Marianne Shepardson

For as far back as I can remember I have always been a hands-on? kind of person, enjoying almost any kind of activity that included making something. After many years spent in various fields such as woodworking, furniture-making, clothing, interior design and architectural drafting, I discovered glass fusing. My kiln-fired glass items are produced by cutting and piecing together various colors of sheet glasses. All the cutting is done by hand, and then the pieces are assembled and fused together in the kilns. A second firing slumps the pieces over their molds, creating bowls and plates. One thing I enjoy about the design process is finding a balance between what pleases me aesthetically, and the constraints of how difficult a particular shape of glass can be to cut. I love working out cutting patterns that create negatives and positives, and using both shapes in the creation of a piece. I have a background in interior design, which suits me well in my glass endeavor. I am inspired by architectural tile work, quilting, and patterns in nature. I enjoy working with abstract forms and geometric patterns, emphasizing repeating shapes and bold colors with a graphic look.