Penny Arnold

The relationship between color and light--in, on, and through glass--fascinates me, as it changes dramatically with the sun or its position in a room.
I have been captivated by the vivid colors, luminosity, textures, and other mysterious qualities of glass since I was first introduced to it in a stained glass workshop.

I began by making glass panels, suncatchers, and 3D objects. Some of my glass work explores techniques in the ancient art of mosaics, and I have created kiln-formed or fused glass artwork. From drawing the design, to choosing the material, to piecing it together and finishing it for display, each step in the process is meditative. The hands-on, repetitive nature of mosaics focuses my mind, frees my imagination and provides many opportunities for happy accidents to influence the finished product.

Often inspired by nature or art history, an intriguing composition is the first thing I seek. Whether my subject is found in nature, manmade, or completely abstract, the qualities of glass dictate that each piece will be somewhat abstract. I like to explore the elements of line, shape, and texture, whether the piece is a portrait, a landscape, or a functional object.
I often construct my own bases and frames or recycle anything suitable as a mosaic substrate. For tessarae (mosaic pieces) I use hand-cut stained glass, ceramic and glass tile, glass gems, millifiori, shells, bark, beads, stones, copper wire, and other found objects to add dimension.