http://www.livingglassart.etsy.com

LIVING GLASS ART

Glass Art has always been a favourite of mine and when LivingGlassArt agreed to be featured in my blog I was quite excited. Like myself, LivingGlassArt has a store on Etsy and she can be found at www.livingglassart.etsy.com.

The lady behind LivingGlassArt is Anna Varney and she creates her handcrafted stained glass at her home studio at the Tennessee River Art Village in West Tennessee, USA.

When did you start creating glass art?
I took one class in the Fall of 2003. It was a total of 8 hours at a stained glass shop not far from where I worked at the time. That's all it took--I totally fell in love with the craft. After the class, I bought a bunch of tools and a load of glass and went home and started putting things together. Some of the first things I made on my own were a bit embarrasing, but they were all part of the learning process. In the spring of 2004 I quit my day job as a distribution manager to pursue creating glass full time.

Where do you get your inspiration?
A lot of the works that I enjoy creating have a nature theme. When I moved from the city to the country I discovered a whole new world (the natural world) that I had never much paid attention to. So, if I see a frog on a lily pad one day I am inspired to put the little creature into glass. Two of the best commission jobs I've done included a large mouth bass with a frog and also a koi in a pond. My cats also inspire me and I enjoy creating little cat faces in glass. Lastly, just doodling. Some of the geometric designs that I've come up with started as a simple doodle, playing with different circles and lines until I come up with something that I think will look good in glass.

Is your glass art a part time business/hobby or a full time business?
Its a full time business. Besides selling online I also sell and accept commission work from my studio.

As you work full time, how do you like to spend any spare time you have?
Other than working in my shop I enjoy getting out and visiting with Mother Nature. I set aside a little bit of time every week to take a nature walk and see if there are any new flora or fauna I can add to my life list. Birds fascinate me and I enjoy birding particularly in the spring and fall when they are migrating through the area. My family--one husband, 7 rescued cats and one rescued dog.

Have you exhibited your work anywhere?
No. I've sold online for years (ebay first now Etsy).

What are your favourite materials to work with?
Glass in general, but I favor translucent textured glass over dense opaque glass. I enjoy the way that sunlight comes through it. I also enjoy working with glass bevels and I feature them in a lot of the geometric works that I do.

What project are you working on at the moment?
I have recently designed another new geometric panel. Of course the idea started with a doodle. I knew that for the center I wanted to use a star shaped glass bevel. Once I started sketching I came up with a plan. For the glass component colors I have chosen light pastel colors of pink, pale green, pale purple and pale amber. I'm excited to see how the combination works out. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't.

What are the 3 favourite pieces in your store and why?



This was the first real good design that I came up with. I've done this design in various colors over 100 times and I always enjoy it. Also, this design was choosen to be included in the renovation and restoration of the Rust Manor Home in Leesburg, Virginia. It was choosen over 500 other designs--which makes me very proud.












I really love this design. This is the third that I have done, they've all been of different colors. There's a tremendous amount of movement in the piece due to the various textures of glass, bevels and faceted jewels. But, all that is hard to capture in a photograph.







I've had this design in my head for a very long time and I finally put it into glass. Dolphins are lovely creatures. I have a real love for all living things.




Lastly, is there anything else that may interest the reader about glass art and its origins?
One thing about glass itself that really fascinates me is the fact that its almost organic. It's sand and metal oxides blended together to create all of the different colors--not synthetic dyes and plastics. Then more metals are used in the form of copper and lead to bind all of the glass together-to 'weld' it together. So, there are all these earthly resources combining to create something of beauty. And when the sun hits it it brings it to life.

If you would like to see more of Anna's beautiful designs you can find her at http://www.livingglassart.etsy.com and don't forget Christmas is only just under 4 months away!!