I am working on a new series of sculptures that I sketched during the cold months of winter when I wished for warmth and color. These new pieces are inspired by amazing botanicals that are really found in nature. My pieces will have a fantasy twist to them, but the colors, patterns and forms are all inspired by nature’s art. I especially love the way the brightly colored glass wraps look almost painted onto the pieces and the fun forms I am creating to make the various flower parts.

I worked out of Vandalia Glassworks new studio this week for the first time. It is a beautiful space with friendly people and I look forward to working there again. In these pictures you can see me working there with Alli Luhman to create a flutter bowl form that will become flower petals for one botanical sculpture. Other botanical forms can be seen in the foreground of one of the photos, as well. This coming weekend, I will be creating glass beads and assembling the parts into whole flowers…photos to come.

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As I was working creating floral beads at my torch, I thought it would be a fun pun to create a piece titled “Flame Thrower” and create beads that look like flames instead of flowers. Thus the idea was born and I set out to create a base that would capture the idea.

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I chose an orangish red and a a yellow orange for the flame colors. I wrapped those over a layer of white to make the colors pop, then rakes them to create a feathered effect that looked flame-like.

Once the base was completed, I picked colors of glass to create the beads. As with all of my sculptures, I use flameworking techniques for bead making that compliment the patterning and color work of the base. Creating wraps, feathering and two tone flat beads are some of the patterns I chose to go with the feathered oranges of the base. Then I altered flat beads to create a wavy look to use as the beads got closer to the end of the armature. The flame beads at the end we’re fun to create… giving a delicate touch to the end of each arm of the sculpture and fully completing my vision of a firery flame.

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Whether your mom is an art lover, has everything she needs or is hard to buy for, you can’t go wrong with an original work of art. Contact me for available inventory. aprilmalphursglassart@gmail.com

Enjoy this fun look at Flame Thrower. Want to see it in person? Visit FOCI before June 30 to see it on exhibit. Opening reception for the full show of 20 artists tonight, May 3 6-9pm.

I started this piece a while back, but recently finished the last four beaded armatures. I love the warm colors and enjoyed creating the different color and pattern combinations. Look closely at the end “flame” beads too. I hope this piece warms your day as much as it did mine. Also you can see it in person May 3-July 8 at FOCI MN Center for Glass Arts in Minneapolis.

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