jilleglass

ABOUT THE GLASS:
All my pieces are made with borosilicate glass (hard glass) and are handsculpted in front of a flame at a few thousand fahrenheit degrees. No use of molds and very minimal use of tools.
Starting off with solid glass rods, I shape the glass in the flame by using gathering-, pushing- and pulling techniques to get desired shape. The pieces then rest in a kiln to prevent stress in glass.

Website: www.jillsglassart.com

ABOUT ME:
I was born and raised in Småland, Sweden, very close to the "Glass Kingdom" of Sweden (Orrefors, Kosta Boda and many others).
Often I would take trips there, either shool fieldtrips or with family and friends. Glass has always been a big fascination to me.

I started my lampworking career August 1998 on Hawaii, where I learned from the very talented glass artists at Maui Crystal in Lahaina, Maui.

Working with glass was such an amazing feeling. I was more creative with drawing (mostly portraits by requests) and sculpting with clay while living in Sweden. The flow feeling of working hot glass had such an impact on me. I became addicted right away.

I met my husband on Maui and in 1999 I moved to the North Shore, Oahu where he lived. There I continued as an apprentice for Krista Woodward at Oceans in Glass, Haleiwa. Another talented artist to learn from.

2001 a move took us to Traverse City, Michigan and I started my own studio in October of that year. After four years there, another move took us to Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf coast where we lived for 7 1/2 years.
Fall of 2013 I started my studio in charming Västervik on the east coast of Sweden, right by it's amazing archipelago. Here we live today with our two children.