Interview with Kathleen Schnell of Cottage Glassworks
"Art is such a release for me. Even if I am not actually creating art I am usually thinking about art. I see it everywhere. I always have that refuge."
The artist discusses inspiration, upcoming shows and her love of a special technique.
I grew up in New Hampshire, I feel a very artisan area. My grandmother carved, hooked wool pieces & wove on a loom. My Mom was a Home Economics teacher, she does quilting and did tole painting, braiding & stencil work. My Dad was a fabricator and did a lot of woodworking, he could come up with a solution to most any difficulty- I am a fabricator as well. We were raised to save and reuse- I love this lifestyle. Growing up with these examples I fell in love with Glass, I also like woodworking, braiding and hooking. I hope to do more quilting. Growing up in New England I feel it was our way of life and I fully enjoy creating with my hands.
When did you know that you wanted to be an artist____________ (your aha moment)?
When did you know that you wanted to be an artist____________ (your aha moment)?
I fell in love with the colors in stained glass as a young adult, and knew I needed to learn the art.
What is your favorite part of the creative process? Tools? Materials? Technique?
I repeat this often (because not everyone knows what it is or understands it) Vitrograph inspires me so very much!
Vitrograph (stringers a similar term) – I place compatible glass in a terracotta pot; this is generally varying shades of one color of glass, mixed with approximately 1/3rd of clear glass. The “pot’ is placed in an elevated vitrograph-kiln centering the hole in the pot over the hole in in the bottom of the kiln. The kiln is heated to 1700° over a period of 4 hours, once it reaches the target temperature glass begins to flow downward out of the kiln. With Kevlar gloves, extra large tweezers and scissors to cut the glass, I begin pulling, shaping and twisting the red-hot glass, cutting it at a manageable lengths and landing it onto a metal surface. As various shades of colored glass go into the pot and the glass flows from the center of the pot out, each section of glass that is pulled is unique. I form and shape the hot glass as it flows out, sometimes I grab the “tail” and just twist and twist it in a circle; “Twisties” look beautiful when used in a FG piece as they melt, their twisting design becomes very striking. Vitrograph is so uniquely formed it takes on amazing shapes like vines, leaves, birds & "signatures"…..only limited by your imagination. I can also pull the glass straight in various thicknesses – this is more often referred to as a stringer. I can purchase Straight Stringers where I buy my sheet glass, my shaped vitrograph is hand-made.
What type of music or podcasts do you play while working?
I love Christian music and I am usually playing and singing to it as I create. I need to have sound.
Does art help you in other areas of your life?
How has your style changed over time?
What are you looking forward to currently? Perhaps you are looking forward to an online or in person class, being an artist full time, new show, collection, travel, vacation?
I have been confirmed for The State PA Laurel Festival and I am waiting to hear from Art in the Wilds. Usually I only participate in Art in the Wilds, but I wanted to give Laurel Festival a try as it is in our home town. The challenge will be that they are both 2-day shows and only 1 week apart. I pray it goes well and that I can have enough glass art for both shows.....I don't want to run out.
What has become your signature style as a glass artist?
How do you promote your business? i.e. newsletters, business cards, shows, video, classes, memberships, online groups, etc.
Favorite social media or new experiments in social media?
Tell us the story behind a collection or a piece?
What do you have coming up i.e. shows, publications, travel, rebranding?
Thank-you Kathleen for taking the time for this interview! I cannot wait to adventure to all of the shops that carry your fabulous work and shows that you will be participating in. At some point I need to come and visit your gorgeous studio
and her PA Wilds Marketplace shop: https://shopthepawilds.com/cottageglassworks/
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