A beautiful sheet of glass thrills me. I’ve got to admit that when I see the sun coming through a well-crafted window making it shine like so many jewels I find it difficult to look away.
In my past I’ve taught many classes, met some pretty terrific artists, and worked with people that had talent well beyond mine. 80% of them were in mid-life and without fail they all said “I’ve always wanted to learn how to do stained glass.” It was my privilege to help talent blossom, instill confidence in those who swore they had no artistic inclination and to encourage those to take the next step toward professionalism. It’s been such fun.
The one person I wish that I’d had an opportunity to work with was my mother. She died before we could do any projects together, and I often imagine how much fun she would have had in my expansive workshop with more glass to choose from than she could have dreamed of. She was such an artist, and she made windows for her friends and family for the sheer joy it gave her.
I took a long break from the craft of glass when I sold my workshop many years ago. It’s only in this past year that I’ve gotten back to work, and my enthusiasm greatly outshines the time I have to spend.