This commission was a shining moment in my career as an artist, and I am extremely proud of it.
In my early career as a custom stained glass artist in Jupiter, Florida, I worked with contractors to create custom entryways for most of my residential patrons. That was how it was done — a builder, a homeowner, and an artisan working together to create something one of a kind for the front of a home.
Today the building industry is very different than it was thirty years ago. Entryways are made in advance, and a client chooses from several prefab designs in a catalog. The entire entry of a home arrives pre-assembled — sidelights, transom, and front door all made at the same time by machines — and the builder attaches the whole assemblage to the front of the house. The beveled glass designs are sandwiched between two pieces of safety glass and framed with fiberglass, foam, plastic, or other synthetic materials. You can order a prefab beveled door made from wood, but those are not original designs either. They are mass produced.
Human Perfect, Not Machine Perfect
Artisans such as myself work too slowly for the contractors building homes today — and I would not have it any other way. I do not use a computer or CAD designs when I create an original piece. I begin with blank paper and graphite. Every line has to be exactly where I need it to be. I can spend hours, sometimes days, working on a design until I know it is human perfect — not machine perfect — and ready for cut glass elements. I do not answer to deadlines.
Why Historic Districts Are the Perfect Home for This Work
Historic districts are the perfect communities for what I do. Because I specialize in architectural restoration — restoring hand-made leaded glass panels that are more than 100 years old — I understand how important that history is, and why it is worth taking the time to complete a job well the first time, so it can live on for another hundred years.
It also means I have the opportunity to create highly skilled, original custom glass entryways such as my “Whispering Tree” design.
My hope is that in a hundred years, there will be someone like me who feels my work is worth saving — and who will restore it for future generations to study and enjoy.
Interested in an original custom stained glass entryway for your home? Visit me at Studio M, 217 Middle St. in downtown New Bern, or reach out through the contact page.
