Thomas Spake

The colors, textures, and surfaces of my hand-blown glass vessels and
sculptures are inspired by the beauty and wonder of the natural world. I gather
references from photographic images, including aerial and drone photography,
but the resulting colors and patterns are more akin to the sun-dappled scenes of
impressionist paintings.
By distilling the splendor and monumentality of nature into one-of-a-kind, hand-
crafted art objects, I hope to spark fond recollections of time spent in nature: trips
to a national park, a walk in the woods, or a spring day in a garden or meadow in
full bloom.
Much in the way that beaches, mountains, and landscapes are eroded over time
by wind and water, the surface of each piece is treated for a smooth, matte finish.
Some are carved to reveal the translucent interior below the colorful surface. The
resulting textures confound perceptions of glass as a sleek, glossy material.