Tell us about yourself.
I have been a lamp-work glass artist for over twenty-five years. I produce one-of-a-kind objects of art including marbles, blown vessels and cups, as well as sculptural glass. My work can be found at art shows, galleries, museum shops, in museum and private collections, and in my studio gallery in Lincoln, Nebraska. I’m also the founder and president of High Volume Oxygen, where we make oxygen compression systems used by glass blowers world-wide.
What draws you to the material you work with?
I’m always fascinated by the varied reaction of colors when different processes are used. I love experimenting with colors to get interesting and unique effects, and really love the beauty of the color pallet that glass offers. I also mix my own colors from oxides, which liberates me to take the pallet further.
What themes do you pursue in your work, and why have you chosen the processes that you use in your work?
I’m really inspired by the natural world and am always striving to imitate the beauty that exists in minerals and on the microscopic level of organisms, as well as the beauty of plants and insects.
Why are you a member of GAS?
I have deep respect for glass artists. It’s a community that I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of and GAS does a fantastic job bringing us all together to share ideas and to promote an amazing synergy of creativity.
What is your dream project?
My dream project would be to research out-of-production glass colors, formulas and processes, and be funded to create samples in simple but beautiful form of the amazing and varied patterns and colors.