I wanted to create something rich and delicious for an exhibition at West Ox Arts called 'Food'. I was thinking about the highlight of being invited to dinner at an Oxford college, in my opinion: after the three or four courses comes an optional course - 'dessert'. Taken in a candlelit panelled room, with port, dessert wines, cheeses, fruit, nuts and little chocolates...and of course, mellow and free-flowing conversation. Clearly, this was going to take some researching, but the nuts and crackers were just for drawing, as I never eat in the studio, given how poisonous my medieval materials are. Slowly, the design developed, and I needed to observe the effect of candlelight on the glass decanter. I tested three different ways of painting the little coffee cup. It was all starting to come together, although it is hard to judge the overall effect until the painted pieces are fired in the kiln. The pieces were painted, fired, leaded, cemented and ready to go. I aimed to continue the line of the lead in the suggested edge of the table behind the decanter and the candlestick. I blacked the leads with grate polish to give them a glossy dark finish. Then it seemed a shame not to make a 'baby' dessert to go with it: just coffee, port, cheese and grapes. Very civilised. Both panels will be on display at West Ox Arts from 25 August to 17 December and are for sale at £325 and £125.
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This week, by chance, I found the most fantastic programme on BBC iplayer, called 'Britain's most fragile masterpiece'. It is about the restoration of York Minster's Great East Window, which is the largest medieval stained glass window in the country, composed of 311 panels. The programme argues that it is an achievement on a par with the Sistine Chapel, only 100 years earlier. Janina Ramirez presents it as a window into the medieval mind and world view. Marvellous - do have a look.
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AuthorI am a glass artist based in Charlbury, Oxfordshire. I work in stained and fused glass. I work to commission and teach stained glass in my studio. I open my studio to visitors during Oxfordshire Artweeks. Archives
July 2023
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