This piece is an evolution from the "Bullseye" piece that I created recently. This one contains many vintage rhinestones as well as beads, vitreous glass tiles, and stained glass. There are multiple layers and the effect is very "sparkly" in the sunlight - therefore the name "Crown Jewels" seemed appropriate. I already have another version of this in mind so will be making another variation soon!
This is another small Oak tree piece. It has several layers of glass and although it is small, the one inch cedar frame may not be strong enough to support it hung so it may have to be displayed on a small easel. The foilage was first represented by large pieces of glass in various colors of green that were applied to the background glass and then grouted. After the grout had cured the additional leaves are the glass shards that I have used to represent leaves in the past. The underbrush in the foreground also has glass shards for leaves as well as round glass beads to represent berries of some sort.
This window is a departure from what I ordinarily make - I have focused on the materials and the beauty of the materials rather than on a recognizable image. It is made from stained glass, vitreous glass tiles, safety glass, vintage rhinestones, and beads.
This is another commission minature that I completed before Christmas. It is supposed to represent a pot of violets. In many areas there are up to 4 or more layers of glass. The vintage rhinestones that were used to create the violet blooms are really beautiful in the sunlight!
It's time to make a new hummingbird for the spring - they will be showing up before we know it. The background on this piece is different from most I have done in the past. In stead of the usual squares I have chosen to use strips of glass. They alternate between clear textured and clear iridized. This window will be available at Artisans of Rocky Hill in Fredericksburg, TX.
"Aqua Hills" is much smaller - just 11" x 14". The border is mosaic but the image area is just layers of glass, beads, rhinestones, and glass enamels. It can be displayed in a window but also displays on an easel.
These two pieces measure 24" x 24" - a new size that I think will be appropriate for many windows. In both of these windows the background has been created with shattered safety glass. In the past I have only used this type of glass on a vase. The fractures that don't actually break apart catch a lot of light and really sparkle! This glass is also about twice as thick as the usual stained glass so it adds to the dimensional quality of the piece. In the "Texas Wildflower Square Dance" window many vintage jewels were utilized in creating the flowers so the cut edges of the jewels also create sparkle. The glass surrounding the image is a dark brown which doesn't let much light through so the shape of the circles is dominant. 
This piece measures approx. 16 x 28 inches. It is a multilayer image with dimensional trees on both the gold back surface, the mat surface, and finally on the surface of the glass that covers the image. Unlike most of my work, light cannot pass through this piece. The background was created with metallic powders. The trees are created with glass enamels and multicolor beads and no-hole beads. There are also polished semi precious stones in the image as well as a vintage rhinestone. This is just a continuation of some of the techniques that I have been using to create my minatures.
Here is a new piece that I have just completed. As usual - not easy to photograph! (Notice my reflection holding the camera in the first photo!) This measures approximately 11 1/2" square including the frame. Unlike all the minatures that I have been making lately, light cannot pass through this piece. The tree is created on a two level background (gold with a green mat) and the topiaries are on the surface of the glass which covers the tree. Once again, this piece has several levels of dimension.
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I had promised to show photos of the Fireplace Screen when it was completed and here it is! I am thrilled with the work that the furniture maker did to complete the piece. This was done by Barry Bradley a great custom furniture maker from Fredericksburg, Texas. This piece will now be shown in the Texas Furniture Makers Show to be held in Kerrville, Texas in November. If you are in the area stop in and see it - I know I will!.jpg)
It is a great adventure to work jointly with another artist to complete a piece. I hope to do more of this!
This is a group of vases that I create using beads, rocks, semi precious stones, dichroic glass, and glass enamel painted details. They create the illusion of looking through a group of trees since the glass is either clear or a transparent color. Some of the glass enamels have metallic powders mixed in before the image is painted.
OK - I have been talking about working on this screen for quite some time now but my part is just about complete. This piece is being made with Barry Bradley, a respected furniture maker and sculptor. These three glass panels are my contribution and they are complete and ready to be delivered to him. He has designed a carved mesquite frame that will depict tree branches. I could only take a photo with reflected light because we were afraid to stand the glass up before it is supported by the frame therefore this is only reflected light not transmitted light. The colors will be more brilliant when lit from behind. When this piece is completed it will be shown at the Texas Furniture Makers Show which will be held in Kerrville, Texas in November.
Here is another group of minatures. They contain multiple layers of images. Some have as many as 4 layers of glass. They depict bluebonnets, yuccas, and trees. These will be shown at the Texas Glass Artist Association Show and Sale which will take place on October 20th at the Fort Worth Community Art Center. Several Glass artists will be participating showing all types of glass - jewelry-fused pieces-leaded glass etc. Come see great pieces and talk with the artists.
With this piece I have returned to my larger format. The colors are much more vivid in person. It measures 24" wide by 36" tall. It is probably one of the most detailed images that I have tried so far and is a combination of both design and realism. The flowers depicted are Bluebonnets, Indian Paintbrushes, and Yuccas. Hundreds of vintage glass jewels have been incorporated into this one! The frame is rough cedar.
This is a small piece - 16"x20". It has a cedar frame. It is shown here with both back lighting and frontal lighting. That is part of the beauty of stained glass - the colors and look change with the lighting.
This piece is different from my usual because the border and the ground work are the only mosaic/grouted portions. The tree trunk is painted with glass enamels and some additional glass is added to the surface to show dimension. A dichroic sun has been added to the back of the piece and shows through the tree as deep red. That is the reason for the orange and golden leaves on the tree in that area. Because the sun is dichroic and the lighting wasn't at the right angle you are unable to see it in the photos. The leaves on the tree are dimensional glass shards added to the surface of the background glass. Because the background is clear, you see a flagpole and tree in the background on the right. They are not part of the glass image. This piece is framed in cedar and measusres 20"tall and 28" wide. It will be displayed at Artisans of Rocky Hill Gallery in Fredericksburg, Texas.
This piece shows a grove of dimensional golden trees. Although it is difficult to see in the photos, there is an additional layer of octagonal iridized glass in the center with more trees - therefore you are looking through two layers of trees. It measures 20"x28" and is framed in cedar. This piece will be available at "Artisans of Rocky Hill Gallery" in Fredericksburg, Texas.
