Ornament

This ruby-throated art glass hummingbird figurine in vibrant transparent green and purple will delight any nature-loving glass collector with its lifelike attention to detail.

I hand-make each piece, one-at-a-time, without the use of molds, using techniques learned from master Venetian glass artists. Initially working from photos and sketches, I start by melting glass rods in a torch flame and spontaneously build up the sculpture from bits or "gathers" of molten glass. The Italian soda-lime glass I'm using is finicky and tricky to work with - too much time spent on any given detail will often cause the piece to crack (irreparably), so an intense focus and a little luck are essential to each finished hummingbird.

Once finished and allowed to cool, the piece is annealed in a digital kiln for lasting stability.

I especially love the effect of combining transparent and opaque colored glass to create a uniquely beautiful and luminous glass ornament. Measuring a life-size 3" x 3.25" x 2"