Perched Leather Hats

custom made stained glass windows, boxes, and panels.

i create painted and leaded glass windows primarily inspired by my travels and scuba diving.
i love photography, and often use my photos of nature to paint the subject matter in my glass work.

i've been working with glass since 1999, when i stumbled upon a job opportunity in my hometown of richmond, va with sledd/winger & carousel glass.
we used the tiffany style of copper foil to build the pieces at that shop, and even though i prefer to use the traditional leaded came or zinc for my pieces now, i still employ the copper foil when it will suit the piece better, or to create 3d pieces.

in 2003, i moved to chicago to attend the art institute, and spent many hours gazing at the huge chagall windows on display there.
there is something about the light passing through colored glass that inspires beauty like nothing else.
i graduated with a bfa with emphasis in art history in 2006, and took a year to travel and experience more of the world.
during that time, i feel in love with scuba diving and underwater photography, and decided to return to glass to try and capture some of the colors and creatures i'd experienced.

luckily, colorsmith stained glass in riverside, il, was looking for a part-time freelance artist, and i fit right in.
i've been working through that shop for the past six years, and have had some amazing opportunities to create astounding pieces.
we built the obama white house holiday windows in 2012, restored the frank lloyd wright unity temple and robie house windows, and have done a number of custom pieces for new and old homes.

working with glass is like nothing else- (i also design clothing, hats, & accessories)- it's an artistic outlet that becomes so personal with each piece.
i hope you enjoy my work as much as i enjoy creating it.