All artists hate the words, but yes, soon it will be time for the Taxman. Here’s a great article for artists to read about bartering and the tax implications.

Here’s our blank wall. Wish us luck. 3 days on the (wo)manlift, 32′ off the ground.

3 light Opal Chandelier – looking up from below. 

View from the bottom of the Elga chandelier. 

Interesting and exciting report about new domain locations on NPR this morning. How about .art instead of .com?

http://artdomainname.com

Getting the ceiling prepped to hold a new glass chandelier. 

Sophisticated shipping method.  Patent pending. 

“Sex is like art. Most of it is pretty bad, and the good stuff is out of your price range.” ~Scott Roeben

Glass sculpture by April Wagner

Detail of glass sculpture by April Wagner

Glass sculpture by April Wagner

Glass sculpture by April Wagner

‘Gonzo’ by April Wagner

Glass sculpture by April Wagner

“If it adapts itself to what the majority of our society wants, art will be a meaningless recreation.” ~Albert Camus

“To draw, you must close your eyes and sing” ~Pablo Picasso

The conference starts today in Chicago. We’ll be there. Want to know how the American Studio Glass movement got started? Check out this great article ‘The American Studio Glass Movement’

Harvey Littleton

“I am interested in art as a means of living a life; not as a means of making a living.” ~Robert Henri

“No artist is ahead of his time. He is his time, it’s just that others are behind the times.” ~ Martha Graham

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time”. ~Thomas Merton

“Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear. And since you know you cannot see yourself so well as by reflection, I, your glass, will modestly discover to yourself that of yourself which you yet know not of.” Shakespeare – Julius Caesar 

“Men at some time are masters of their fates. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.”
― William Shakespeare

”Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you’ll be criticized anyway.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt

”We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.” ~Dr. Seuss

“To be an artist is to believe in life.” ~ Henry Moore

“All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost.” ~J.R.R. Tolkien

“If you have time to judge other people you have way too much time on your hands. Get off your ass and do something meaningful.” ~Shane Gibson

“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” ~Thornton Wilder

“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.” ~Albert Einstein

Hosting a big private event at the studio tonight for 150 people. Little bit more than what we normally do so we put up  a tent. Had to dig out a snowbank or too but Old Man Winter didn’t stop us.

More space no problem!

One of our client approached us with a fun little custom project. He wanted to propose to his girlfriend in a unique way on Valentine’s Day. She was the “apple of his eye” so he asked us if we could make a ring holder on a bed of leaves hidden under an apple. Not something we normally make, but we thought it was such a sweet sentiment that we couldn’t refuse. Brings a little tear to our eyes to think of how we were part of their special moment.

custom apple ring holder

One of our favorite tools, but scary hot when the doors are open and it’s on.

The Big G

We love making art on commission. Here is a great article with tips for artists and collectors to demystify the process. The more questions and dialogue the better the piece will turn out.

We heart all of our wonderful patrons. Thank you for your support! Happy Valentine’s Day!!

Studio e glass hearts

I have looked into your eyes with my eyes. I have put my heart near your heart. - Pope John XXIII

Studio e glass heart

Can’t wait to be inspired by all the amazing sea life we’re going to see once we are completely tired of sitting on the beach and doing nothing. 

So long as the memory of certain beloved friends lives in my heart, I shall say that life is good. - Helen Keller

Studio e blue heart paperweight

Need a great gift for that special someone? Check out our Studio e line of handmade glass hearts in our online store. Give them something as unique as they are.

Studio e hearts in all shapes and colors.

Some we liked, some we didn’t. Check them out and decided for yourself.

Home is where the heart is. - Pliny the Elder

Studio e heart paperweight

It’s the year of the Horse, but check out this great little sculpture by April ‘Chinese Dragon’

‘Chinese Dragon’ by April Wagner

Absolutely stunning image of underwater life. Then you read it’s 2 Sea Slugs mating. Go figure.

Sea Slugs

Haven’t tried the dry cutting yet….

“Art doesn’t have to be pretty. It has to be meaningful.” ~Duane Hanson

We’re waiting on the day we see one of our pieces on this show. Here’s a great article on why all artists should watch it.

“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” ~Scott Adams

Batch – our glass before it’s melted. Pretty toxic stuff, but the best to work with, super clear, sparkly, and soft.

Spruce Pine Batch

For some reason we’re attached to jobs where you can light things on fire. 

Junk science debunked. Yes glass is a liquid but those old Cathedral glass windows are not sagging. Here’s a concise why. “Does Glass Flow” by Robert Brill.

‘Does Glass Flow’ by Dr Robert Brill, Corning Museum of Glass

‎”At some point everyone must decide if they are a creator or a critic, a lover or a hater, a giver or a taker.” ~Author Unknown

“The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering.” ~Ben Okri

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” ~Gandhi

“To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.” ~Kurt Vonnegut

Miss Manners: Artist must tread lightly when dealing with client’s taste

By Miss Manners and Judith Martin, Published: December 30
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am an artist and interior designer. My client uses me for decorative painting and is always asking my opinion on this or that.

The problem is that I realize that we have extremely different tastes. How do I gently tell her that her choices for the accessories in the room are “too cheap” or not up to the standard I had in mind without offending or hurting her feelings?

GENTLE READER: It always surprises Miss Manners when artists disapprove of their clients’ taste, given that the client chose to hire the artist.

Nevertheless, she recognizes that there are some patrons of the arts with limited aesthetic sense. She also recognizes the logic of listening to the opinion for which one is paying.

The artist’s options in this situation, however, are limited. You may politely suggest alternatives. You may withdraw from the project, saying that upon reflection, you realize that you are not the right person for the job. (The latter option has the disadvantage of requiring you to also forgo remuneration, which may cause you to reassess your artistic standard.)

There is a third alternative popular in artistic circles, but Miss Manners discourages you from employing it, in spite of a few historical successes, as it is both impolite and bad business: namely, using the art itself to parody the client’s taste.

Shoot. They must have lost our ballot in the mail. Like any smart artist we would have voted for ourselves anyway. Vanity Fair 2013

- a 12 part golden mean sculpture that took my breath away.

‘Orange Golden Mean’ by April Wagner

11 blue and green round/elles

“Promise me you’ll always remember: you’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” ~Christopher Robin (to Pooh)

10 rocking blowpipes

Photo by Joe Vaughn

Another great article about The Stand Gastro Bistro in this month’s Hour Magazine with some nice pictures of April’s sculptures.

Love the end of the year top 10 lists! Some of our favorite artists are on here. Maybe one day we will be too!

People ask us all the time where our inspiration comes from. James Turrell is one of the greatest living artist who we draw so much inspiration from. He is a sculptor of light. How cool is that?!!

6 boxes of fun colored ornaments.

Dumb but funny too. Guy Jumps Though Glass

The Animation Show at the DIA ends on Jan 5th. If you haven’t seen it yet, use your last couple days of vacation and go. The museum is open tonight until 7.

http://www.wwd.com/eye/design/art-meet-google-glass-david-datuna-talks-viewpoint-of-billions-7317929

2 beautiful well packed (UPS proof) sculptures.

Christmas in Northern Michigan. A nice relaxing change from the glass shop.