She might only be 30 years old, but Amber Cowan has been working with glass consistently for more than ten years and it shows.

Peach Blow Away
recycled peachblow glass melted  and pulled into rods used to flamework

Peach Blow Away, detail

Cowan, who recently completed an MFA in Glass from Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, flameworks recycled or found glass from the 1940′s-1970′s.

Basket, flameworked recycled Fenton glass, mixed media
36″x36″x14″

In Basket, the flameworking process creates a flesh-like texture and feel to the Fenton glass, which was originally designed for Easter candy dishes with rabbit and chicken lids.

Basket, detail

Prop In The House Of Livia
flameworked recycled American pressed “Milk” Glass, mixed media
In the permanent collection of The Studio of The Corning Museum of Glass

Cowan’s work is being recognized on a national level and she was recently awarded the prestigious international Stephen Proctor Fellowship in Canberra, Australia.  Cowan is one to watch.

Grotta
hundreds of pieces of flameworked soft glass and recycled Fenton Glass

Grotta, detail

Milk, flameworked soft glass, recycled Fenton glass

Amber Cowan on the cover of the latest issue of Glass Line magazine

“My work involves process driven creation using repetition and manipulation of simple forms. Through delicate and natural transactions during the glass making process, I create painterly compositions by manipulating minimal forms. The forms selected subtly reference femininity but through viral repetition create compositions that reference natural phenomenon, tension, and accrual.”

Amber Cowan’s website

 

 

I’m having one of those days – you know the kind I mean. I won’t bore you with the details, instead I’ll show you what released me from the usual ‘one of those days’ moody attitude.

Effigy Sculptures

Karen Woodward laughs at the absurdity of it all – this life – this glorious, maddening life. Woodward wants us to know that art doesn’t have to be serious to be meaningful; she wants to entertain us with her flameworked sculptures.

Ouch

Effigy Shadowbox

Mr. Big Mouth

When I laughed out loud looking at Mr. Big Mouth I knew she had achieved her goal to entertain. Love her attitude. The pieces work particularly well in groups, in shadow boxes, on the wall. And yup, attitude is everything.

The Glad Hander

Bead Brain

 

“My art is about personality, character, and attitude. With flameworked glass, I create unique character portraits that explore facets of the human psyche.” Karen Woodward

Karen Woodward’s website

 

I continue to be drawn to the places we call home; the many meanings and shapes we attach to the house form; the ways in which an artist’s chosen materials influence this idea of home in the finished piece.

 

Living on Fault Lines and Pacific Currents
recycled window glass, scrap steel , 64”h

Perhaps Mary Bayard White’s work and words resonated with me this morning because my own interpretation of home has changed considerably over the last year. The California artist explores environmental issues in her glass and salvage material sculptures and believes, “in the power of regeneration, transformation and reuse.”

Kenosis and Migration
recycled window glass, scrap steel

The Changing California Landscape: from plow to home
recycled window glass, scrap steel farm equipment parts

Precarious and Unpredictable Paths to the Inner Light
tornado poplar and recycled window glass

Rolling one day at a Time Towards Sustainability
recycled window glass and 50/50 glass clay mixture

Mary Bayard White’s website

 

Good News from daMuse!

I’m getting ready to launch a bigger, more comprehensive version of the eBook The Cool, Calm & Collected Guide to a Better Artist Website. If you don’t have a copy of the current version you might want to grab one now - it’s on sale for $17