“What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything.”
~ Vincent van Gogh
About the Studio
I began doing stained glass 12 years ago, with classes at Stained Glass Supplies in Pasadena, California. My first years were doing a series of 18 glass fence panels of “Things I find in my Back Yard”. Birds, Flowers, and Classic Cars in the Garage. (4 Jaguar windows, featured in an article in the Jaguar Journal, May-June 2022 Issue.)
Drase LLC, Glass Studio was established 5 years ago but really came alive during the pandemic. I completed several large commissions during the pandemic and am currently working on 3 more.
I am excited to be taking classes from two noted artists in the field of glass fusion. Narcissus Quagliata, the author/inventor of this new fusing process, is one of the most significant glass artists working in glass today. He designed and built “The Dome of Light”, a public project in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, which is the largest illuminated glass ceiling in the world. Mr. Quagliata’s invention of this new fusing technique, along with the Bullseye Glass Company’s production of the glass, enables Narcissus to teach online classes “Painting with Glass.” He is graciously passing along his language, knowledge, vision, and lessons learned in fusing glass to current and future artists. I am so privileged to be one of his students.
The other artist is Tim Carey, the artist who designed and executed, through Judson Studios, the 100’ x 40’ Church of the Resurrection, a magnificent fused glass window, in Leawood, Kansas. Mr. Carey now teaches portraiture painting in glass, a revolution in the art of glass.
Both of these gentlemen, along with Bullseye Glass and Judson Studios, are featured in an award-winning movie, “Holy Frit,” which is the story of how the Resurrection Window came into being using this new fusing technique instead of the century’s old stained-glass method.
My goal is to
combine my skill of stained-glass production, using exquisite glass with came (lead), incorporating, 3D Features, with fused glass backgrounds that make subjects seem alive and real, ready for a touch, a caress, a sigh. My present projects include, an oak tree transom window, and Van Gogh’s sunflowers and Iris paintings.
Meet Carmen
Being an art and history buff, and after viewing the three Rose Windows in the Notre Dame Cathedral, and upon learning that the first West Rose Window was initially completed around 1225, I became forever “hooked” on stained glass.
I remain grateful to this day that the fire that broke out beneath the roof of the Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019, did not destroy the priceless, incredible, magnificent Rose Windows. They survived for future generations to view and cherish.
During subsequent trips to Europe, I was privileged to view stained glass at the Vatican in Rome, the Rijksmuseum, and the Van Gogh Museums in Amsterdam. I continue my journey in all things glass.
I began formal stained-glass classes in 2010 as a means of trying to find balance in a life of family first, career, and work, that was simply too busy, with little time to play. I started with a class at Stained Glass Supplies in Eagle Rock, California, where I met my first wonderful teacher, Betty. I immediately fell in love with the process of making stained glass. I had found my escape, working with glass and lead, and after doing a few traditional pieces of flat work, which involved simple patterns, cutting the glass, and inserting the lead, I decided it was time to branch out a little. I began to personalize my work with a series of flower and bird fence windows for our backyard and “car windows” for our garage with four carriage doors. The series involved a 3-D look that was “out of bounds” for this beginner class, but this new to me technique made me feel extremely creative and happy. However, my teacher Betty, said I could never ever teach stained glass because, I did not follow “the rules.”
Our new 6-car garage has carriage doors, with slots for 16 car windows. At this point, I have completed 7 windows, including the Jaguar series. See Jaguar Journal Article in the May/June issue 2022.
