I used to have a "proper job". So how did I end up as a glass artist?
It all started with a garage clear out. A whole cupboard of arty crafty things I'd brought from Scotland when I emigrated to New Zealand a decade ago, never used, yet I couldn't bear part with them. It got me to thinking why? Why am I hanging onto this stuff that I'm clearly never going to do anything with. Aha! Clearly I have a creative itch that needs to be scratched, something yet to explored. Solution: book a number of courses in things I've never done before to see what happens...might lead to something....might just get it out my system so I can clear that cupboard finally.
Scratching the Creative Itch
So, in moment of clarity at 2am during a sleepless night I booked a one day glass fusing course. It was in Wanganui in North Island so a long way from Nelson in South Island where I live. This five hour experience involved two flights, two long bus trips and an overnight stay either side, but I was hooked!
First Kiln
Glass fusing involves heating glass to around 800 degrees Celsius in a kiln (basically a giant oven) which are expensive things to buy and run for a beginner. However, there are small glass fusing kilns that are designed to go in a domestic microwave, and with the purchase of my microwave kiln Clarity Glass was born.
For six months there was a lot of trial and a lot of error with my little kiln. There were successes and failures and happy accidents and constant learning thanks to the wonderful world of Google and You Tube.
Further Exploration
The creative itch developed into a bit of a rash and in August 2014 I returned to the UK not only to catch up with friends and family but to immerse myself in a selection of glass fusing courses and workshops, exploring techniques that I wanted to learn more about. I worked with amazing glass artists, tutors and fellow fusers which further fuelled the fire and provided confirmation that working with kiln formed glass was an art form to which I was completely committed.
Bigger Kilns
On my return I purchased two second-hand kilns called Richie and Dan, named after my favourite All Blacks (as they are both solid, well built, a bit bashed and scratched around the edges, and very very hot). I now also own Robbie who was custom-built in Stoke on Trent in England and shipped out to Nelson.
Creative Journey
I embarked on my creative journey, not sure of what lay ahead, but comfortable that if I could create irresistibly pretty things in fused glass that others love too I'd be very happy.
In June 2015 it was with great delight and some trepidation that I finally launched Clarity Glass and officially turn my all-consuming hobby into a fledgling business. It took me a while to get to that point. For some time I didn't want to part with anything I loved, and anything that I didn't love I didn't think was worthy of selling. But finally I was creating things I loved and that I was willing to part with so others could enjoy them too. I was invited to join an art collective with 11 other artists in Nelson called Wall to Wall Art which is where my work can be enjoyed and purchased 7 days a week.
My Studio is my Office
And as for the garage clear out, yes I was able to part with the other arty crafty things I'd never used...but the garage has now been transformed into a studio filled with a glorious array of colourful glass, accessories, saws and grinders! (What a wonderful supportive and tolerant husband I have.)
Yes, I used to have a "proper job", but this is much more fun...
