ARTIST OF THE MONTH
ple, makes excellent dragon wings. Streaked glass in the background creates the illusion of flight for a bird.
If the Glass Fits When long-time Strathroy resident Pamela King Black consid - ered retiring, she knew she had to find something artistic to do. She loves exploring various creative outlets, like felting and sew- ing, but after taking a stained-glass class with Rachel Hayes at Beveled Edge Glass Studio in Strathroy, Pam knew she had found the perfect fit. Ten years later, Pam has honed her ability to create unique stained-glass pictures of landscapes, animals, and interesting objects, like the Hylian Shield from the video game Zelda. “I love the versatility of glass,” explains Pam. “It comes in several colours and textures and can be fired, blown, fused, and cut into different shapes and forms.” To create a piece of stained glass, Pam starts with an idea for a subject, then researches the images she needs using the in- ternet, pattern books, photos, and her imagination. She works with the pictures she finds to create her design, choosing the shapes, colours and textures of glass she needs to achieve the desired effect. Pam explains that some glass pieces should be vibrant to show- case the subject, while others should be more subdued. The right texture can highlight specific elements. Crackle glass, for exam -
Pam finds inspiration for her work in anything that piques her interest, from sights she sees on her travels to memories from family events or el- ements invoked by hobbies of friends and family. The shield from Zelda, for example, was a piece Pam made for her son. What Pam loves most, however, is the design process and the satisfaction she feels as she sees the pieces come together. It’s a delicate and detailed process that can be challenging and lends itself to making mistakes. Pam is okay with that because it's how she continues developing as an artist. “You learn with each piece. Drawing the pattern, cutting glass – recutting it when it breaks – fitting it together,” adds Pam. “These projects can be challenging, and I feel very proud of each one.” Next, Pam wants to learn glass fusion, a process of melting and fusing layers of glass in a kiln to make glass-on-glass designs. Pam hopes aspiring artists find the courage to try whatever art form they find interesting. “If it makes you happy, it’s likely a good fit.”
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Hometown Strathroy-Caradoc June 2025
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