Glass blowing is an ancient technique that has been around since the first century, yet still mesmerizes people with its beauty and skill.
With temperatures soaring to thousands of degrees Fahrenheit, and working with molten glass, it can be a delicate balance between artistry and risk. But what emerges are astonishing creations, shaped by the fusion of intense heat, diverse materials, and human breath.
As the rhythm of the process unfolds, one artist finds herself swept away in what can only be described as a Dance with Fire.
“I love just being in the heat, you’re sweating and putting your heart and soul into a piece,” Mandy Patchin said. “Glass is very meditative and methodical. It can also be fast paced and perplexing.”
Prior to meeting Patchin, I had never experienced the thrill of glass blowing before. I was familiar with the idea, but actually seeing her work with the material was incredible.
At the studio, the sound of fans and heat from the furnaces was intense, making the process exciting to watch. In a matter of minutes, she began turning a blob of molten glass into a beautiful oil dispenser with different colours swirled into the piece.
“The funny thing [about them being] swirled a little different is that I try not make them that way,” she explained. “Sometimes I have to remind myself that I’m not a machine.”
To create her art, she uses a variety of tools to shape the molten glass. The glass has to be constantly hot, so small adjustments with tools and her breath are done in between putting the glass back into the furnace. It really seems like a balance between working quickly, while also having patience.
“I love material, I love that it’s forever learning,” Patchin said. “There’s so many elements that can impact how you make something.”
After seeing her in action at the studio, I got a chance to checkout her home gallery. Inside the gallery there were hundreds of beautiful glass pieces. From glasses and bottles, to Christmas ornaments and jewelry, it had a magical ambiance.
As I looked around, I noticed she had lots of glass vegetables and some pickleball trophies she was working on. I found out she is inspired by her hobbies and turns them into art.
“Why not?” Patchin said. “It excites me to be able to do something cool like that.”
Something that’s always interesting to talk about with creatives is whether they consider themselves ‘artists’. For Patchin, although she is very talented, still has difficulties with the term.
“I feel like it’s taken a while for me to feel like an artist because I came from a corporate background and never had any artistic endeavors growing up,” she said. “I felt like I needed to come up with a different way to use the material, something that hasn’t been done before… and I’m still trying to figure that out today.”
After hanging out with Patchin and experiencing the rush of the studio, I can see why she loves what she does. I’ve gained a new appreciation for the hard work that goes into these delicate art form.
Next time you need a new glass, a piece of jewelry, or even an oil dispenser, maybe consider finding a local glass artist in your area.
And if you ever want to give it a shot yourself, I’m sure there’s plenty of glass blowers who’d be more than happy to show you how it’s done.
“If I can just get one person to try glass blowing, I’m happy,” Patchin said. “Even though I’ve taught thousands, but just one more person. It’s fun, you have to try it.”
