JACKIE SIMMONDS - artist, writer, glass artist !!
I decided to start an Etsy shop, because it is a lovely way to reach an audience while sitting in my studio! I have been a painter for more years than I care to admit. I am primarily a pastel painter - or perhaps WAS primarily a painter...I now work mostly with glass, which to me is reminiscent of watercolour images, I just love its transparency, coupled with the fact that I can make physical items - bowls, panels, sculptural pieces on stands...things which do not necessarily have to be framed.
Although I loved being a painter and had many a successful exhibition, after heart surgery and a stroke in 2019, I stick now to just one discipline. I do "glass fusing" which means I have a partner - a big kiln - which does some of the work for me while I sleep!
I really enjoy putting designs together with shards of coloured glass, putting them into the kiln overnight, and waking up to fabulous glass pieces. My training and knowledge as an artist comes into play in all areas - creativity can be expressed in so many ways.
I cannot physically teach any more but I enjoy teaching through my writing these days - I write tutorials (for sale on Etsy) and regularly write a blog - http://www.jackiesimmondsartyfacts.blogspot.com.
Getting older brings many challenges...but I just keep going and each new day, I create, or achieve or learn something new - it's great!
and in the meantime, look out for jackie simmonds on Facebook.
