Joy Oxley
As an artist, I am drawn to the sparkle and twinkle of glass! Reflections of color and light, it’s riveting glisten, begs to be created and captured in unique shapes. It is a connection with art and beauty that speaks to the soul.
I am most inspired by the incredible beauty of the natural environments in which I’ve lived, from Vermont to Oregon, the Adirondacks and NW Florida.
My fused dichroic glass designs, are made using a kiln, diamond saws, and lapidary equipment. The settings are cold connection work, made using a file, pliers, hammer and steel. I use argentium silver or gold filled wire, hammering, and bending into shape with my hands and pliers to create original settings.
My other passion in the world of glass is lampworking (torch work), using borocillicate glass ( hard glass). I sculpt the glass, free hand, by pushing, pulling, and twisting rods into my dreamt up representations while at melting temp…2400 F. A few tools made from graphite and steel are used to work the hot glass into shape. Each piece is placed in the kiln to anneal, tempering and cooling down slowly over several hours, for resiliency.
The glass materials that I use to create my wearable art glass are of superior quality and manufactured in the USA.
As a self taught artist; I am always experimenting and learning new techniques both in glass and in metals.