywhere around us, is critical to our lifestyles, and yet, for the most part, we are only marginally aware of it. Glass can be so many things, it can be gorgeous or dangerous, decorative or functional, frequently both. I find that fascinating

We first noticed the work of Clayton Stang in Delphi's Artist Gallery. His glass shadowbox "Night Owl" received many comments in our gallery and on Facebook . Artists were asking, "how did he do that?" We tracked him down for a short Q&A. How did you get started in glass? I was the baker at an adult summer camp 13 years ago. They were offering stained glass classes. I took to it immediately. Two years later, I became the stained glass instructor at the camp. Why glass? I was a color stylist in animation for years, so the colors of glass called out to me. Sometimes I just go into the glass store and look at glass for the thrill of it. Ive always loved stained glass. I just had to wait until I grew up and could afford it. How have your other interests/hobbies/career influenced your glass designs? So many of my designs are nature based. I am a country boy at heart. I love the mountains, forests and flowers. What makes your work unique from everyone elses? I guess the thing that makes everyones work unique is that they are done with

How did you get started in glass? My husband Rich and his father used to have a custom stained glass window door company in Santa Clara, CA, so one day he offered to teach me stained glass. You also do beautiful beadwork, which came first, beading or warm glass? The beading came first and then my husband signed us up for a fused glass lesson at Ocean Sky Beads Glass in Oceanside, CA. I was so taken by it, that I asked him for a kiln for Christmas. Who or what inspires you? Discovering or making up new techniques inspire me the most, but I am also inspired by horses, animals and the sea. You seem to be inspired by Southwestern culture and style, tell us more about that. I grew up in Imperial Beach, CA, which is a border town to Mexico. I used to body surf at the beach in the summer and ride horses to the Tijuana River Valley State Park all year round. I also love Native American Indian Art and jewelry. I also have Central American Indian heritage. You mention in your bio online that you enjoy experimenting with glass, how so? I enjoy using all kinds of rubber stamps while I travel. I use them with the Delphi liquid platinum gol

We recently asked our Facebook fans to send us photos of glass art from their gardens . We received some especially interesting photos from glass artist Mark Hall. Impressed as we were, we realized that Mark's talent goes far beyond the confines of his garden. He is self-taught and has mastered German leading techniques, hand beveling, mirroring and sandblasting among other techniques. He fine-tuned hisskills while studying abroad in Germany at Derix Glass Studio,at Pilchuck School of Glass in Washington, andwith The Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass in New York. He and his wife, Leslie, now work together at Hallmark Glass. How did you get started in glass? In 1976 my brother informed me he'd started a business, and I was his partner. Surprised, I asked, What's our business? He responded, Stained glass . I knew nothing about it, so I learned how to make a window on our first commission. Why glass? My brother decided this for me, and my interest in the field has kept me on track. How have your other interests/hobbies/career influenced your glass designs? First of all my focus became glass, most other hobbies fell by the wayside. Now I don't fish

How did you get started in glass? Glass is a fascinating medium. I was living as an ex-pat in Denmark in 2001 when I had the luck of finding a fusing glass course. I fell in love with the technique immediately. I pursued further classes and a masters since, trying to achieve more. Im also a self learner, I love to study and work on my own. Since then I never stopped looking for ways to improve myself in this beautiful art. Why glass? The first time I went to Murano, Italy, back in 1986 I had the chance to visit glass studios and was astonished by the way the artists worked with the powders and heat. Due to its unique properties, glass continues to be an intriguing material that can reflect, transmit or absorb light. It creates a surprise element which brings eclectic interest to a space without becoming overbearing. In fusing, I add powders, strings , frits , metal or other inserts toslabs of glass toachieve an organic, but extraordinary design. I like to create pieces that are functional as well as decorative - bowls, platters and sculptures. They are fired to around 1500 F. The high temperatures melt the glass fragments incorporating them into a new form. In fus

We found Mollie Barrow on Facebook in the midst of a discussion on Pot Melts. Mollie cooks up her incredible glass creations in a quiet eco-village in rural Ireland with her 10-year old son Elliot and cats Bonnie and Oscar. She is continually inspired by the Northern Lights, and the rich swirls of color in her pieces prove it. We were blown away by her magical melts, and we know you will be too. How did you get started in glass? I've been in love with glass art since I visited the Murano Glass Factory in Venice when I was 16. I was hypnotised by the skill and speed those guys had working with molten glass, and I would have loved to pursue glass seriously from then. As is often the case, however, life had other plans and it wasn't until I was in my late 20s that I finally picked it up. I took a 16-week fusing course at the only teaching studio in the country, with the intention of making some nice jewellery for myself. Then I made some for friends, and then their friends. And it grew from there. I'm a natural rule breaker, and I was soon experimenting with glasses and kiln times and mixing things I shouldn't mix and getting up to all sorts of shenanigans

In the winter of 2005, Craig Mitchell Smith wandered into a class at Delphi Glass in Lansing, MI. Six years, and thousands of creations later, Craig has taken the world by storm with his artistic vision. He is not a newcomer to the art world (his background is in painting, interior design, landscape and floral design), but glass changed everything for him. And what started as a hobby has quickly become a full-time job. His sculptures, some enormous in scale, have been spotted on television, in museum shows, garden exhibitions and now in his very own public gallery. In 2010, his glass cardinal ornaments hung on the National Christmas Tree in Washingon, D.C. When Dan Daniels, CEO of Delphi Glass, saw Craig's work for the first time he was speechless. He recognized in Craig a talent unmatched in the industry - the next great glass artist. Since then, Craig has become the darling of Delphi Glass, and is scheduled to appear in an upcoming catalog. Delphi Executive Director, Lisa Parks, caught up with Craig to ask him a few questions on his recent gallery opening and newfound fame. DG: You recently opened a new gallery in Okemos, MI. Tell us a little about the Gallery

When Charity Stewart's mosaic mirror made of old Starbucks Gift Cards was posted to our Artist Gallery as part of our Recycled Arts Contest , I couldn't help but notice. Cheerily nicknamed "Momma Mosaics", Charity creates brightly colored art that is whimsical and playful. She has mastered the art of using paper under glass, and repurposing found objects. We caught up with her to ask her a few questions about her signature style. How did you get started in glass? I discovered the joy of glass at the age of 12, when I was introduced to stained glass art by my grandmother. She inspired me to explore my creative side as we worked side-by-side in her tiny basement studio, cutting and grinding pieces for a large window panel. Those lessons in creativity launched my interest in glass art and eventually led me to classes in fusing and mosaics. Why mosaics? Have you ever been obsess ed with finishing a puzzle? Making a mosaic is similar, but unlike a puzzle where the end result is always the same, mosaics give you have the freedom to create the puzzle as you go. My designs are never really too preplanned, I enjoy the flow of the process and often find tha

Glass Artist Karen Mamel had all but packed away her glass tools when she opened her E-mail inbox. Sharon Jones of Good Shepherd Hospice in Sebring, Florida was inquiring about a stained glass window in a newly built chapel. A man was donating the window in honor of his beloved wife. She had previously built windows for two other Florida Hospices and spent much of her free time visiting patients and volunteering for the organization. A cancer survivor and nurse, she felt a particular connection to the patients. She called friend and pattern designer, Lynda Chandler, to explain the challenge. The project was a five-and-a-half-foot round window facing west, Karen said. Beyond that, she had rece ived little direction. Sharon at Good Shepherd had seen our work before and trusted us to come up with a good design. Karen and Lynda got to work. The pair met more than five years prior and discovered a mutual love for the arts. Lynda, a botanical illustrator, had a talent for bringing landscapes to life on paper, and Karen, an accomplished glass artist, was looking for someone to design custom glass patterns. Their first project was a stunning 27-foot window in their church.

How did you get started in glass? I originally just did tile mosaics and then a friend sent me info on taking a class at Delphi for fused glass mosaics taught by Christine Stewart. I was hooked and had my own kiln within a few months. Why glass? Its infinitely easier than working with ceramic tile! I like the way the fused glass lets me incorporate rounded shapes with the hard edges of cut glass. Why is recycling important to you? I always take everyones leftovers tile, glass, wire, rocks, beads because you never know what project you can use even the smallest pieces in. Then you can elaborate: my friend gave me that, my neighbor was throwing that away. Im currently working with the Michigan Chapter of the IIDA and ZeroLandfill where they divert architectural samples from the landfill for upcycling. Its a wonderful way to get free goodies! How have your other interests/hobbies/career influenced your glass designs? Ive been a graphic designer by trade for my whole working career and glass lets me get out from behind the computer and get my hands dirty again. What inspires you? Nature and its textures. What makes your work

Carol Lancour can find beauty in just about anything. She jokes that she can look at a chunk of concrete and see potential. And while she says her friends think she's crazy, there is a greater purpose behind her vision. "For me, finding something discarded and repurposing it into something beautiful and useful is its own reward," she says. "I strive to make every project I undertake aesthetically pleasing, well-made and purposeful." Carol used to paint and draw to satiate her need to be creative, but she turned to glass when a friend showed her how to cut up stained glass for mosaics. She bought her first set of cutting tools from Delphi in 2000. "Glass comes in every beautiful color, refracts light and sparkles in the sun," she says. "I like the durability of something so fragile." Carol began creating mosaics with her cut up glass, starting with a mosaic flower pot. Her projects eventually grew to be much larger. "I don't know a lot of other people who do large-scale mosaic projects with pieces that are mostly hand cut and -inch or smaller, she says. Her favorite recycled project is an herb garden planter made from cinder blocks excavated from her back yard and

In keeping with our recent theme of Recycled Art, we're featuring glass artist Patti Lenckus. Her scrap glass mosaics are made from leftover glass otherwise headed for the landfill. Read how she got started in this Earth-friendly endeavor. Stained Glass Artist Patti Lenckus of Norman, Oklahoma has been saving her scraps for years. She has a five-shelf storage cart with bins, and she meticulously divides each piece of scrap by its color. Last year, she started using this glass to create mosaics. My first project was a picture of a flower vase created on an unfinished wooden tray that I found at a local craft store, Patti says. I had so much fun that I decided to teach a mosaic class at the local art center to share what I had learned. I taught my students to make pictures from scrap glass on a piece of floor tile. Patti also taught a class called Glass on Glass in which her students created flowers on glass trays. She even found a use for the tiniest pieces of leftover glass. I use them in the image discs on the end of my kaleidoscopes, she says. She finds a use for all of her scraps regardless of texture or color. Bright, opaque glass is good for using on thing

How did you get started in glass? A friend bought me a small fused glass wall hanging many years ago and Id often gazed at it and wondered how it was made. Then in 2005, after being diagnosed with M.E./C.F.S. and lung problems, I was unable to continue with my career in the Learning Disabilities profession and needed an alternative and more therapeutic endeavor that would accommodate my condition. So, following a moment of madness in early 2008, where I bid for a kiln on e-bay, I began to experiment in glass and quickly became hooked on the colour, beauty and diversity of kiln-formed work. Why glass? Ive always admired architecture and loved the way a glass window could completely transform a room. And kiln-formed fused glass is such an exciting medium. My favorite part is the mixture of anticipation and trepidation I feel when Im opening the kiln it reminds me of Christmas morning as a child . How have your other interests/hobbies/career influenced your glass designs? I enjoy gardening and am often influenced by the shape or colour of a flower. Im also in the process on renovating my home which was built in 1901 and love being able to make my own unique tiles,

How did you get started in glass? I was lonely! I moved to Richmond, VA from Minneapolis, MN about six years ago, and didnt know a soul. I had a friend back in MN who worked with stained glass and it sounded fun and challenging. When I saw that Richmonds local Visual Arts Center offered evening stained glass classes, I decided to try it. Turns out, I love working with glass! (And I met some other great creative people too!) Why glass? Prior to working with glass, I was (and still am) an admirer of all types of glass creations leaded, fused, blown, mosaics, etc. I never considered trying leaded glass myself until my friend told me about the process, and totally demy stified it. And then I thought, I think I need to do this! I really enjoy the puzzle fitting the pieces together to create something beautiful is extremely gratifying. How have your other interests/hobbies/career influenced your glass designs? I have been drawing in graphite and charcoal for several years and I also dabble in photography and graphic design. All of these skill sets come in handy when creating original glass works. I like dramatic contrasts and balanced designs, and this extends to my g

How did you get started in glass? I have always admired stained glass but never thought I would have the patience for it. It seemed like the process was daunting. I am the 'webmistress' for my Fremont Harley Owners Group Chapter and a lady in the Chapter created a glass panel to honor another member's wife who had passed. I mentioned to her that I'd always thought about doing stained glass but figured it was too hard. She offered to come teach me and change my mind. Last April, she did just that. It is labor intensive - but as a website developer I've developed the patience for intricate things. Why glass? I'm a very visual person, have always been artistic, and love vivid colors. Ever since I was little, I remember my mom washing out empty noxema bottles (cobalt blue) so I could hold them up to the light. I loved going to church just to look at the gorgeous stained glass windows. My favorite moment is holding panels up to the light for the first time. It's always an oooo ahhhh moment for me. How have your other interests/hobbies/career influenced your glass designs? Things I love show up in my glass panels, like my cats. I love red chili peppers a

How did you get started in fused glass art? It seems that fused glass is really just one step in a progression of mediums that started while I was dabbling in ceramics. I am not formally trained in fine arts (I was a fine arts major for my freshman year in college before the fear of failure set in and I switched to communications) so all my art training has been personally pursued. A number of years later, I must have happened across a warm glass site or a book and the deal was sealed. I did a Craigslist search the next week and immediately found someone in Bangor looking to sell her glass fusing studio for $400. Everything I needed to get startedkiln, glass, glov es, shelf paper etc. It was almost eerie how easily I happened across exactly what I was looking for - especially in Midcoast Maine (which is a very rural area). I will say that it has taken me into my 30s (and no formal art training) to finally find a medium that I feel so desperately passionately aboutthat I want to stay with it for a while - years, decadesmaybe a lifetime. How would you describe your design aesthetic? Industrial Organic. What does that mean? Beats meI guess I like to think that its a bl

How did you get started in glass?  I got started in glass by taking a glass class at Delphi in the winter of 2005.   I was hooked!   I just couldn't stop, I was making glass with a friend who had a ceramic kiln when HGTV offered to come film my work in glass.   I had nine weeks to prepare, and I went to Delphi and bought a coffin kiln and glass and went to work, making pieces that made sense for my garden.   Only after the segment aired, and galleries started calling offering representation did I consider glass as a career.   Now I have had 26 gallery shows, three museum showings and three large public garden exhibitions.   I just opened my own gallery. You mentioned in the biography on your website that you have done painting, interior design, set design and floral design. How have these activities influenced your work in glass? My background in painting, interior design, landscape design and floral have all come together in my glass work. Why glass sculpture?   I make sculpture because I need the scale and dimension to express myself.   I often work with other artists to make the metal work

Jane Nichols of Munfordville completed a 40 hour stained glass Flying Butterfly Mobile workshop and created a colorful, large stained glass flying butterfly mobile to hang in her home. Jane completed this project in less than 40 hours and she says, This was the most gratifying and fun thing I have done in a long time and Carl Correll is an excellent instructor. Though Jane had never cut a piece of glass before and had never been in any stained glass course she chose an Intermediate project and came through with flying colors. Speaking of colors, Jane says, Choosing the colors was the hardest thing I had to do! Avalon Stained Glass School Creativity Center says, Well done, Jane, and we are choosing you to be our Student of the month for October.

Mary Datwyler is the owner and primary designer of Sunflower Glassworks , Delphi's latest Elite Dealer. She has over 20 years experience in art glass, seven of which has been running her full-service glass shop. Her work has been taken to six continents (anyone headed for Antarctica?) and has been featured in print and cable TV. Recently, staff at Delphi Glass sat down with her to ask the artist a few questions about her work and her inspiration. How did you get involved in art glass? As a child my mother "shopped" religion so I was exposed to many styles of stained glass (and philosophies) in all of the various buildings I was in for religious training. That's where it began. I took my first class nearly 20 years ago and after working in glass for 12 years, I finally was brave enough to sell my first piece to the public. With that successfully in hand, I soon was receiving commission orders. I worked full time at a "real job" and worked my "glass shop" early morning and late into the evening in the garage. When my then home-based commission business outgrew it's garage space, it was time to look for commercial space and open the retail shop to complement my commission wo

When and how did you get started in stained glass? I've been interested in stained glass for as long as I can remember. As a child, I would sit in churches and watch the (often) biblical depictions come to life when a stray ray of sunlight cast its illumination our way. Sun shadows dancing. I dabbled in many media over the years, trying to find an outlet for some of the visions careening inside, but none of them took. Drawing, painting - even watercolours - no amount of professional training could guide my hand in a satisfactory way. But then there was the glass. I lived abroad for a few years, and wound my way through Europe on my way back to the States when I finished my Peace Corps Service. My last international destination was Paris, where one of my closest friends lives as an organist. Two beautiful autumn weeks of divine pastries, lavender light, music, and myriad cathedrals. From the towering behemoth that is Notre Dame to the stone spires of Mont Saint Michel, I spent dizzying hours transfixed in glass. I took photographs of the coloured light cast through the glass and onto stone floors. The vibrancy was impossible to contain and I felt compelled. I needed glass in

It's clear from all of your pieces that you love working with bright colors. Where do you get your love for color? I just love color! Without color, life can be dull. Color helps to create mood, passion, emotion and can bring out the best in people. How would you describe your artistic style? I believe that my style can be categorized as "beachy." I love the beach and surfing, but I also love the woods and nature, so sometimes it's "nature inspired." You have done several beautiful mosaics and stained glass panels, and I also understand you do some fused glass work and bead making. What's your favorite medium and why? I love making mosaics because that's what led me to glass in the first place. I go through spurts though. I'll make a whole bunch of mosaics and then make beads in between. Then I'll switch it up and make a stained glass piece. I guess it's just what I want to do that week or what idea I wake up that day. I read in the Jersey Star Ledger that you're an avid surfer, hunter, runner, biker, rock climber, snow board and overall outdoor rockstar! How do you make time for your art? Balance. And sometimes really really late nights working in the studio!! It

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?