The Artist’s Journal

So the business has been upgraded with a laptop this year….I was so sick of trying to deal with software issues, badly run programs, and my computer not responding every time I try to do anything that involves an mp3 player. Now I don’t have to worry about any of it at all, anymore. Desktop out, laptop with capabilities and power in. YAY! Now I just have to buy Dreamweaver and start building the website with gusto. I am still in the middle of the lamps and a crazy panel. The crazy panel has the portraits painted and fired, including a Corgie as well…all the monarchs and crysalis finished, just have to finish the coloring with powdered glass and fire those with the orchids as well. The lamps are in limbo because I have to get some glass that apparently almost nobody in the USA has, and if I can get it, it will be in 9 square foot increments. So, I will order that and maybe a few other lovely things while I am at it, and it should be here before vacation…So here’s to Brian, my wonderful man, and him supporting me and my business too.

I haven’t written in a few weeks (has it really been that long???) because the business just exploded. There are now 2 commissions on my list for christmas, one is really nice and small, a chili pepper for a friend to give as a gift, the other is a large commission which is exciting because I get to combine some of my favorite processes, painting and fritography. In this project, a portrait, I will be painting the face, and then firing it in the kiln, so that it is permanent, then flipping the glass over, and adding (to the back side) colors of hair, eyes, skin, etc, and buiding the background, all with powdered glass, which gives a dense, interesting, painterly look.

This particular technique I have only had a few chances to explore, as it was only learned a year ago. I was fortunate enough to be a recipient of funds from Franklin Pierce University, when I worked there, to go to the Hot Glass Horizons conference in Corning, NY. One of the classes I took was Fritography with Michael Dupille. He is the pioneer of this technique, and uses it to make amazing work, and public installations.

My current student is learning and expanding on this technique, and is currently working to make a circular tile that will be on display in the upcoming FPU Glass Art Show next month. She is also working on casting elements that will be in an original lamp of undersea design. The seashell we were casting over the weekend was great until, right before a crucial step, annealing, (where the stress is relieved from the glass before totally cooling) all the power to campus went out. We were lucky enough that the lights came back on before the piece had completely gone out of range, so we were able to fix the problem, but it is certainly a hair-raising experience when you start a firing at 5am, only to have the power cut when you are half way through!

So I am also firing tonight, a bunch of ornaments for a holiday craft show in Nashua, NH, for the sunday following Thanksgiving. The show is at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, from 10am-3pm. Also, on Saturday, in Littleton, I will be up at the Holiday Craft Fair in the All Saints Episcopal Church.

So as you can see, its been busy, what with all the work for the two shows, galleries, and then also the commission, and then to have 3 lamps to do for February on top of it all…I am going to deserve my vacation in January!

I feel that it has been a crazy rollercoaster ride since leaving the Keene area a few months ago, I had been almost completely unemployed, and making work all day long, then slowly building up to having 5 jobs, and not much work to make, or time to make it, now I have one steady job apart from glass, and enough glass to keep me busy, finally, but no time to work on it! When it rains, it pours…Ah, well, I am off to the last of the business classes at WREN in Bethlehem, (sad, isn’t it?) so that’s all for now.

Sarah

Welcome to the first posting of the Artist’s Journal, a blog of artist Sarah Hamilton-Parker, owner of Figurehead Glass. I am a stained glass artist, working in copper-foil and leading techniques, painting on glass, fusing, and casting. My work is currently on the website http://figureheadglass.mosaicglobe.com, and will be moving later to www.figureheadglass.com, which I will keep you updated on.

Big things are afoot…all since April, when I officially started the business, Figurehead Glass. Now it is already winter here, the first snow fell in Lyman yesterday.

I have worked all summer to finally get the piece of equipment that I have wanted for years: the glass kiln. So it arrived the other day, and after ripping it out of the box (not easy) while still on the tractor trailer truck, we got it into the car and took it home. Now my baby is safe and cozy in the basement, having been pre-fired, and she’s ready for work. So, on Saturday I will load the first firing of glass.

Other things that are going on: I will be at a show in Nashua on November 30th, at the fabulous craft fair at the Crown Plaza Hotel, right off Route 3. I will have all sorts of new pieces, mostly for Christmas, ornaments, magnets, decorative candle bases, and maybe even some new panels. After the show, you will find what is left of the show inventory at the Local Works Marketplace at WREN, in Bethlehem, NH and also on my Etsy site.

Currently you can find my work at the Sharon Arts Center in Peterborough, NH, at the White Mountain Artisans Gallery in North Conway, NH, at WREN, and in a new location, the Lincoln Art Gallery, in LIncoln, NH.

I will be putting in a new blog post every week, so keep checking back, I will start uploading pictures of new work as it comes out, starting with some new work next week of the Birds of NH series, available at the LIncoln Art Gallery.

Thanks for visiting, come again soon!