Stained glass has always fascinated me. The magic of light playing through the glass and the unique atmosphere it creates, have always intrigued me. In Rotterdam, where I live, there are so many pre-war houses with beautiful stained glass windows and en-suite doors. It instantly gives me a warm and nostalgic feeling. However, I prefer modern designs, I'm more a fan of De Stijl than Baroque, so it took some time to develop my own style. On top of that, you have to make quite an investment to create the stained glass. Not only in tools and materials, but also in mastering the skill. The question lingered for years whether stained glass and I would be a good match.
The opportunity to explore a match, came a few years ago, when my daughter gave me a Tiffany course as a gift. You probably know Tiffany from the lamps with the different pieces of colored glass. The course was an amazing experience, during which I discovered how special it is to work with glass. At home, I played around with sketches to develop focused my own style. I did a lot of research into different styles and made sketch after sketch until I mastered a way to design works that I truly love. After making a number of works in Tiffany, I began to get frustrated with the foil application on the glass. This foil is fragile and peels off quickly in moisture. For me, it didn’t feel like “the real deal.” Then I discovered at the stores that sell Tiffany materials that the also sell stained glass materials, and from there I found out that the transition from Tiffany to stained glass is relatively easy. For me, working with lead feels robust and durable; it stands the test of time and weather! Looking back at my first stained glass work, I can see how much better my works are now; the glass sits neatly in the right direction and the lead is perfectly round or straight. My style has remained almost the same, but my technique has improved, and I almost instinctively know where to focus to make the final result as perfect as possible.
Making stained glass is a way for me to express my creativity while creating something tangible and lasting. I hope that my work conveys the same magic and atmosphere that once inspired me.