If you would have asked me three years ago what I would be doing with the next 5 years of my life I would have told you graphic and web design. That is what I was doing before the torching bug got me-
Of course this is where I say "I can remember it like it was yesterday..." But I really can. Flash back to three years ago. it was August and I was making a webpage for a lampwork artist that wanted to showcase his work online. During the time I was making the webpage I became very curious about the process of making these pretty little baubles of glass. I'd been photographing and cataloging these little treasures for nearly 3 months now and had never actually seen them made.
I was downstairs taking pictures one day and I remember hearing him get ready to torch. I peeked around the corner and started to spy for a minute and before I knew it he was handing me a pair of glasses so I could see without the flare. I was enraptured instantly. I just couldn't imagine that I was learning the magic of how to capture a flower inside a bead or how to draw with a small stringer of glass. It was truly amazing to me.
About a week later I was taking a beginners class- this consisted of basically how to put glass on a mandrel and not much more than that but that's all it took for me- My first bead was the most amazing thing in the world to me. I made it. I was thrilled.
I rented a lot of bench time the next two months. I bought books and the books that I brought home I literally poured through day and night. I sketched my next new beads and pained over how I was to get the pictures to look like the real thing. Everything about this art form was completely amazing and I was immersed in the world of glass before I knew it.
I started to shop torches and setups and before a month was over I was buying my very first torch- I could not WAIT to get setup. I was beyond ecstatic.
One thing led to another and I was buying glass and tools and then building my own website and doing pretty okay. I felt like I'd found my true calling.
I never entirely let go of my other activities- I still photograph, paint, sketch and do graphic art and web design and other various stuff but this is my main love. I can't imagine my life without it.
I've been able to add to my list of fun stuff via glass as well- I now design jewelry (and love it, even though I don't wear a lot of jewelry) and make silver. There is just a never-ending list of things to do and learn when you take on something as vast as glass. I'm still just scratching the surface.
I'm happier than I've ever been and things just keep getting better. I've had such unique experiences because of glass and experiences that I know I would have never had without it.
So this is just now three years, boy time flies and I am looking forward to not only three more years but a lifetime of learning and loving the flame.
Glass Artisan / Silversmith
Payton Jett's Handmade Lampwork Beads, Fine silver and Jewelry
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