Featured Artist – Lisianblue

Lisianblue – Kris

I have been fascinated with glass from early childhood. There is a small town not too far from where I grew up were we used to go eat every Easter or Mother’s day. On the way there, in another very small town, is a house that someone had hung bottles on the fence. I was always excited about seeing the new additions every year. But, the majority of the bottles had been there for many years, and had an iridescent shine to them from being in the sun for so long. Around the age of 9, I started my own bottle collection. I wasn’t allowed to hang them on the fence, but I did get to put them in my window. Somewhere along the way, I discovered cobalt blue glass and it definitely became my favorite glass.

As for crafting, creating things, as a child, I could sit for hours drawing pictures of “princesses”, in different gowns and those pointy hats! I was also equally happy building little boats out of scrap lumber to float down the street during our summer monsoons. I even built my 1st skate board – out of an old pair of roller skates and a board. I guess in some ways, I was lucky that my dad allowed me some freedom in the garage with his tools, as long as it wasn’t the power tools, and I put them back. I was also fond of making little mountains out of solder! Little did I know then, that I would grow up to play with solder once again.

Influences: My mother instilled a love of nature, especially flowers. My father, who taught us to do everything to the best of our ability – took me many years to realize that, that did not mean that everything had to be perfect! My paternal grandmother had a very strong influence on me in many ways; mostly, to keep learning something new. She also taught me how to knit and crochet when I was about 8.

I have done a variety of arts and crafts, along with spending 4 years studying drawing and painting in college in in my 40’s. I started painting glass ornaments and other glassware in 2005. I recently found myself in a good position to be able to learn the art of stained glass. I thought this would be a great combination, to be able to paint on the glass, as well as cut it up and make something out of it. Right now, I’m still doing somewhat small stained glass pieces until I become more proficient at it. I have done a few that I have also painted – but not any for sale just yet! I have also discovered a real knack for making mobiles out of glass. I would like to eventually get a glass saw, which will allow me to cut more intricate patterns, and less glass waste. I can see myself “playing” with glass for some time, and would love to also eventually get a kiln to make slumped glass items, along with lampwork beads.

Please check out Lisianblue’s beautiful work at her Artfire shop.

Here are a couple of my favorite creations:

Tags: Stained Glass

Posted in Handmade Harbor