Over the last thirty years my work has evolved through many media transformations. I have been, and still am, a painter, a jeweler and a glass artist. With advent of my newly built studio on Wold Road, I will be continuing the tradition of creating art pieces that speak from my soul or clarify for a client their vision and desire for a commissioned art piece. My main focus will be working with glass.

I have always been attracted to the magical quality of glass and it's ever changing visual message to the viewer. It is an ancient, timeless material created by nature and man throughout the ages. In my own work, these qualities inspire neo-primitive themes especially in my figurative sculptures. One of my artistic "signatures" is creating glass "nuggets" and panels, both large and small, through the technique of kiln-forming glass. The actual surface of the work is in relief as fusing the glass is a technique of layering and melting the elements together. The end product of this technique resembles the aqueous shapes and crustaceous forms that could be found in some imaginary ocean. In most of my work, the artistic sensibility that filters through has the fluidity and energy of being immersed in a watery environment. I spent many years as a diver in this silent and peaceful world of the tropical oceans, and this feeling seems to permeate throughout whatever I create. If inanimate objects were to have personalities, I believe that the tension between the cool, watery forms found in the design created from the hot, fiery substance gives the work an added energy and spark.

Presently, my goal is to continue working further with glass and combine the various techniques I've learned over the years. Combining the kiln-formed glass, using enamels and metals, along with sand carving and glass painting would present a unique challenge for me along with creating a greater visual depth to the pieces. It would also allow for me to use all the knowledge and experience I've gleaned so far about this amazing and fascinating substance, glass.

Personal Works and Inspiration
In the earlier years, my interpretive choices in creating artistic statements have been directed by abstraction inspired by the likes of Picasso, Miro, Georgia O'Keefe and Gauguin. More recently, Emily Carr holds my awe. Allowing my imagination to travel unrestricted in the realm of shapes, colors, and imagery was extremely freeing. It also established my confidence in being able to design pieces without the constraints of anything having to represent its accepted image. I still love being able to work this way, but am now attracted to solving the challenge of being a bit more literal and definitive in my artistic interpretations. Thematically, for the pieces on the "drawing board", my inspiration is turning to history and mythology. There are so many wonderful stories to tell and being able to communicate in this more literal sense seems very intriguing.

During the last decade spent on San Juan Island, I have completed many glass art pieces in stained glass that are now part of the architectural makeup of homes and businesses. My Art Glass is found in entryways, kitchens, pantry doors, bathroom enclosures and dividers, as well as sculptures and tiles on walls and tabletops.

Nature and the natural environment appear to be the huge draw here in the Northwest, and my work has leaned heavily in this direction. I am well known through my work with creating glass imagery of trees, specifically the Madrona, whose branches meander through the panes and mullions of doors and windows. These are all depicted in various styles, some abstracted, and many with a combination of techniques using sections of kiln-fired glass with enamels or sand carving and my special technique of adding copper embellishments. Other windows portray big leaf maples, vine maples, bamboo, seaweed, waterlillies and underwater flora and fauna. My ultimate goal with commissioned applications is to make each one unique, that is "one-of-a-kind."

With regard to commissions, however, I am very open to working with clients to present a final product that agrees with their tastes. My objective is in being able to ensure that whatever architectural stained glass or art glass application occurs that the work gives pleasure for years to come. The enjoyment for me is in the creative process.

A portfolio of my work is available.

Studio Location
San Juan Island
1296 Wold Road

Recently, I was located in "downtown" Friday Harbor on Nichols Street in the courtyard behind Basil's restaurant. My new studio is still in the "under construction" stage. I am hopeful that I will be open to the public sometime during the first part of September, 2005, at which time I plan to have specific days open to the public. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, if you wish to contact me in regard to a commissions or questions about my work, I can be reached at (360) 378-6725 or emailed at woodenglass@hotmail.com .