Spotlight on Susan Richards
My name is Susan Richards and I began my journey in glass beadmaking in 2008 when I attended the Ann Arbor Art fair in Michigan. I saw the work of a glass artist who created encased floral beads and I was amazed. In talking with the artist, I asked her where she learned to do this magic and she said that I could find classes in Michigan to learn lampwork.
Soon after that encounter I checked out Cindy Jenkins ‘Making Glass Beads’ from my local library and read it over and over until the library demanded it back. I would practice holding a mandrel and imagined creating the beads that I saw on the pages of the book. I eventually found a 1-day class that gave me basic instruction, some glass rods, a couple of tools, bead release, mandrels, fiber blanket, and a hot head torch. I was on my way.
I worked with that basic set of lampworking items until I found a glass bead guild in Michigan and started to learn new techniques that would take me deeper into this art. In 2009 I took a class at the University of Michigan Dearborn and learned from a very knowledgeable professor on shapes, frit, stringer, and I was forever changed. In 2010 I took my first glass class from a professional artist. Kristina Logan taught me much with her precise placement of dots and encouraging way of teaching. The time with Kristina helped me to begin a more specific path to my own art. Dots!
Since that first class I have taken many classes from very talented artists which are documented on my blog ‘www.northernmermaidbeads.com.’ I learn something from every teacher and the experiences that I have had, have forever changed my life. I have traveled several times to Europe for glass classes as well as traveled within the United States. The feeling of belonging to this glass community and the friends I have made have honestly changed my life. Everything I do in my spare time away from my day job as a Data professional changed from that day in Ann Arbor in 2008. I am truly grateful.
I held leadership positions in a local glass group from 2009 – 2019 and the ISGB from 2017 – 2021. I was ISGB President for 4 years and am happy to have helped the organization survive the pandemic with the strong board of directors I worked with. Volunteering in support of our art is one of the things I am most proud of. In my work I like to include silver glass, dichroic glass, goldstone, and other bright elements. I have decided perhaps I am a ‘crow’ as I like things that are shiny. I look forward to spending more time in the studio once I retire from corporate life but until then I torch and take classes when I can.
“Spotlight On” is an area where we highlight one of our own. Members are encouraged to share a personal story or an adventure. To see past Spotlight articles, visit our website.
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