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Apr

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EGA Featured Member: Seattle Lampwork Designs

April 16th, 2007 by mattskiss99

Kris Hendershot is a glass lampwork artist from the Pacific northwest. Visit her Etsy store at http://mattskiss99.etsy.com.

Hi my name is Kris Hendershot. I live and work in the Pacific northwest. What a wonderful place to be. I love the outdoors, the Mountains, Puget Sound and the rugged northern beaches. I am constantly inspired by the beauty and diversity that surrounds me here. I have been fascinated by color and form for most of my life. I have dabbled in many different art forms such as batik, watercolor painting, drawing, woodcarving and sculpting to name a few.

When did you first become interested in glass?

I have always been intrigued by glass, especially transparent glass; something about the way the light comes through it. Melting glass is what really hooked me. I saw a video that a friend had recommended and sent for a starter kit within the week. It was a birthday gift to myself. When it arrived I realized I was afraid of the fire uh oh… Matt set it up and he gave me that helpful push I needed. Who knew I would become so obsessed?

What do you like best about what you do?

Having to choose one single thing that I like best is difficult. I love to look for ideas then choose the glass I am going to use. Melting it and shaping it are very relaxing. Hmm … the thing I like the least is the kiln-time, waiting for the glass to anneal and cool enough so I can get the beads out and look at and touch them.

Is there a pattern in the way you select materials? In the way you use color, texture or light?

That’s a tough one. I absolutely love organic looking patterns and shapes and this really shows in most of my lampwork. The addition of glass frits and various metals can bring about some fabulous effects depending on the type of flame used and the amount of heat applied to the glass.

What inspires you? How are your inspirations expressed in your work?

So many things are inspiring for me, a song, a picture or just being in a great mood. I carry a notebook or scratch paper everywhere I go. Color combinations are often inspirational in and of themselves, then it is all up to me and how I can put them together in glass. Recently I was inspired by a spring clothing catalog and a beautiful dress.

How much time is spent creating your pieces?

That can vary so much depending on the piece. A bottle stopper or cabinet knob can take quite a chunk of time. I choose the glass, heat up the mandrel, thats about five minutes or so, choosing the glass can take longer. Then begin melting the glass and wrapping the mandrel shaping as I go, this takes about 35-60 minutes depending on the complexity of the piece. Then I give it a final reheat wait a few and pop it into the kiln, 7-8 hours of waiting. The piece is removed and cleaned before being epoxied on to the appropriate hardware, then another 24 hour wait.

What are your techniques and style and how do these relate to the medium?

I don’t know that I really have a specific technique. My style is definitely leaning towards organic. I like to use a lot of silver foil in my beads and it reacts differently depending on the glass used and the oxygen level in the flame. Some days I can use the exact same combos and come up with a completely different effect. Glass is an excellent way to showcase all the organic effects that happen.

What do you find most challenging about your work in the glass arts?

That is easy, self promotion. This interview is difficult. I am an introvert by nature.

How did you find Etsy? What do you like most about it?

I found Etsy via a link on someone else’s site. I was invited to a baby shower and lo and behold here was a link to fabulous bibs and burp cloths. So I clicked and then I explored and started listing the jewelry that my sister and I make together and eventually added my beads as well. I really enjoy the spirit of an artists community that Etsy seems to have. Everyone seems so friendly and helpful. I have made new friends and found the most wonderful things on Etsy.

Comments

2 Comments so far

abbey753 on April 16, 2007 3:28 pm
Kris, I enjoyed your interview, it’s really nice to get to know the artist. Your beads are simply stunning, and reflect your love for beadmaking . Lou
mattskiss99 on April 16, 2007 8:09 pm
Thanks Lou!
What a lovely thing to say

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16

EGA Featured Member: Seattle Lampwork Designs

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