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Author: Glass_Masters, Contributing Editor
| V.C. That's wonderful Jennifer. From what we've seen of your work, one would never know that some were the results of fixed mistakes. Could you tell us about the glass you use, and any special treatments you use? J.G. I work exclusively with Moretti glass, and feel I haven’t even scratched the surface of possibilities in soft glass. I particularly like to work with the transparent colors, and very often etch them. I love the warm glow of the etched surface of transparent glass. I incorporate enamels into nearly every bead I make, as they add a patina to the etched glass that suggests to me a found, aged object. Of course I always use safety precautions and wear a respirator when working with enamel powders. Everyday I’m finding something new I want to try and explore.
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| V.C. What can you tell us about your studio? J.G. I’m a total slob when I work. I see pictures of other artist’s perfect studios and cringe thinking of mine. I’m showing my studio, as it looks most of the time, instead of after one of my occasional cleanup sessions. Hot glass bits are always shooting across my table, because I’m so impatient and never flash the glass as slowly as I should. Those bits just stay there. There are piles of enamels on marvers and tools everywhere. My “God of Creative Power” statue sits on top of my ventilation hood to inspire me. Of course music is essential, the louder the better so I can’t hear the phone ring. My studio is in my garage, quite a large space, 100’ x50’ (5,000 sq ft), though the area where I torch is only about 5’ x 5’. My dream is to someday have a wonderful hot glass shop in the garage.
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| V.C. I think your studio photo will delight many other glass artists! Before we get to your step-by-step, could you tell us just a little about your formal education? J.G. Art classes were an integral part of my educational years from secondary school on through high school, so it was a natural progression to choose an art college for further study. I attended Massachusetts College of Art for 2 years, but dropped out because of my foolish 'fine art' distain for the 'commercial art' requirements. Had I stayed on, I might have gotten into glass much sooner, as the college would later go on to develop one of the most exciting glass departments in the country, oh well! Waitressing wasn't nearly as romantic as I thought it would be :) Live and learn. In any case, I wasn't aware of glass at that time, and it would be another 10 years until I found it. As a glass artist, I am entirely self-taught through experimentation and the reading of books, articles and internet resources. I have not yet had the pleasure of a real class, but it's something I'm looking forward to.
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