Meet the Equine Artist: Featured Artist: Deborah Lockwood

I was first introduced to Glass Artwork in the late 1990’s. My husband Brian was working overseas and brought hand blown glass art home from his trips. At the time I was experimenting with pottery and glazing. After years of looking at hand blown glass, visiting galleries and the development of custom lighting using glass in my husband’s manufacturing business, Brian recommended I look into glass fusing as a hobby. So we upgraded my pottery kiln with a computer controller allowing me to use the kiln for both pottery and glass.

Crafts and design have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember however glass fusing did push the envelope of the designs I had done in the past. I, like most people, had a phobia about working with glass, being mainly concerned about sharp edges and cutting myself. After working with Brian in custom lighting and developing techniques for handling glass, these concerns quickly disappeared. Brian continued to inspire me by providing master sample kits (with in some cases 200 different colors of glass) from local glass manufacturers that could be used in the fusing process.

My first glass fusion was a mosaic of colors forming a cross. Not knowing exactly what I would get, I was pleasantly surprised when it came out of the kiln as a beautiful color-filled display of Christian Artwork. I thought it would be nice to create glass cross sun catchers in various colors for gifts. Not knowing the possibilities, a friend who received a cross recommended that I approach the local Christian supply store about selling the crosses. Eventually I did and found interest from the store-owner and provided them with a series of colors for sale.

I developed a series of Wildlife style coasters with a Western or Equine theme. I came up with several sets with the new theme in mind. To my amazement, the coasters have become a hit in the Country Décor shops, including Kelli’s Country Connection in Wenatchee.

Glass in general is provided to us by one of the simplest materials on the earth ‘sand.’ When sand is heated to temperatures that would be considered touching the sun it becomes a crystal clear medium awaiting color to be infused, in a way providing life. My creations use this complex yet simple medium as a base for design that provides a one of a kind decorative element. This base is carefully selected handcrafted color-infused art glass capable of being fused with others. Then for completion of the design I insert a hand created decorative element between the glass sections prior to fusing to 1400 degrees F, allowing this image to float within the elements. The process of fusion glass creations may seem simple in form to most, however it requires in some cases sixteen hours of processing within a kiln to lock the design in time.

Glass crafting through fusion has become my way of expressing the unlimited and color-filled world in which we live.

Brian and Deborah, along with their three children, Montanna, Morgan, and Victor live on 13 acres on Badger Mountain outside Wenatchee, Washington.

Montmorvic Glass Creations can be found at Kelli’s Country Connection in Wenatchee, English Habit in Wenatchee, Lone Pine Gifts in Orondo, Encouraging Word in Wenatchee and other Country Décor shops in Washington State. Also visit or contact them on-line at www.MontmorvicGlassCreations.com  phone: 509-886-9342 fax: 509-884-9208 or email DebL@MontmorvicGlassCreations.com.