Stained Glass Addict

Before I was a home renovator, before I was Mummy, I was an artist. I still am, and always will be. I love art. Picasso, J.L. David, daVinci, Warhol, Caravaggio, Klimt, Mucha, Vermeer, I could go on and on. I went to Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario and took a 1 year course in the fundamentals in art. I then took a 3 year course in Classical Animation. Paper, no computers for those who aren't familiar with the term or for those who forget that it was first done on paper. Sorry, I get a bit defensive when people assume that it's all computer. Of course, it is all pretty much computer animation now, all the big studios like Disney, Dreamworks, and WarnerBros. are now making 3D pictures which sucks (not the movies)... bit of a tangent, sorry...

Last spring I took a class in stained glass through the Vancouver School Board Continuing Education Programmes. I had a blast! Never mind the cost of buying all the materials and tools, and leaving Derek to deal with our 4 year old Ella, and 4 month old baby boy Seth for 4 hours every monday night (man, was i bursting by the end of the class!), it was one of the best things I've ever done. Almost a year, and about a thousand cuts later, I'm working on my first commission. It is to be installed into an interior door to a "bar" in the home of my neighbour's father. The Buchanan Crest in the centre surrounded by the Tartan, all in German New Antique glass, it is by far the biggest piece i've ever done in glass, and the second biggest anything I've done (the largest being a painting of Anthony Kiedis 8' tall (his nipple is the size of a dinner plate!)).

I love stained glass. I'm an addict now I think. Frank Lloyd Wright's simple designs, Charles Rennie MacIntosh's roses, Tiffany lamps. Once you know what you're doing, and what you're looking at, no piece is very difficult. Don't get me wrong, it is a challenge to cut the glass to exactly the size, shape and curves you need for your piece, and I still come across designs that boggle my mind...

Finding the time to cut, fit, foil and solder the glass is another story all together. As I'm writing this Ella and her friends, plus Seth and another toddler are in the living room making what I'm sure is a huge mess. Typical 5 year olds, they're very, very loud- probably think I can't hear them. If i go downstairs to the "shop" they'll be even louder and I seriously doubt I'll be able to get anything done. I was hoping I'd have the window finished by last week. HA! that's a good one!!! But on a good note, I have only 3 pieces left to cut so it's not all bad. I'll post a pic when it's finished. Here's a sample of my past pieces...