Meet B. Lyle - enjoy her journey with Gallery Glass

"I am a "newbie" to glass painting, and have fallen in love with Gallery Glass. I did ceramics for a few years and even looked into purchasing my own kiln, but it has been difficult to acquire greenware, and the cost was a little more than I had anticipated. I came across several of the GG videos on Youtube and was instantly smitten! I'm in the very beginning stages of learning and I bought tape this weekend hoping to get better at leading. It's proven to be quite a challenge, but I'll continue to practice until I can do it perfectly. I have a few pieces attached for your viewing pleasure. Leading is becoming more enjoyable and I think I'm getting better. I ordered some of the 10" and 12" Rounds. The "Rays of Sunshine" was the first piece that I did. It was on glass and the leading was wobbly, but it got broken."

Next, I completed the Lighthouse. The leading was still wobbly, but the shading was improving. Finally, I painted the "Heart". I am quite proud of this one, if I do say so, myself.

"After I got the round blanks, I finished a few more pieces. I actually think I'm starting to get the hang of it. I used self-adhesive leading for the "Kitty" on 8x10" glass. I did much better leading with the cardinal, I think. I finished this piece by placing it in a frame and then drilling a hole in the top of the frame and threading ribbon through for hanging purposes. It is a Christmas present." 

" 'Christmas Lights' was a pleasure..I actually did it in a couple of days. I did the Liquid Leading early in the morning and painting late in the evening of the next day. I may just have to keep this one."

"What I like to call the "Victorian Suncatcher" was done with the Redi-Lead strips.  I had wanted to get much more done than I have before Christmas, but needless to say, I so enjoy it. I am so glad I stumbled onto Gallery Glass. I've acquired some discontinued Gallery Glass lampshades. They are on their way to me now. I can't wait to try my hand once they arrive. I'm also on the hunt for every Plaid Gallery Glass pattern book on the market. I would like to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas. Gallery Glass has made mine just that--WONDERFUL!"

I love this story. It is certainly a familiar to many of you--a natural progression of Gallery Glass technique--from newbie to designer! Gallery Glass is a craft that allows that journey to take place--amazingly quickly! B. has a wonderful sense of style and she expressed her personality--even in the beginning--by the designs that she chose to create. From the start, I could see her preference for contemporary style and simplicity beautifully executed and enhanced through the shading. The one that surprised me was the last one--the Victorian Suncatcher--which was anything but contemporary. It just goes to show that a Gallery Glass artist can grow in any direction--just by changing the placement of the lines and the choice of colors. B., you are a shining example of "why" I do this blog--to give more people out in the world the opportunity to discover the joys of self expression and to share the love of my life - Gallery Glass.