Kathleen Elliot: Through the glass, clearly

July 19, 9:30 AMSan Jose Contemporary Art ExaminerErica Goss

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K. Elliot: Sun Pods (detail)

On a quiet street in a Cupertino suburb, Kathleen Elliot is hard at work in her studio.   Fanciful botanical sculptures, exquisitely rendered in textured and subtly colored glass, emerge from her skillful hands.  These arresting and imaginative pieces reflect two qualities that Kathleen embodies: her boundless curiosity and desire to try new things.   

Kathleen Elliot is a glass artist. Her process, flame-working, allows her to sculpt small, detailed components which she later assembles into a finished piece.  The glass is worked in the small flame of a torch, and since glass does not conduct heat well, she can work on different parts of a small sculpture at the same time. She makes the individual parts of a sculpture – leaves, stems, fruit – and then assembles them in a process similar to welding.  Some artists paint their glass, but Kathleen works with tinted powders and glass chips to add color.  In a slow, careful process, she melts the colors in layers that give her work its textured look.  It can take more than ten hours for her to complete a small sculpture.  In World Art Glass Quarterly, Anita Schiller states “Elliot is a stickler for detail, as witnessed by the beautiful texturing of leaves and branches…She carefully inspects the pieces under a microscope” (Summer 2009, Volume 5). 

Since she was a child, Kathleen has loved creating things.  She taught herself to knit and crochet from a book.  “Making things is a peaceful, confident and centered place for me,” she says.  In the same spirit of discovery, she learned how to make glass beads by looking at pictures in books, and soon people began to ask her if they could buy her beads.  At that point, her husband encouraged her to pursue art full-time.  She was about forty then, and ready for a life change.  She attended the Pilchuck Glass School in Washington (started by Dale Chihuly) three summers in a row, careful to hone her skills before she considered showing her work.  After three sessions, it clicked – glass is very difficult to master, and Kathleen was determined to be the best she could.

Kathleen works on her art career full-time, which includes making glass art, administration, keeping track of inventory, writing her blog, and the laborious task of packing art pieces for shipping.  The result of this dedication is that Kathleen has accomplished in five years what it takes many people more than twice as long to do.  In addition to her art practice, Kathleen oversees a busy family of five children.  “There is no separation between my work and my home life,” she says.  “They are intertwined.  In order to get things done, I have to be good at using the little bits of time between other activities.”  Though she faces challenges in getting everything done, Kathleen considers herself to be very lucky to be working on art full-time.  She can work at home, any hours she chooses, working late into the night while her family is asleep.  Kathleen’s determination is not lost on her children, who watch their mother pursuing her dream every day.  Her youngest son is especially supportive, congratulating her when she’s successful, and commiserating when things are tough.

In the glass world, Kathleen considers herself an intermediate artist.  She’s a constant experimenter, always trying new things, and does not limit herself to any style, but prefers to move in new directions whenever possible.  Some artists stay in one safe place, but not Kathleen.  Her main art influence is Dale Chihuly, who founded the school she attended, and the many glass artists whose work she has viewed over the years.  She also credits her husband for his loyalty and support.  His encouragement helped Kathleen build her career.

Kathleen’s philosophy is that no one is entitled to success, but that hard work and determination are the main ingredients to anything worth pursuing.  These values are evident in her career path: from hairstylist to managing adult education programs to glass artist, Kathleen has always allowed her curiosity and love of learning to determine her next step.  

Like many artists, Kathleen wishes she could spend more time in the studio and less time on business tasks.  All artists need a public that appreciates and buys art, and Kathleen wishes for that too.  She shows her work in many galleries, which include Ariana Gallery, Cervini Haas, Dane Gallery, Edgewood Orchard Galleries, Judy Youens Gallery, Pismo Fine Art Glass, Prism Contemporary Glass, and Traver Gallery, to name a few.  Lately, she’s begun an on-line auction, with a new, small piece every week. 

This quote from Kathleen’s website sums up her attitude towards art and life: “Art returns us to a mood of wonder and appreciation, helps us stay centered in the face of our culture. Its beauty, strength and clarity can be inspiration for us in our own lives.”

To see images of Kathleen Elliot’s art glass sculptures, buy one of her auction pieces, or read her blog, visit www.kathleenelliot.com.  She is also a member of the Silicon Valley Artists Collaborative.