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Artist Jenny Gaynor stops by home and living with gift ideas
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Talented glass artist Jenny Gaynor stops by today to talk about art, her projects, and her life.
Q.: Jenny, will you tell Home and Living Readers a little about your background?
A.: I started blowing glass in 1999 just before going to get my Master’s degree in Art Therapy. I continued to train as a furnace glass blower throughout my schooling and afterwards at a public studio while I worked with adolescents in a residential treatment center. My goal with both my jewelry line and my vases is to really create functional art with meaning that people can use every single day.
Q.: How did you first get interested in working with glass?
A.: I took my first glassblowing class at Tulane University in New Orleans. After that I was hooked and spent the next 6 + years learning wherever I could. I studied in Brooklyn, NY and also spent two summers teaching and apprenticing in Murano, Italy. Finally in 2005 I moved to Los Angeles, and began putting together all my training by starting a line of lampwork jewelry and photo transfer memory vases.
Q.: You have studied in Europe, is that right? Would you tell us something about that?
A.: My experience in Italy was formative in so many ways. More than just learning how to make the perfect goblet or retticello, I learned the value of the design portion of the artistic process and how to delegate production to others. I now design the vases but allow other people to blow the glass. I still do all of my own lampworking on my line of jewelry which I learned in Italy. This was the second most valuable lesson I learned there – the amazing things you can make on a torch. Before I went to Italy I was definitely partial to furnace glassblowing, now the only glass work I do is on the torch!
Q.: What types of art products are you selling currently?
A.: I currently sell handmade glass jewelry and custom Memory Vases. I use a lot of symbolism in my jewelry and the vases are all one of a kind.
Q.: I see you’ve created glass photo art, how did that come about?
I made my first photo transfer Memory Vase as a project for a glassblowing class. I learned the technique from my teacher who was a ceramic artist as well. The ceramics department was next door and they used decals frequently so I transferred the idea to glass. This original vase was a tribute to the Italian masters who taught me and contains all my colorful photos from Italy.
Q.: What is your most favorite product and why?
A.: My favorite product at any given time is usually the most recent design I’ve done. Currently I wear the 32” diamond necklace all the time. I also love my glass initial pendants because it is an extremely unique process I developed and they look like little candies!
Q.: How are customers using your unique photo glasswork?
A.: I have created the most wonderful Memory Vases for people. I love seeing what my customers come up with and they enjoy getting creative and putting their unique touch on the vase. I have made vases as gifts for retirements, anniversaries, weddings, birthdays, and any other special occasion you can think of.
Q.: How can Home and Living Readers find you?
A.: My glass jewelry and vases are sold in hundreds of stores within the United States. You can also visit my website at www.jennygaynor.com.
Q.: Is there anything else you would like to tell Home and Living Readers?
A.: I would love to stress the importance of supporting products made in the USA. I am so grateful that I am able to create these meaningful items for people every day. Also, I will be having a holiday promotion on my mini vase – from November 15-December 25th it will sell for only $95 (regular price $150).
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