15 stained glass artists to follow now! {Below} But if you’re a creative and you think you can relate, you’ll probably enjoy this post, too.
This past week, we escaped to the one event we reserve to do these days, which is Hardware Huddle. {We’re pretty selective about the traveling in which we’re able to participate in since our business keeps us consistently + gratefully swamped.} Hosted on the RingoFire Campus, {the entire shindig is handled by some of the coolest people we know and adore} it was a great opportunity to meet with some amazing companies. But more importantly, it was a real convergence of fascinating minds and stories.
I adore seeing how business are built, how products are brought from conception all the way to market, and how people learn, collaborate and interact together. I love hearing the stories behind where others have landed. But what I really adore, is the passion that I see behind people just doing their thing.
While attending, I was able to meet Ric Standridge. He’s an artist, and he was creating a live painting that morning. I kind of just nosily stumbled into his studio, and wow, am I glad I did. For starters, he has THE ULTIMATE DREAM SPACE studio on RingoFire’s campus, and I was instantly smitten by his diverse work, {I can’t even begin to accurately describe what he does} as well as who he is as a person. Be SURE to check him out on instagram, and his website here… and if you live near Greenville, SC. he also offers classes. Jump on that one, guys.
What am I getting at here? When I was in design school, I was surrounded by creative people all the time. We fed off of each other, inspired one another, and by proxy, spent most of our time together. We were like this little club of people who really just fell into what we were doing, and found our similarities and differences refreshing. It was before the inception of all things saturated internet and business woes and raising children and life and I was just able to be who I was and collaborate with some of the most creative minds around. I still love following as many of my old school friends as possible, because, well, they’re ultimately people and friendships I’ll cherish for life. But I was young and naive and I took all that for granted. I thought I’d be surrounded by that shared passion and collective inspiration… forever. I learned a long time ago that in adulthood and in this stage of life, you have to be intentional about things like that. But I really miss it.
So interacting with Ric, as an artist and a person, was a refreshing moment… a reminder to give yourself the permission to do what you love. His range is fascinating, if you see his art you’ll know what I mean: Click over and check out his beautiful images. He said {and I am sure I am butchering his quote} that “creating art comes from the same place that dreams come from”. I felt that in my core.
I feel like I’ve lost my connection point to why I do what I love, over the last few years, and maybe I’m trying to get back to it. It’s a tethering point directly from the heart, that drives a person to create. I’m very lucky to have converted what I do into a real livelihood. But sometimes the whole make-a-living-thing {and the whole social media thing} can kill the love that’s there. There’s a reason why I do what I do, and while we are {gratefully} a business, we are also at the heart, creators.
It’s a lot like marriage. You have to work for it, and it’s worth it. But you also really still want those inspiring, spark-filled electrical moments to be there, too. They’re a little too far and few between, if you’re not careful.
I often joke that I want to be a little old lady in a studio somewhere doing what she loves the most. Writing, creating spaces, stained glass, painting, photography… experimenting and diving into what I love. There’s something so freeing about being given the chance… the time to do that. But also, to be surrounded by inspiring people, is kind of a rarity. It’s where the very best work is born. I think the heavy, every-day can weigh our processes down, if we’re not careful. Speaking to someone ever to briefly and observing them in their element, so passionate about what they do, can be so refreshing.
Sometimes, it can be just what you need to feel inspired all over again.
If you stopped by in the past year or so, then you know I’m obsessed with stained glass. I took a class with a sweet friend in 2022, with an amazing teacher. And it was such a great experience, I think that it kind of awakened that tethering of trying to get back to the basics and just take on something new. My one regret is that I don’t have more time to dive in right now because of our day jobs, but I do what I can, when I can. And I’m happy with that in the meantime.
Because just like those college days, I don’t really want to take this for granted, either.
So here we are, 15 stained glass artists to follow. We can all use a little more creativity and inspiration in our feed. And if you’re looking into stained glass, this may be just the inspiration you need. If you like this post, I’ll be doing different versions of artists in the future, so let me know what you’d like to see more of. I’d love to share more.
In no particular order, this stunning work has been inspiring me lately.
• Siobhan Allen – @Siotara on instagram + check out their website here
• Kilani + Rachel of Flux + Flow Glass – @flux.flow.glass on instagram + website here
• Annahita Hessami – @annahitahessami + visit the site here
• Lesley Green – @bespokeglass + website here
• Flora Jamieson – @theroundwindow – visit their site here
• Susan Guidi Dangora – @foiledagainglasswork
• Anna Fredriksen – @galadrielglassworks + website here
• Mojo Glassworks – @mojoglassworks + site
• Derix Glass Studios – @derixglassstudios + site here
• Tom Fruin – @TomFruin + see his awesome studio here
• Day Kennedy – @daylightglassworks + visit the store here
• Tina Nordquist of Nordquist & Co Glassworks – @nordquist + site here
• Jan Czugalinski – @light_leaded_designs + site here
• Armetis Glass – @armetis_glass + site here
• Marta Smyk of @SolGlassStudios + Solglassstudio site
What are some of your favorite artists in the stained glass realm? We would love for you to shoot some inspiring artists our way in the comments! Pssst… while I’m on the topic, check out this post on artists who also worked with stained glass + another glimpse at this eye candy in Nashville.
Check out more of our stained glass series here. + Pay Ric a visit, with his beautiful work here.
Have an inspired day!
Jess says
I’ve always been such a huge fan of stained glass as an art form. I have a course coming up this summer so I’ll be able to make some myself. Can’t wait!!
Lorin Ripley says
Judith Schaechter is an artistic genius. Rather than explain why, I urge you to check her work out.
Mandy says
We absolutely love Bending Sunlight’s work. She’s made small pieces and recently finished a 4 panel window work- it’s gorgeous and perfect for the location.
ashley @ the handmade home says
Thank you for this I will have to check it out!