links and passions
I became interested in lampwork glass long before I developed a passion for sculptural glass. I loved glass marbles as a kid. Fast forward to when Embellishment was held in Portland, Oregon, for a number of years, drawing some of the best lampwork bead makers in the country. I met women like Barbara Becker Simon, Sharon Peters (www.smartassglass.com), Leah Fairbanks, and Kristina Logan. Being surrounded by that much wonderful glass was intoxicating. Bullseye Glass began having a glass lampwork jewelry exhibit every July and I added pieces by Heather Trimblett (www.heathertrimlett.com) and Ginger Kelly. Along the way I have picked up mixed media pieces by Cynthia Toops and Dan Adams. And then I found lampwork glass on eBay. Listed below are just a few of the fine lampwork artists whose work inspires me:
My current collection on this site reflects the work of over 100 talented lampwork bead artists. There are a number of artists without a website so be sure and check out the “lampwork” category of eBay. I find the best way to sort this category is highest price first and then I work my way down to the $20.00 level. Using this method you will not have to spend the day at the computer as there are many thousands of entries.
When I think about where I have seen some of the best finished lampwork glass jewelry during my travels, the following galleries come to mind:
When I am looking for inspiration I turn to texts on art or magazines. The books are too numerous to mention and are ever changing but these are the magazines that I seek out regularly to keep up with what is going on in the marketplace. In addition, I spend a couple of evenings a month browsing through the magazine section of our local Barnes and Noble and Powell’s Books. When I am stymied for a color mix for my bead cuffs I pull out my stack of House and Garden magazines and check out the covers. They do an amazing job of creating complex, gorgeous color palettes.
Architectual Digest
Craft
Glass
Neuglas
Ornament
I love sculptural glass. I have a small collection of wonderful pieces by artists from all over the world, although I have to admit to a special soft spot in my heart for Australian glassmakers. I am never happier than when I am on the island of Murano puttering through the galleries, studios, and hot shops. I can sit and watch glass being made for hours. Some of my favorites are:
Scott Chastling, Au
Dale Chihuly, US
Daum, Fr
Ben Edols and Kathy Elliott, Au
Kathleen Elliot, US
Jessica Laughlin, Au
Stansilav Libinsky, Czech
Dante Marioni, US
William Morris, US
Catherine Newhal, US
Kristie Rae, Au
Carlo Scarpa, It
Preston Singletary, US
Lino Taglipietra, It
Cappy Thompson, US
We are lucky to have the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington, only two and a half hours away. Sometimes Rod and I drive up for the day to watch some of the best glass maestros in the world working in the hot shop. Check out www.museumofglass.org for visiting artist schedules. I have yet to make it to the Corning Museum of Glass (www.cmog.org), although I almost made it last year but a snowstorm thwarted my attempt.
Portland rivals the Seattle area in glass, largely because of the influence of Bullseye Glass. They produce some of the finest glass and bring artists in from all over the world to work with their products. Every year Bullseye brings lampwork bead artists in to take their medium and apply it to other ways of working with glass. Check out their website at www.bullseye-glass.com. They also have great classes and excellent instructors, both local and international.
There are two major bead museums, one in Washington D.C. (beadmuseumdc.org) and the other in Glendale, Arizona (beadmuseumaz.org) that are both important repositories on the history of glass beads.
Finally, there is the International Society of Glass Beadmakers.