News, Articles, Tutorials and Noteworthy Press
From Water's Edge to Downtown Heart: A New Chapter for Paula Radke Art Glass
Dear friends,
Sometimes the most beautiful transformations happen when we embrace change. I'm thrilled to share that Paula Radke Art Glass has found a new home in downtown Morro Bay!
Glass artist, Paula Radke, proudly displaying one of her fused glass pieces inside her new store.
We’ve Moved!
Now Located:
921 Harbor Street,
Morro Bay, California
A Journey from Shore to Center
My new downtown location places my one-of-a-kind glass art where you can mingle with the locals. Eat and shop where they like to eat and shop. Now you can find me just steps away from the delightful and new, Nautical Bean Coffee Brewers next door (perfect for grabbing a coffee before or after browsing my latest collections!), and the Saturday Farmer’s Market. I am surrounded by the energy and creativity that makes our community so special.
I can hear my mentor, Boyce Lundstrum, now…”Never refuse to re-fuse! It may become something even more beautiful than its original form!”
The Art of Moving Glass And Growing Stronger
As you might expect, moving a glass art studio is quite the undertaking! Box after careful box of delicate beads, finished jewelry, and works-in-progress made the journey from water's edge to downtown. I'm definitely getting a workout—this whole move has made me physically and mentally stronger in ways I never anticipated.
Of course, even with the utmost care, there was a "whoopsie!" moment—a particularly expensive piece didn't make the transition intact.
But here's the thing about working with glass—and about embracing change—I wasn't too upset. If my years as a glass artist have taught me anything it’s “don’t cry over broken glass.”
That broken piece will find a second life as re- fused-glass. I can hear my mentor, Boyce Lundstrum, now…”Never refuse to re-fuse! It may become something even more beautiful than its original form!”
Japanese art of Kintsugi, reassembling broken pottery with gold in the cracks.
After sharing my little mishap, a dear friend introduced me to Kintsugi, the Japanese art of reassembling broken pottery with gold in the cracks.
The philosophy behind it is profound: the broken pieces rise from their brokenness more fascinating and beautiful than before, their cracks highlighted rather than hidden.
Isn't that exactly what this move represents? Whether it's a broken piece of glass finding a new purpose or an artist embracing a change of scenery, sometimes the most beautiful transformations come from moments that seem like endings.
Your Invitation to Come Explore With Me
There's something truly magical about shaping glass and being awed by the amazing color changes of Dichroic Glass, and I can't wait to share that incomparable pleasure and experience with you! Stay tuned for updates about those classes I have been promising you!
I aim to make my classes into a fun way to spend a Friday night for locals, out of towners, students and even other artisans and craftspeople, all sharing in the joy of creating something infused with your love and creativity.
Come visit me in my new downtown home—grab a coffee from next door, take a stroll through the neighborhood, and let's celebrate this change together.
With gratitude and excitement,
Paula Radke
Glass Artist
Paula Radke Art Glass
New Downtown Morro Bay Location
291 Harbor Street
Morro Bay, CA 93442
Same handcrafted excellence, new inspiring space
Continue expressing yourself with one-of-a-kind works of wearable glass art.
Visit: paularadke.com
Beads • Jewelry • Bracelets • Earrings • Necklaces • Art Glass
Tamara Berg’s at Home Artglass
Hosted by the Hallmark Channel, this short instructional video outlines many of the basic techniques of working at home with Artglass to create your own beautiful custom pieces.
ArtGlass Clay and Dichroic Extract Flower Pendant Tutorial
With ArtGlass Clay, you can create unusual patterns and textures in glass easily and quickly. Art-Glass Clay has allowed me a freedom to work with glass in a new way. It gives the freedom to shape glass without heat into very detailed patterns or shapes. In keeping with my love of all things dichroic, I have chosen to use another new product called Dichroic Extract from Coatings by Sandberg to add the shimmer of color to the surface of my ArtGlass Clay work.
Here Are The Tools You Will Need:
Texture stamp sheet from BarbaraMcQuire.com
Silicone mold from Wilton.com for the flower
Clay circle die cutter from Wilton.com
Clay roller (I use a short piece of PVC pipe)
A freezer or dry ice
Small round or triangular diamond file
Sandpaper
Spray bottle with water or hair spray
Soft brush
Hot plate or oven
Kiln with controller
ArtGlass Clay and Dichroic Extract
Supplies:
2 colors of ArtGlass clay: French Vanilla and Pine Green
One dichroic glass cabochon available from PaulaRadke.com
One jar of dichroic extract from CoatingsbySandberg.com (I used a Blue/Gold color)
24 inches of leather, color of your choice (I used 1.5mm silver blue from FireMountainGems.com)
6 Dichroic beads from PaulaRadke.com
Radio Interview on Public Radio KCBX
I had the pleasure of giving an interview on public radio station KCBX to Carissa Hewitt on her program called “Ears on Art”.
By Crissa Hewitt & Steven deLuque
Sep 13, 2018