Featured Artist - lewesiaglass

I met Lynn from lewesiaglass in the Etsy forums- the Group Hug thread to be specific. She's such a warm, kind, and talented woman that I couldn't help but like her immediately. :)

Lynn lives in the UK, has raised three grown sons, loves to travel with her husband of 41 years, and finds glass painting to be a very relaxing hobby. She takes her beautiful creations to craft fairs where she has been quite successful, and also sells her amazing pieces on Etsy.

I just placed a custom order with her for my sister, and she's already been really wonderful to deal with. :)

I recently interviewed Lynn. Here are my questions and her answers. (Click on the photos to view the items.)

What first interested you in glass painting, and how long have you been doing it?

About 12 years ago I visited a craft fair,in our local area, and just by chance there was a glass painter there. I liked the look of it, and thought, I'll try that. That was it, I was hooked.

Can you describe the process of your pieces from start to finish?

Firstly I just look at a the shape of the glass, be it a vase, candle holder, bottle, photo frame, and imagine what would fit the shape. The next step is the cerne relief outline, which is applied and then left for 24 hours to set. The outline leaves a well to which I apply the paint. I mix the paint straight on the glass, so half the time I have no idea if I am marbling how the paint will turn out. Again, I leave it for another 24 hours. Lastly, I add the finishing touches- the staimens in flowers and the viens in the leaves, and at last it goes into the oven for 2 hours to harden off. The last thing I do is wash it, and that's when it sparkles. I get great pleasure to think I have painted this!

What inspires you with your painting?

Anything. I love just to paint. I see glass, I want to paint it.

Do you have a favourite colour or technique to work with?

I suppose green and blue are my favourite colours. Green leaves, tree grass. And blue, there are so many shades of blue. My favourite technique is marbling. I mix the colours straight onto the glass, so in effect, I really don't know how they will turn out. I like doing that.

Do you enjoy painting on any one item in particular?

All items of glass are my favourites, because you start with a clean clear object, and you add to it, hopefully with a beautiful design that someone other than you will love.

What is your favourite item currently for sale in your shop?

My favourite item for sale in my shop is, the square white
and yellow iris.

How much time would you say you spend each day on your craft?

Whatever spare time I have, some days the ideas keep coming and other days not, I'm like all craft workers, you have good and bad creative days.

How did you first discover Etsy?

My daughter-in-law, she told me about this terrific site she had found, and told me, no one does hand painted glass like you, they will love it, but then she's biased!

What is your favourite part of Etsy?

I love the craftsmanship of so many talented people here on Etsy, the time the love and the patience they put into their craft, also the friendliness of it, I have been blessed with meeting alot of good friends just by being on the forums. Etsians also offer so much help.

Do you sell anywhere other than Etsy?

I do the occasional craft fair, not many because there is only so much that I can paint, and if it ever became a job, where I knew I had to paint, my pleasure would be gone.

If you enjoyed this Artist Feature, check out the ones I did on jessijewels, CelticKnot, and hdawnparratt.