Dark Friends Series
Anna Ray
I came to know this newsletter’s featured artist because she and her husband Jason Stokes are the creators and owners of Gestalt Media, the company that publishes my books.
At one of my first meetings with a special group of writers in Asheville, I saw Anna deliver a piece of stained glass art to one of our friends. I’ve always had a love of stained glass, and in recent years, it struck me that I would love to have one, maybe two pieces, to represent the special bears that we have come to love in our mountain home. I was thrilled when Anna said she would give it a try, and you can see how it came out in the images below.
I wanted to learn more about how Anna got into the business of making stained glass, and she consented to answer a few questions and share them here.
(Contact information for Anna is available at the end of this interview.)
The image on the left below is a photograph taken of Eileen, our beloved, three-legged mother bear with the cubs from her first litter, Linus and Lucy. On the right is the stained glass piece that Anna based on the photo. A photo of this piece beautifully illuminated by sunlight appears below in the interview.
The Interview
Q: How did you get started making stained glass art? What inspired you to go in that direction?
My mother and older sister took a stained glass class when I was a kid but I was too young to join them. They didn’t pursue the hobby after the course but I’ve always admired the beautiful piece my mom created during her class. It’s been a focal point in my parents’ home for over thirty years now. I guess stained glass was in my subconscious mind for many years.
There was a combination of several very unusual situations that brought me to begin creating stained glass. First, after several years of being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, my life changed quite a bit. I was no longer able to mentally and physically continue with my career and more devastatingly, I had to make the decision to stop rock climbing. This left a huge void in my life but I started looking for something to replace it with. I began coloring adult coloring books and spending many hours immersed in what turned out to be an amazing stress reliever.
Shortly after we had moved to NC our basement flooded….twice. We decided to learn ceramic tile on the fly and I was tasked with cutting the tiles with a wet saw. I really enjoyed this for some strange reason. When we would stop work for the day I would sit down with my coloring book to relax and one day it just struck me that I could combine the aspects I loved about those coloring books with cutting the actual pieces from….what? Hell, why not glass?!?! Stained glass popped into my mind and within a few days, I had ordered a beginner’s tool kit.
Once I started experimenting I realized I would have numerous cuts all over my hands, burn myself with a soldering iron, would need to take precautions for lead poisoning, would need protective eyewear and would render my hands completely shredded and sore for days. Now we’re talking! I hadn’t been happier in a long time and I had finally found something that might just replace rock climbing!
Q: Do you create in other media?
I do not. I have never excelled in any type of artistic endeavors in my opinion. My drawing skills seemed to have peaked in kindergarten. But I am working on improving my drawing so I can create my own glass patterns. The only creativity I discovered within me growing up was an aptitude for playing piano, and I took nearly ten years of classical lessons.
So, if you can catch me a few drinks in––I’m terribly nervous of playing for an audience––I guess you could say I can create some beautiful and depressing music for you.
Q: Are you self-taught? Did you take art classes in school? Do you think a stained glass artist needs to be able to sketch or draw?
Until recently I was completely self-taught. I started picking and choosing YouTube videos and just jumped in headfirst. My first few pieces were hideous but I saw improvement with each new one I would create and that kept me going! It still does. Seeing myself learn and improve is an amazing feeling.
In February of this year, I treated myself to an online intermediate class to help me continue to improve. I learned some new techniques and it was awesome to learn I had been doing most things right this whole time. With no one here to tell me any different, I couldn’t help but wonder.
In school I would dread the walk to art class year after year. That was actually the only class I would skip sometimes because I hated it so bad. I always felt completely embarrassed about every project I would try throughout each grade.
So let me tell you, a stained glass artist does not need to know how to draw. There are plenty of talented artists out there that specialize in creating stained glass patterns that you can purchase. There are also programs and software that can help you design patterns too. And thankfully a simple geometrical or abstract-shaped pattern looks stunning with the right color choices.
Q: What do you find to be the greatest challenge about making stained glass art?
For me, the greatest challenge by far is pricing my artwork. There are suggestions out there but absolutely nothing in black and white. It’s something that you learn as you go for sure.
There are so many steps to making the type of pieces I do. Every single piece is cut by hand, then the edges are ground so it fits into the pattern, then each piece is cleaned before wrapping it in copper foil tape, next I solder all the lines on the front and back, then it is cleaned again, polished, a patina applied for lines other than silver, framed and wax applied.
It’s so hard to quote a price, especially for a friend, when all I really want to do is to make them whatever they want for free because I love them. But, I also love being able to pay bills on time and having groceries, so I have to fight the battle within and just name a price.
Q: What has been your favorite piece so far?
This seems to change all the time. I feel like every new piece I make, I say “this one is my favorite now.” If I had to pick, just because of the story behind it, it would have to be the piece I made for you of a certain, famous three-legged black bear named Eileen with her cubs! I’m fortunate enough to live near you. And I’m thankful to call you and your family, including all three- and four-legged varieties, my friends.
So when I was asked to immortalize the sweet bear that passes through their neighborhood I was honored. Nervous to begin with, because I’d never created a piece from a photograph, but it was a wonderful project that has boosted my confidence.
Another thing that made it so special, I was able to personally deliver the piece by hand and see it installed, along with the reactions to the proud new owners getting to see it complete for the first time. This was an incredibly special piece to all involved and many thanks for trusting me to create it. As you know, I’m currently in the process of getting started on a second one for the matching window for you and Ann. And I can guarantee when it’s completed, it will move up the line for my favorite.
(DAV’s note: Unfortunately my photograph of this piece does not do it justice. To truly appreciate it, you have to see it in person.)
Q: What piece has been the hardest?
One of the hardest pieces I’ve made was commissioned by a childhood friend of mine. She wanted this piece to donate to her son’s Unitarian Universalist School. I had a brief explanation of what images I was to include and the size, which was much larger than anything I had made at the time.
I put so much pressure on myself while creating this piece because I knew it would be visible to a huge audience over many years to come. But that was also something that made me really happy. Hopefully, many people would enjoy my artwork and appreciate the care that went into it. Dare I say a legacy?
I learned so much from this piece. One, to not stress out and to always trust my judgment on choosing colors because it turned out wonderfully. Two, I learned my friend was rather sneaky and when it was complete she admitted she pushed my limits with the request on purpose but knew I could pull it off and it would make me a better artist. And damn it, she was right. So many thanks to her!
Q: I tend to favor your work that features darker subjects (except for bears, of course) but you also make plenty of cheerful, light pieces as well. What are some of your favorites that aren’t spooky?
When it comes to my favorite pieces that aren’t spooky, I immediately think of a few where my inner sugar & spice and everything nice “little girl” has peeked out. It has surprised the heck out of me to find myself really loving the creation of some of the softer and sweeter images. And I’m crazy in love with pink glass. I’ve always been a tomboy but deep down I also love pink, princesses, and ballerinas no matter how tough I try to act.
My main focus going forward is to create pieces that aren’t what you immediately think of when you hear stained glass. I want to lean far away from images of church cathedrals and something your grandmother would want in her kitchen or powder room. I hope to create unexpected images in glass and make it more modern with a touch of my style mixed in there somewhere.
Q: Are you willing to do customized or personalized art for those interested? If so, how should they contact you?
Absolutely. I have three commissions I am working on right now and I am no longer terrified of doing custom pieces as I used to be. I can’t thank my friends enough for having faith in me and requesting some challenging pieces over the last few years. It has built my confidence and my skill immensely.
I can be contacted with any questions about commissions via email at wittykittystainedglass@gmail.com
Q: Where online might people find your work to view and purchase it?
My Etsy shop is www.etsy.com/shop/WittyKittyStudio.
I post progress shots of projects on Instagram at wittykittystainedglass and on Facebook at Wittykittystudio.
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