By Megan Melton
As a young girl, Anne Simon spent hours drawing in her sketchbook. In her hometown of Cincinnati, she dreamed of becoming a designer. Time would tick away as she worked on one creation after another, sketchbook in tow.
Now, Simon is living her dream. In 2005, she opened Wish Art Glass, a studio and gallery for her work and designs by other artists that she operates out of her home in Whitestown’s Eagle’s Nest neighborhood.
But glass hasn’t always been her forte.
Simon first worked with glass in 1996, when she owned a small shop filled with vintage clothing and small art items from local artists.
What her customers requested most were stained glass home décor items, inspired by some beautiful pieces of stained glass jewelry in her store.
“I asked the jewelry artists, but they weren’t interested,” she said. “So I thought, ‘I’ll do it.”
Armed with determination and curiosity, she bought some basic supplies and taught herself how to work with stained glass.
“Not long after, I started making candleholders, and then lanterns,” she said.
After she had mastered the stained glass elements, Simon decided to take her work to the next level and began researching fused glass.
“It took a lot of experimentation,” she said, “but I finally found a process that worked for me.”
It’s a style that’s resonated with many people who have seen her work, according to Terry Taylor-Norbu, president of the Indiana Glass Guild.
“In my years in working with glass and selling it, people are really drawn to it. They want to touch it, feel it. It’s very tactile,” Taylor-Norbu said. “Anne’s work draws you in and makes you want to hold it, brush your fingers along the ridges and bumps to get to the smooth, cool spaces. She understands how her pieces are to function together and understands what color choices to make. That isn’t something you can teach someone in an afternoon.”
Although her skills have advanced through the years, as she now creates sculptures and garden décor, she still makes the lanterns and candleholders that started her adventure as a self-taught designer in glass.
Even now, with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Xavier University, as a successful artist and with a family of her own, Simon still loves working with glass.
“I enjoy the design process,” she said. “I have an idea, draw my design, work on a prototype, work out any problems with the original design, then refine and finish. The longer that I’ve been working with glass, the easier it has become for me to anticipate problems. I love thinking through the issues, then making a beautiful, final piece.”
Simon said that being self-taught is what makes her work unique.
“My ideas about what is possible haven’t been influenced by an instructor,” Simon said. “Instead of copying someone’s style to learn a technique, I instead have an idea of what I want to make and figure out what I need to do to get the idea to fruition.”
Simon’s work typically features modern lines with elegant flourishes. Most of her pieces are functional, from jewelry to large garden ornaments.
Another important aspect of Anne’s technique is research and experimentation.
“I love to experiment and mix different methods,” she said. “I include a number of different techniques and processes in my work, including many of my original drawings.”
Anne’s advice
What advice do you have for beginners working with glass?
“Prepare to experiment. Every experiment, whether successful or not, gives important information and a deeper understanding of the process.
“If doing fused glass, educate yourself about the technical aspects. Coefficients of expansion, viscosity and annealing are topics that need to be mastered if you want your pieces to last. Glass manufacturers and the Internet have some excellent information available.
“Also, Band-Aids. You will need many Band-Aids.”
What was one of the biggest mistakes you’ve made that has taught you a valuable lesson and/or made you a better artist?
“I make mistakes on a daily basis. I have learned that this is part of the process. Take the information learned to make your next piece better.”
What is the trickiest part about working with glass?
“Glass can break. It can cut and burn you. Safety measures are very important. Safety equipment can include gloves, a respirator for fumes or particulate matter and safety glasses. More advanced forms of glass often require more safety equipment.”
Any tips/tricks to share?
“I would suggest that anyone starting in glass should read as much as possible about the type of glass that he/she would like to make. For example, if you find that you would like to make fused glass, but realize that you don’t have room for a kiln, stained glass may be a better choice. After reading, if you feel confident, then give it a go. If you feel that you need personal instruction, sign up for a class.”
