Glass Art by Don Hall
I have always wanted to create works of art and have explored
many avenues in the art world. Drawing, clay sculpture, ceramics,
paintings on glass, rock art to name a few, and have enjoyed
everything I have explored in the art world but nothing captured me
as much as working raw glass. What I didn’t realize was glass was
poking its finger at me from the time I was a little boy and I
didn’t notice until I was 30 years old. Throughout my childhood I’d
go to the fair and watch the glass-worker making sculptures and
such.
I was so drawn to it, I didn’t even care about the rides. I used
to try and make those long-neck bottles that were stretched out and
put sand in them, and without fail they broke on me every time! I
gave that up, and painted on car windows and glass. I have taken a
torch to glass many times trying to create great things out of
bottles and window glass. All the while access to information then
was very limited, and living remote has caused me to learn my art
the hard way - by trial and plenty of error, and the discovery of
“annealing“ glass to prevent shattering!
We live remote in the high desert of Eastern Oregon, just 15
miles East of Burns. I became disabled in the mid 90’s with back
problems, Myositis, and Osteoarthritis (and more - full discovery
has yet to be made on my conditions). So I was limited to what I
could do - I was grounded to a couch and light duty for a few years.
At the time we lived in Christmas Valley, Oregon (basically in the
middle of nowhere - and for many years not even on a map!). Not
being able to do ranch work with the onset of these disabilities, I
was grounded, and the artistic side of me started awakening
again.
A close friend invited me to tag along to the Fair in Eugene, and
the first evening there, I spotted the flame of the glassblower and
I was riveted again to the art of working hot glass! I stayed there
and watched, and he let me try my hand at it, and I was hooked
immediately. I quickly contacted suppliers and started working - it
was low-impact work in my condition, and I was getting rewarded by
the outcomes of what I could create! It was FUN!
Not being able to travel and have access to books, I had to learn
the hard way, “on my own” I cannot tell you how many thousands of
dollars I have wasted in glass - just learning . Even though cost me
a lot, I am happy with all I have learned on my own. But as a word
of advice to anyone interested in learning the art - take the time
and learn if you have access. It will prevent you from becoming
discouraged as you start your journey into the glass art world.
With online computer access, I have made many friends out there
in the glass world and its fun to bounce ideas off each other and
learn new tricks and techniques. A big THANK-YOU to all who have
helped me out. I like to teach and help others out whenever I can
and hope to start my own class in the near future.
We still own the ranch (Whinny Farms:Stallion Station and Horse
Training ), and continue to breed, raise, train and market American
Quarter Horses, Paint/Pintos, Arabians, and Sport-Horses. We train
the horses we raise and accept outside horses of all breeds on a
limited basis due to my conditions. You Can visit Whinny Farms at www.whinnyfarms.com
