Artist's Statement

I create beads and jewelry pieces that are not only functional but also very contemporary and allow for self-expression through self-adornment.  The colors I use are always intense and vibrant.  A favorite color from my palette of glass actually has no color whatsoever, I love working with clear glass.  Clear glass allows me to create depth and intensity in my work.  On my focal beads it is entirely possible that there will be more clear glass than any other color.  Creating the illusion of looking through a thick window to see the amazing treasures hidden on the other side, is a constant theme in my work and I achieve this through the use of layers of clear glass.  I strive to find inspiration from many different sources, nature being one of the biggest influences on my selection of color, but no matter the inspiration I always ensure that each bead can be enjoyed individually for its beauty and craftsmanship.             All of my beads are made using either American made Bullseye glass or Moretti glass from Italy.  Each bead is created using a Lynx torch running an oxygen and propane mixture.  The glass I work with becomes molten around 1,200 degrees, and the torch I use runs at temperatures ranging from 1,400 to 1,600 degrees.  Each bead goes straight from the torch to a kiln to be annealed.  Each is soaked at 960 degrees for at least an hour, after which the temperature is slowly reduced to allow the annealed bead to become durable.  Every bead I create is a one of a kind piece of art.    Thom Crider