Interview with jsglassart

I was born and raised in the southern part of Arizona and moved to Northern California 23 years ago. I love NorCal and can’t imagine living anywhere else. Having grown up in the dessert I still can’t get enough of the green around here. I’m divorced with a 25 year old son. I’ve been with Jim, my significant other, for 15 years.

What is your professional backgound?

My mom owned a dress shop when I was in high school so I learned the ins and outs of retail at an early age. When my son was four I got a part time job, first at a cutlery shop then at Macy’s selling fragrances. The cutlery shop was pretty interesting. I sold all kinds of huge scary knives to huge scary people. Most of my knife education came from the many Hell’s Angels customers I had. They were actually very nice and loved talking about knives.
Eventually I got an office job starting out as a receptionist for a man who owned retail, office and industrial buildings. I worked my up to office manager/book keeper/property manager. I worked there for 15 years and it was a great job, I learned a lot including how to drive a forklift and use an acetylene torch.

What made you start working with glass and when?

I was on the Winchester Mystery House tour in San Jose and there are many beautiful stained glass windows (and a lot of original Tiffany glass, check it out if you’re ever in the area). I had the sudden urge to learn how it was done. My teacher was a fourth generation glass artists and just happened to have refurbished the windows I fell in love with at the Mystery House. When the lessons were done and I had my beautiful stained glass window finished, he pulled out some fused glass he had been playing around with. I knew I had to learn to do that too. I had my first kiln within a month and was addicted after taking my first piece out of the kiln. I did everything wrong, of course, and it looked horrible, but I was hooked.

Does your glass inspiration come from someplace special in your life?

My glass inspiration comes from touching and working with the glass. I’m not really artistically inclined, I’m more mechanically inclined. Glass is a hard substance and I love thinking of different ways to manipulate it. I may have an idea in my head when I start cutting the glass, but by the time it goes into the kiln I’ve changed everything about it and it looks nothing like what was in my head. I get inspired by seeing how things work, or how I can manipulate them to make them work, and by seeing the colors and shapes in front of me.

How would you describe glass?

Hard, brittle, easily manipulated and absolutely gorgeous.

Is your studio all you want it to be?

No. I need more space. I share a very small garage with my SO and he has bigger tools than I do so he has most of the room. He does share his tools, so don’t complain too loudly.

Do you prefer music or quiet when you are working on your craft?

I prefer music. I’m a heavy metal girl at heart so when I’m alone it can get pretty loud. When I’m not alone we usually listen to music from the 40’s to the 70’s, or classical.

If you have a really bad glass day, what comforts you?

Chocolate

If you have a really good glass day, do you celebrate?

Not really. When things are going well I usually keep working until I’m exhausted and too tired to celebrate. When I take something out of the kiln that I’m proud of, I do make everyone I see look at it; the mailman, neighbors, FedEx guy. Everyone.

The best part of working with glass?

I get a lot of satisfaction working with glass. I’ve worked with other mediums and I’ve never felt the satisfaction, or the sense of pride, of doing a good job like I do with glass.

What is the worse part of working with glass?

Sharp edges. I’ve had some pretty serious cuts. Of course they happened because I wasn’t paying attention.

Can we have a few words of wisdom from you please?!

Never stop learning!

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