Design of the Month · July 2017
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"Charmeine: Angel of Harmony"
Stained glass has become my therapy of choice. When things aren't going as planned, a day in the studio gives me time to be thoughtful and productive. As a Virgo, I enjoy detail and strive to incorporate as much detail as possible into my work, often resulting in a creation very close to my inspiration.
Lately my clients have been calling me the "animal whisperer" because I have been asked to create panels and sun catchers of more than a dozen rescue animals that have crossed over the rainbow bridge. Glass Eye 2000 has allowed me to capture the exact essence of these animals (their attitudes and personalities) in a way that immortalizes them for the families that loved them unconditionally.
When a client or an admirer exclaims "that is so realistic" and reaches out gently to touch a creation, I'm elated to know that I've realized my vision. There isn't a day that goes by that someone isn't asking me how I managed to be able to see with such dimension, and to be able to translate that vision into glass. My answer, to every artist, is to explore Glass Eye 2000!
There are days when the glass will not cooperate, no matter what I do. Those days are perfect for looking at nature, observing the things that I so often overlook and, of course, photographing things from every angle, just in case I need a reference for a future pattern. Being able to use Glass Eye 2000 to draw several elements separately, then to bring them together within a single design, is what makes pattern drawing alluring to me. It's what makes my patterns so different from those of other artists.
~ Kim Banks
About the artist
Kim Banks, of Ontario, Canada, artist and creator, has worked with stained glass for the past 13+ years. She began in a small spare bedroom, upgraded to a basement, and eventually into a brick-and-mortar storefront. Kim comes alive when challenged by clients and enjoys working with them to create custom orders. She welcomes repair work, in both traditional lead, and Tiffany methods. Predominantly using social media, she has delivered many custom orders worldwide, with customers coming back for additional work, and frequently giving referrals to their friends. She often donates completed pieces in a movement called Art Abandonment, which allows someone to be given a smile from an anonymous source, usually when they need it the most. You can see more of Kim's artworks and patterns at her website and on Facebook. You can also reach her by email.
This pattern may be used to make one or more artworks for sale or personal enjoyment. This pattern may be printed for personal use only and may not be sold or given away in printed or electronic form.
Each month we feature a project designed using Glass Eye 2000. Do you have a project to share with the world? Contact Dragonfly Software and your creation might be our next Design of the Month.