Artist Interview - Marcy Lamberson

Kayla, the Hula Dancing Panda by Studio Marcy Lampwork

From time to time, I like to take the time to get to know other artists working in glass. And it's even more special to introduce you to a fellow member of the lampwork bead team I belong to - The Fire Divas.

Meet Marcy Lamberson of Studio Marcy. She is a super talented glass sculptor with a rockin' sense of humor. If you need a bead to cheer you up....look no further than Marcy's shop! Her work always makes me smile!

What attracted you to glass:
I painted watercolors and loved layering transparent colors on top of others with the light coming through them. I thought glass would be able to do the same thing. And hey, it does!

Many glass artists have training in other art mediums. Do you? If yes, please explain.
In addition to the watercolors, used to dye fibers and weave baskets. I love anything with color. It's like this uber-magnet that pulls me in.

Describe the first bead you made that you were really proud of? Are you still proud of it now?
I think my first bead that I was really proud of was my little vampire that I made for the FlameTree Glass Halloween Contest years ago. I still have him and yes, I still like him a lot. (photo to follow)

Marcy won a bobcat torch for this entry in the Flametree contest...

...and she won a Lynx torch for this entry!

What inspires you?
Almost everything around me. I look at a lot of life as beads. Making whimsical sculptural ones, I find that life has a bigger sense of humor than I originally thought.

Do you have a plan when you sit down to torch? Do you sketch beads or have photos around for reference? Yes and No. I have my list of beads that I'm making for the day, which I work from. I'll have sketches, photos or whatever is needed for those. But some of my most fun times are when I goof off and just start a bead or get an idea in my head without a reference, and take it from there.

Photography seems to be a key element for any glass artist. What type of camera / lightbox set up do you use? I use natural light on a white photo paper for a background. (I know, I sound so old school). And my camera is a simple little pink Sony Cyper-shot 12.1 pixels.

If the issue of finances (i.e. will it sell?) were of no consequence, what would you spend your time making? I would be making experiments all the time. I live for them. A lot of what goes through my mind is, "wonder if I can do such and such" or "what would happen if I did this to my bead?" I enjoy stretching my comfort zone and seeing what I can accomplish. And I've learned that you win some and you lose some.

What kind of jewelry do you wear? Everyday vs. out on the town?
I feel so busted. IF I remember, I wear earrings- usually handmade ones (metals- like sterling or copper) from Etsy artists around the house and for running around. If I'm going somewhere where I need to represent myself as an artist, then it's different. I wear my sculptural work usually on a changeable pendant and layered with other beads in a necklace form and changeable bead earrings (by Cyndie Smith) that won't take away from it being the focal point. Sometimes I'll wear one of my sculptural rings as well.

What is the one skill you wish came easier to you?
Left brained financial matters. I'm a train wreck with that kind of stuff, if I'm not careful.

What do you love about marketing your business? What’s the hardest part of marketing it?
I love it when someone connects with me over my art. They've found me on the internet and we form a bond. I know that they'll have a sense of humor and look at life a little crookedly like myself.

The hardest part is asking for what I want. I'd really love to teach ...everywhere. I know I'm a good teacher and I've seen the results from my classes. But I have such a hard time approaching places and asking for them to book me. I know what I teach gives glass students a lot more in their arsenal-- both through sculpture as well as making more traditionally shaped beads. Heat control, creativity, surface decoration and other techniques can be used anywhere.

Be sure to look for Marcy's incredible sculptures in her Etsy store. And her blog is one of my favorites!