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A Free Online Community for Glass Art
136,180 Glass Art Pictures
· 2,729 Artists
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To me the greatest sense of self-satisfaction and pride are found in the creation process. Graduating from the U. of Pittsburgh in 2003 with a BA in Communications, I always felt my imagination was being suppressed. Throughout my studies I continuously turned to art to liberate the ideas boiling within. Not until a short holiday to New Zealand in 2004 did I finally submit to my longing of being a full-time artist. I had discovered the medium I had long been seeking - glass. The heat, the fire, the seemingly liquid state that this material is worked at entranced me. This period of my life marked a turning point and nothing has been the same since. The short holiday turned into a three-year apprenticeship. During this time I was able to define a body of work where simplicity, purity of form, and negative space is merged to meet harmony. In 2007 I returned to the US to further my skills of the material. I now live in Alabama where I am focused on achieving a clean, crisp body of work.
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The second of my 'AntiVase' series, still playing with the idea of nonfunctional vessels. This piece has a flipped in rim. Two of the holes are identical. This piece will be on display at SOFA Chicago with Silica Galleries (Nov. 7-9).
tea over enamel white over lime
blown, cut, and polished glass
9.5" x 7" x 7"
2008
(9 images)
* Featured Page *
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This set was a take on my old eclipse shape with a new inspiration. They were inspired by a woman who's absolute beauty can only be paralleled with the beauty of nature. This set will be exhibited at SOFA Chicago (Nov. 7-9) with Silica Galleries (Philadelphia, PA). These pieces are featured in Silica Galleries ad in Art Ltd. magazine (Sept/Oct '08 issue).
each piece has grey over white with steel blue, augergine, or sargasso inside. each has clear powder textured on the surface.
blown, cut, polished, and carved glass.
7.5" x 7.5" x 4.5" each
2008 AL
(9 images)
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This is some of the work that will be displayed at SOFA Chicago (Nov. 7-9). A big THANK YOU goes out to Silica Galleries (Philadelphia, PA) for representing me at this prestigious event. These pieces will also be featured in Silica Galleries ad in Glass Quarterly/Urban Glass magazine this fall.
black and copper blue, black and lime, and black and orange all with enamel white edges
blown, cut, polished, and battuttoed glass.
blue - 11 x 6 x 4 inches
green - 9.5 x 6.5 x 5
orange - 7.5 x 7 x 4.5
2008 AL
(5 images)
* Featured Page *
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This piece will be exhibited at the National Liberty Museum's auction in Philadelphia, PA.
SAVE THE DATE!
GLASS NOW WEEKEND AND AUCTION
AUCTION - SATURDAY 9/20
WEEKEND - SEPTEMBER 18 - 21, 2008
National Liberty Museum
321 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
cobalt blue and gold ruby extra with enamel white edges
blown, cut, and polished glass.
2008 AL
(6 images)
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The second piece in my 'Monster' series. This piece will be up for auction at the 2008 Glass Art Society (GAS) conference held in Portland, OR. Going once, going twice...
black and copper blue with enamel white edges
blown, cut, polished, and battuttoed glass.
12" x 6" x 5"
2008 AL
(9 images)
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The first in a new series titled 'Monsters'.The surface texture is similar to scales. Black surfaces with vibrant contrasting inside colors.
black and lime green with enamel white edges
blown, cut, polished, and battuttoed glass.
11.5" x 5" x 4.5"
2008 AL
(12 images)
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'Liberties' was a piece I made for Ian Kerr of Philly Glass Works/Silica Galleries. We made a trade and I scored two very nice sconces out of the deal. Trade is good. This was also my first componentry piece.
indigo and copper ruby
blown, cut, polished, sandblasted, and glued glass
2008 AL
(5 images)
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Titled 'Abound' for the sole reason that it was made in about four different locations - blown in New Zealand with my mentor Chris Jones; cut in Connecticut at Adeptus Arts; coldworked at Philly Glass Works; then finally finished being coldworked at Orbix Hot Glass in Alabama. This piece has taken quite a long time because of my constant shifting during my move from New Zealand to my current residence in Alabama.
Swedish overlay of apricot with enamel white over scarlet
blown, overlayed, cut, and polished glass
8" x 8" x 4.5"
2008 NZ/CT/PA/AL
(9 images, 2 comments)
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The first in a new series, 'Anti-Vase 1' is my way of making something functional into a nonfunctional piece of sculpture. By cutting and polishing holes in the vessels sides it eliminates the ability to hold water thus eliminating the vessels ability to maintain life in whatever you should put in it. The holes also allow a breathe of fresh air in the form of negative space.
scarlet over enamel white over bronze
blown, cut, and polished glass
11" x 7.5" x 6.5"
2007 AL
(6 images, 4 comments)
* Featured Page *
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Very oceanic and reminiscent of marine life I titled this piece based on the environments around island chains and reefs. The lathe-work conjures images of the scales or the skin of an ancient aquatic beast.
teal over pale primrose
blown, cut, and polished glass
8" x 6.5" x 6.5"
2007 AL
(9 images)
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I titled this piece 'Mirage' because the finish has been sandblasted and I also used oil paint to stain the satin finish - sand and oil, reminded me of the desert. The name also seemed fitting given the reflective properties of the oxidized silver blue.
ivory and silver blue lustre (the blue has been oxidized)
blown, cut, sandblasted, polished, and oil painted glass
8" x 8" x 4"
2007 AL
(8 images, 1 comment)
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Titled after the great wave in Tahiti. Teahupoo is a thick, powerful wave considered one of the greatest surfing thrills.
turquoise and indigo (with a band of white on the edges of the cuts)
blown, cut, polished, battutoed glass
8.5" x 6.5" x 6"
2007 AL
(7 images, 1 comment)
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Its was just a lathe experiment on one of my Purity paperweights. It kind of reminds me of a gem cut for jewelry. The facets really shine.
gold ruby extra (large amount)
blown, cut, and polished glass
4 inches approx.
2007 AL
(5 images)
(4 images, 9 comments)
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This piece always seemed very oceanic to me - fluid, cold, deep, organic, shell-like.
copper blue and cerulean blue
blown, sandblasted, cut, and polished glass
8" x 7" x 5.5" approx.
2007 NZ/PA
(5 images)
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The crackle effect to me always looked cool even if it is really simple. This was the first time I tried it and it looks great when looking into the thick glass. Over the jade green it looks like crocodile skin hence the title (also aptly named after the Elton John song)
jade and midnight blue (with a layer of white in between which is shown on the edge of the cuts)
blown, crackled, cut, and polished glass
9 inches by 6 inches
2007 NZ
(6 images, 1 comment)
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This piece is titled as such because it doesn't have a base per say. It rocks around like a spinning top on its side and will never tip over or roll out of a certain area without the help of an outside force.
Aquamarine and Citron
blown, cut, and polished glass
8 inches by 6 inches
2007 NZ
(7 images, 1 comment)
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I found this piece reminded me of childrens' fears of the dark. It is a resemblance of how shadows could appear to be lurking creatures of the night.
black and scarlet (with a layer of white in between which shows on the edge of the cuts)
blown, cut, and polished glass
10 inches by 8 inches approx.
2007 NZ
(6 images, 1 comment)
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During the time this was made there was alot of speculation as to when the crater lake on Mt Ruapehu would burst from thermal activity causing a volcanic mudslide known as a lahar. This did eventually happen. Where I was living in Taupo, New Zealand I had a clear view of the Lake Taupo and the volcanoes (Ruapehu, Tongariro, and Ngaruhoe), a natural blending of hot and cold. I tried to bring this to the piece. Oddly enough Lake Taupo is in itself a volcanic crater (known as a caldera), below the surface there is still alot of thermal activity - cold on the surface but red hot down below.
turquoise and apricot (witha layer of white in between which shows on the edge of the cuts)
blown, cut, sandblasted (external only, apricot is glossy), and polished glass
10.5 inches by 7 inches
2007 NZ
*The AD 186 eruption at Taupo is considered to be the most violent and explosive known.
(5 images, 1 comment)
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Titled because around the same time I was working on this piece I decided it was time to move back to America to further my glass career. This would mean being on the move once again, travelling and living out of a bag until I found another place to settle down and call home.
gold amethyst and teal (with a layer of white in between which shows through on the edge of the cuts)
blown, cut, sandblasted, and polished glass
9 inches by 6 inches
2006 NZ
(4 images, 3 comments)
* Featured Page *
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My latest piece 'Old Blue' found its named based on the name of a very close friend's bicycle. Its was an old Schwinn roadbike from the early 80s, made of steel. It found its name simply because it was old and blue. This piece brought back memories of that old Schwinn - simple in function and design but not lacking in beauty.
turquoise and ivory (with an outline of cerulean blue on the edge of the cuts... the blue came out more where the opaque colors seemed to wash out giving it a faded two-tone effect)
blown, cut, sandblasted (external only, the ivory is glossy), and polished glass
10 inches by 7 inches
2006 NZ
(4 images)
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I titled this piece 'Hughes' because it reminds me of the 80s for some reason and I wanted to name it accordingly. So I named it after the great writer and director John Hughes, whom has created such 80s cinematic masterpieces as the Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Ferris Buelers Day Off, Pretty in Pink, etc.
black and gold ruby extra (with an outline of white on the cuts)
blown, cut, and polished glass
9 inches by 6 inches
2006 NZ
(4 images, 3 comments)
* Featured Page *
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This particular piece was titled 'Origin' because the orb blank was one of the first I had blown and just seemed to sit around for a while because I wasn't sure what shape I wanted. After blowing and making more pieces I came back to the old girl, then cut and cleaned her up to the finished product you see here.
lime green/orange
blown, cut, and polished glass
8 inch diameter
2006 NZ
(3 images)
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Titled 'Union' because it was made as a wedding gift for my best friend who happened to get married in Rome. The particular colors were chosen because of this as well.
enamel white/brilliant gold
blown, sandblasted (external only, the gold is glossy), cut, and polished glass
9 inch diameter
2006 NZ
(3 images, 1 comment)
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Titled 'Motion' because I was working on this piece right before a friend from back home was about to come visit me in New Zealand. Anxious with anticipation I seemed to just be going through the day to day 'motions' awaiting her arrival. The word 'motion' was also fitting as she was in transit coming to visit.
brilliant gold/augergine
blown, sandblasted, cut, and polished glass
9 inch diameter
2006 NZ
(3 images, 1 comment)
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'Transitions' was the first sculpture I had done where I added curves (difficult considering I only use a flatbed grinder, no belt sanders yet) to the cuts. The title came from my love of bmx-the curved part of a skate ramp is called the transition, it was only fitting...
On display at the hotel that Tom Cruise stayed in while filming the Last Samurai in Taranaki, New Zealand.
robins egg blue/diablo red
blown, etched, cut, and polished glass
approx. 9 inches by 7 inches diameter
2005 NZ
(4 images)
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hyacinth/cerulean blue
blown, cut, and polished glass
8 inch diameter
2005 NZ
(3 images)
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Titled 'Weight' because it is heavy. And was difficult to make. The upper bubble sinks onto the lower one causing a convexed impression, giving it a heavy appearance.
robins egg blue/duck egg white/cerulean blue
blown, sandblasted (external only, the duck egg white is glossy), cut, and polished glass
9 inch height
2005 NZ
(3 images)
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Titled 'Eclipse' because at certain angles the colors disappear except for the edges and you are only looking through the clear glass, similar to a solar eclipse.
copper blue/lime green
blown, etched, cut, and polished glass
8 inch diameter
2005 NZ
(4 images)
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My first real piece of art glass. Titled 'Solace' because the process of cutting it and polishing it took a long time but during with I felt at peace and happy to have finally found something that I fully enjoy doing - glassmaking.
apricot/cle... cut, and polished glass
7 inch diameter
2005 NZ
(3 images, 1 comment)
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various colors
blown, sandblasted, cut, and polished glass
4 inch diameter
(3 images)
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I am a glassblower (originally from PA) who happened to to be lucky enough to find glass while backpacking in New Zealand. I stumbled upon glass while looking for work during my travels and ever since it has been nothing short of an addiction. At a time when I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life I found a job at a glassblowing studio, and I have been in love with glass since. Upon returning to the US after studying 3 years in NZ I moved to Alabama where I now reside working for Orbix Hot Glass and also creating my own work.
Mark Leputa
Fort Payne AL
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 Comments on This Gallery Page
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I would like to buy a piece of Mark Leputa's work ()ld Blue) but do not know how to go about it on this site. Please send information.
Thank you, Lue Hartenian Lueedhart(at)aol.com
» Posted by
Lue
on 3/11/2007 1:12:31 PM.
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Beautiful work
Thanks for checking out my pieces.
They range from 16" to 28" long and up to 10" high.
Robert Santacroce
» Posted by
RobertSantacroce
on 11/14/2007 2:31:29 AM.
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our wb site is putschmeniconi.com . Thanks Marco
» Posted by
PutschMeniconi
on 11/19/2007 12:00:17 AM.
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Stunning work!
Every piece could be called "Solace." They all convey a peaceful feeling. Love your work.
(And thanks for featuring my work!)
» Posted by
LisaRippee
on 1/12/2008 7:37:17 PM.
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Hello
I was admiring your work and imagine my surprise when you said you worked at Orbix Hot Glass. I LOVE CAL and his WIFE. They are the GREATEST.
Your work is beautiful
Cat
» Posted by
CatherineMiller
on 4/16/2008 8:01:37 PM.
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Hi Mark
Yes I would be happy to try my hand at engraving a paperweight for you. I am also engraving a couple of pieces for Cal. \As I looked at your gallery, I envisioned engraving on some of your other pieces too like the anti-vase etc.
Sincerely,
Catherine
» Posted by
CatherineMiller
on 8/4/2008 9:01:24 PM.
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HEY COOL
I am up for it. I have to be able to see through the piece. I cannot see through opaque. Have any ideas what you would like on it??? I will get it done in time!!!!!
Catherine
» Posted by
CatherineMiller
on 8/5/2008 7:33:29 PM.
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wow nice gallory
if you are ever in asheville nc, hit me up. Awesome work...solace, motion and rapture are my top 3 and that monster stuff is crazy. man you must cold work for days on each peice. You should teach at pendland, sign me up.
» Posted by
C.E.Proffitt
on 8/15/2008 12:49:24 PM.
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