Tina Kiker was born to glass. With her great grandfather, his father and uncle all glass blowers you might even say she has glass royalty in her veins. Tina believes glass isn't just about a hobby or fascination, although these are large parts of her enthusiasm for the art form, she says "A beautiful piece of glass work will make anyone stop and take notice. It picks up the light and calls to us like no other form of art can."
And so after a few generations lost, Tina is curving the generational road and pursuing a slightly different direction with lamp working and glass fusing, after making her first glass bead a few years ago.
Rating: 0
Visits: 206Ancient Urn
Rating: 0How did you get started with Glass?
My father had a fascination with glass art as far back as I can remember, but I never really asked why. It was only after he died in 1993 I learned of the family history with glass work. A few years ago, the same fascination hit me at a Hobby Lobby in Roswell, GA. Tooling down the isle, I saw a beginner’s glass bead making kit, and had to have it. The rest is evolving history.
What was your first glass piece?
My first creation was a pale, translucent blue bead. It had soot in it and it wouldn’t come off the mandrel. The second one did come off after much coaxing, and I still have it to this day.
What area of glass art do you specialise in?
A “specialty”? It’s hard to choose. I’m splitting my time between lampwork bead making and fusing. Stained glass is on my “must start to work with list”, as well.
Whose work do you admire and why?
Kate Fowle Meleney does work I dream of…Jill Simons work and color combos are just happy to look at…Michelle Rial does some really different fused pieces…Stan Harmon has some really stunning fused pieces…Of course, nobody can make such a list without mentioning Dale Chihuly and Paul Stankard.
Where do you get your inspiration for pieces from?
From my environment a lot of the time, but mostly from what the glass tells me it wants to do.
What do you enjoy about glass working?
The sometimes unpredictable nature of it. I sit down at the torch and, often, I don’t know what I’ll have when I’m done. I love looking at a piece of sheet glass and figuring out how to cut it to compliment any patterns it may have. I simply get lost in it. I miss it when I’m not working with it, and want to talk about it all the time. My shop is currently in unheated space, so the winter months are a bit disappointing for me.
What is your favourite glass working tool and why?
A Farberware wheel style pizza cutter. When using Bearfoot Art’s Mandrel Spinner, you can do create some great shapes!
What is your top tip for someone wanting to start doing what you do?
Dive in, honey. Be warned: Glass is the crack-cocaine of the artworld. Once you start, it’s almost impossible to stop.
People can see my glass art at...
My pieces are primarily sold online however Jewelry pieces can be also be purchased at:
Sue’s Place
4 Wright Street
Jasper, Alabama
Links
View the Artist's Gallery on Glass Community
Etsy: Two Hands and Fire
