Millsboro artist creates stained glass with plates, vases
Stained glass as an art form has been around for more than 1,000 years but that long history does not deter artists who continue to explore new ways to use the colorful medium.
And that includes one Delaware artist who is experimenting with stained glass designs that have little, if anything, to do with colorful windows.
After vacationing in Lewes for years, artist Gwenn Schroll moved to Delaware permanently from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. With her move a decade ago, Schroll brought with her an impressive portfolio of stained glass art, reflecting 30 years of experience in the medium.
Since moving to southern Delaware, Schroll has established a studio in Millsboro, where she produces her stunning stained glass pieces.
And Schroll’s work is sold at her small shop, The Glass Shed, which is part of the Lavender Fields complex, a Milton farm that attracts visitors to its gardens and regional art exhibits. The tiny shop is an ideal space to showcase Schroll’s colorful designs.
Since moving to Delaware, Schroll’s work has started to move in new directions, a change, unfortunately, that was brought on by the death of her husband, Brian Humble, last August.
Prior to his death, Humble, a graphic artist, provided designs for the stained glass pieces produced by Schroll.
“He was the inspiration,” she said.
Those pieces include colorful wind chimes, tissue dispensers and square or rectangular works that can be displayed in a window, where sunlight accents the intricate colors and designs.
After continuing to produce works based on Humble’s design, Schroll has recently started to experiment with another format – incorporating antique pieces or works of art within her own stained glass creations.
“I am trying to get some inspiration so I can do pieces of my own design,” she said.
So far, the experimentation has produced some beautiful new pieces of art.
One wall-hanging piece has stained glass surrounding an antique sandwich glass plate; another uses a rose colored bottle, probably used for medicine a century ago. Yet another uses a blue Coca-Cola glass to accent a piece with a patriotic theme – red, white and blue.
Another, a rectangular hanging piece for wall display, has stained glass surrounding butterfly paintings.
“My signature pieces from now on are going to be pieces with other things infused in them,” she said.
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Given that colorful fields of lavender are visible from the front porch of her retail shop, Schroll also has produced pieces that include snippets of the purple colored plants.
“I do try to incorporate lavender in a lot of my pieces,” she said.
One spectacular example is what she called a suncatcher, which uses a clear tear-drop shape with pieces of lavender embedded in the glass.
The unifying feature with her work is that none of the pieces are very big, which means they can easily be displayed in a window or hanging on a wall.
Her pieces range in price from $25 to $45 for suncatchers and $150 to $250 for panels that can be hung in windows. A tea caddy made with a delicate china saucer as the back piece sells for $40.
Scholl says it’s hard to find some of the plates and bottles she likes to work with, and she is willing to take commission work and use someone’s own plates or other items in a custom-made piece for them.
Stained glass is normally produced using an array of different colors, cut to shape and joined by copper foil and solder, which is heated to a liquid state and carefully applied by the artist. The solder hardens as it cools.
Some artists also use a fusing technique which involves heating the glass until it is malleable. The glass can then be formed and shaped, which allows the artist to depart from the normal two dimensional configuration into a piece with three dimensions.
And it is not uncommon for artists to use an etching or engraving process that also requires special tools. Schroll used a kiln to shape some of her earlier glass pieces but has since adopted other techniques.
She buys her art supplies from Back Bay Art Glass in Millsboro and Anything In Stained Glass in Frederick, Maryland.
Clearly, producing quality stained glass art requires skilled use of hand tools along with a creative eye to come up with a unique design.
Schell said that the array of special tools and supplies needed to create stained glass pieces also can be expensive.
While Schroll is one of three local stained glass artists, she is part of a growing trend in southern Delaware. Indeed, the region seems to be a magnet for artists looking for retirement destinations that welcome creative newcomers.
Schroll said the trend is partially because the lack of a sales tax is appealing for those who sell their work.
And, she says, there is no question that the sandy beaches are an inspiration to artists of all kinds.
“A lot of people love the beach and it is inspiring,” she said. “I know it has been for me.”
If you go
WHAT: The Glass Shed
WHERE: part of the Lavender Fields farm, 18864 Cool Springs Road, Milton
WHEN: Wednesday through Sunday
FOR MORE INFORMATION: (717) 418-2080; www.lavenderfieldsde.com