Nerding out on Glass
Bling Squared Cute Glass is the combined work of myself, Neacol, and my husband, Stanley Miller.
We have been lampworking glass since 2008, and have been full time artists since 2011. We have taken only one formal class (the Introduction to Lampwork Bead Making workshop that started it all), and so are mostly self-taught but we have enjoyed the benefits of advice and tutorials from established glass artists both in person and via the internet.
Our main influences are not torch workers, but instead animation and comic artists such as Hayao Miyazaki and Camilla D’Errico. We sell our work mainly at Comic, Anime and Gaming conventions, but also online and at a variety of Gallery shops and art/craft shows.
We combine science, craft and pop culture to create timeless characters that evoke a sense of awe and love.
Our designs emulate the precision we enjoy in the comics and animation. Each character is meticulously crafted; working in two and three dimensional layers and (in some cases) against the fluid nature of glass to create hard lines and definition.
As the aesthetic of ‘cute’ is directly relatable to the physical attributes of a child, we have linked ‘cute’ with ‘life’. Coupled with our characters’ signature large awe-stricken eyes, the wonder of life is embodied in each sculpture or jewelry piece.
We take the elements of the universe, combine them with fire and gravity and craft it all into little joy babies that will last for centuries. To do this we are lampworking in meticulous layers of colored molten glass. Each piece is kiln annealed for durability, and hand checked and cleaned for quality control. All of this is done solely by myself and my husband.
