How does an artist get started making art? Where do they get their inspiration? What kind of weird things do they use to make
art? And where do they create?
Get the answers and see inside all 41 artists’ studios during the 2015 Washington County Open Studios tour October 17 and 18 from 11am to 5pm.
Here’s a quick interview with one of this year’s new artists, Linda Gerrard.
Describe your studio. What is unique and
inspiring about your studio set up?
“Both my studio and display area are in my
daylight basement. This allows me to
spend time in my studio any time the desire to create hits me.”
When you begin your work, what inspires you
and/or gets you going?
“My ideas for glass designs come from the beauty of
nature that surrounds us all, our travels and my husband’s photography. Working with glass is very different than
working with paint or photography, so your finished piece of glass art will
always look quite different than your inspiration.”
How did you find your way to art in spite of
any obstacles in your path?
“Working for over 35 years in various administrative and
management positions then to project management and finally moving into writing
computer syntax, I was surrounded by structure. Needing to feed my artistic side, I found
ways to be creative through gardening, fresh, dried and synthetic flower
arranging, water color painting and creating fused glass art.”
What weird, different material or technique
do you use and does that inspires you?
“Using large sheets of glass that I hand cut and various
sizes of crushed glass called frit, I make a variety of pieces from plates and
bowls to traditional scenes and contemporary art to hang or display in
stands. Depending on the desired effect,
I layer and arrange the glass and use multiple firings to create visual
depth. By controlling the temperature
and time in the kiln, the pieces can be completely smooth or have very soft, or
quite strong, texture.
In order to keep my designs current and interesting, I am
constantly learning and challenging myself to try new techniques. For instance, my love of watercolor gave me
the idea to create pieces using powdered glass to resemble watercolor
paintings.”
When people come to your studio, what will
they see you doing?
“Visitors
will see designs made from sheet glass and/or crushed glass (frit) and will
have the opportunity to ask questions about how designs are developed and the
temperatures used to determine the final texture of the glass.”
Meet Linda and all the other 40 artists October 17 and 18
from 11am to 5pm during the Washington County Open Studios tour. Get a FREE tour map and information online at
www.washcoart.org
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