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Engaging in art and architectural glass and painted ceramic tile is a sublime adventuring both in the work itself and in the places and people I meet along the way.

Color, texture, and light visually invite and fascinate me. Glass lets me go outside the lines, altering materials into inspirational illustrations, ocular stories lit up in glass. There are many treatments I do to the glass, to realize the desired effects, sandblast, slump, fuse, cast, and my favorite, the old European style of glass painting. Glass makes an extraordinary vehicle to express all the imagery of my intention.

As a young child an artful crowd and creative parents surrounded me. One was a dreamer, the other a fearless doer, with an explorer's spirit, and seven artistic siblings. Grandparents and ancestors, aunts, uncles, and cousins, and now the huge support of a loving husband and two enjoyable children-and many other artist friends. These are the forces that contribute to, enhance, and support my artful experiments and maturing talents.

The art I love is multifaceted; technically, visually, and inspirationally. Strokes and fires apply a marvelous palette of materials and effects. It is a feeding frenzy in my mind. The art I previously defined now defines me. After 25 years this journey has just barely begun, shafting light to its artful meaning--vision versus word.

My first inspirations in painting with light came from church, listening to the mellifluous words in the background, while the storytelling windows commanded my attention. The colors and lines flowed through my eyes into my cerebral playground like the twinkling of stars in the night. Those images stay with me as my eyes are closed in a dream state--my favorite place to meditate. Now I am the storyteller, weaving light into a tapestry of enchantment.

Current vitreous painting techniques date back to 9th century Germany. Using pigments, metal oxides and various mediums, Such as water, vinegar, and turpentine to mix paints. The Paints are called "stainers colors," (dark blacks, browns, and greens), enamels, (brilliant opaque/transparent colors), and the rich gold of silverstains. These are applied in many ways for varying effects, laying and firing each layer to render the desired design and style.

More on the history of glass painting:

http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/glasspaint/glasspaint.htm