🌿 Nature Through Glass: How the Outdoors Inspire My Work
When people ask me where I find inspiration for my stained glass, my answer is always the same: I just look outside. Nature has a way of offering endless colors, patterns, and shapes that I could never dream up on my own. Every leaf, flower, or shifting shadow carries its own kind of magic — and I try to capture a little piece of that in glass.
The Language of Leaves & Flowers
I’ve always been drawn to plants. Their shapes are simple yet endlessly varied — a curling fern frond, the bold silhouette of a monstera leaf, or the delicate lines in a flower petal. When I cut and shape glass, I think about how light will move across those forms, almost like sunlight filtering through real leaves. That’s why so many of my designs — from bluebells to cattails — celebrate the plant world.
Seasons as a Color Palette
The seasons guide my work, too. In spring, I’m all about soft greens and fresh florals. Summer brings bright, playful colors — pinks, yellows, and bold blues. In fall, I can’t resist warm ambers and earthy tones (my stained glass pumpkins are proof of that!). And in winter, I gravitate toward deep jewel tones, echoing the coziness of the season. Nature hands me a new palette every few months, and I love translating that into glass.
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Light: The Final Ingredient
The best part about using nature as inspiration is how stained glass interacts with light. Just like sunlight streaming through trees shifts throughout the day, stained glass changes, too. Morning light might make a piece glow softly, while sunset makes it look completely different. To me, that’s what makes stained glass feel alive — it’s never the same twice.
Bringing Nature Indoors
I know not everyone has the time (or space!) to fill their homes with plants and gardens, but stained glass offers a way to bring a little bit of the outdoors inside. A leaf-shaped suncatcher, a floral bouquet, or even a small plant stake can add that connection to nature — no watering required.
Why It Matters
In a world that can feel busy and rushed, I think we’re all craving more connection to the natural world. My stained glass is my way of slowing down, observing, and translating that beauty into something lasting. Each piece is like a reminder to pause, look closely, and notice the details around us.
