Presents

Featured Glass Artist & Artisan Jewelry Designer

Dawn M Lombard

"I find that I do my best work when I simply let the glass take over while listening to some great jazz..."

Dawn M Lombard has been making lampwork beads for three years – but, as she says, “since I am only able to focus on my art on the weekends (I work full time as a sales analyst for a pharmaceutical company) – I would say I have been lampworking for roughly 78 days,” and considers herself a newbie.

“My sister Sara dragged me, kicking and screaming (literally), to an introductory lampwork bead class,” says Dawn, adding, “I have absolutely no patience, am a Type-A, instant gratification kinda gal, and didn’t think I could sit and melt glass without getting frustrated and bored. Boy was I wrong! Within the first hour I was hooked, and it has completely changed my life (COMPLETELY) – all thanks to my sister.”

She planned to be a graphic designer while in college and was majoring in studio art. Dawn shares, “During those years, computers were becoming mainstream, and hand-rendered graphics were becoming a thing of the past (thanks for the heads up, dad). Knowing that I didn’t want to sit in front of a computer all day, I changed my major to marketing and continued with a minor in studio art. Now, more than 15 years later, I am sitting in front of a computer for 10+ hours a day working with data – who would have thought? Beading has brought me back to that passion I had for art so many years ago – it has almost been a rebirth for me.”

Dawn has studied with Lauri Copeland, Nancy Tobey, and Cynthia Liebler Saari. “I am anxious to continue my studies and am actively looking for more classes to advance my skills,” she exclaims.

“I am fascinated with the chemical reaction that silver-content glass has. There have been times that I have worked an entire session with just one rod of color (especially with borosilicate) and produce so many different variations of color. Playing with a reduction flame is amazing, and sometimes I have a challenge reproducing the same color effect twice,” says Dawn.

We asked Dawn which lampwork artist inspired her most, to which she replied, “Do I have to choose just one? Cynthia Liebler Saari has the most beautiful color combinations I have ever seen. There is a simple elegance to her designs (and shapes) that have been my inspiration. Kate Fowle is another all time favorite. Her newest electroformed beads absolutely amaze me and I am looking forward to trying this technique on my own soon.”

Her family, particularly her sister (who was the one who dragged her to that introductory class) teases her a lot. She says, “[my sister] didn’t continue on with making lampwork, but does have an amazing talent as a natural stone jewelry designer. My mother is extremely supportive and has recently purchased a torch as well. I often rush to her house after a session to show her my creations. My boyfriend even shares my passion for lampworking as we are quite competitive in our bead making sessions (he is very good at making hollow beads – I am so envious).”

“I currently have two studios,” Dawn tells us, “Studio North and Studio South. In the winter, I spend my time in Studio North (a room designated and designed just for me to do lampworking at my boyfriend’s house) where we use a Hellcat. At Studio South, my garage studio, I use a mini Carlisle CC. I think I am now spoiled with the Hellcat as I can use it for both soft and hard glass with ease. I find the mini CC rather challenging for shaping borosilicate beads.

What techniques does Dawn prefer when making beads? She responds, “I don’t believe I use ‘techniques’ – I find that I do my best work when I simply let the glass take over while listening to some great jazz – as strange as that sounds. Lately, continue to find myself following the style of Saari – creating soft bicone shapes with ebony caps. I do also love the effect of applying silver leaf to a dark ivory base – the end result is breathtaking.

Most of Dawn’s creative time is spent making focal beads, but says she has been teased by her mother for not making complimentary spacer beads. She now ‘forces’ herself to always make sure she creates at least 2 to 4 like-color spacer beads; ensuring she has the makings for a piece of finished jewelry.

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Signature beads are something we all strive for, and Dawn is no exception. She believes she has two signature beads. She explains, “One is my ‘Pencil’ bead – a narrow, tubular bead that is typically coated with many, many layers of enamel – thus creating a bead that has incredible depth. The second is my soft bicone – an over-sized bead that I like to call my ‘long football’. I have also played with using a lapidary wheel with some of my boro beads – faceted boro is simply amazing to see.

My pencil bead was a complete accident. It was the first time I was working with enamel, and after I did the first two layers, I got the bead too hot and disrupted the shape. So I needed to re-heat to get to a glow and fix the shape. As I was in the process of heating the bead, I noticed the enamel starting to bubble. I thought, ‘Oh no, I just burned the enamel’ and thought for sure my bead would be sooty. The next morning when I took it out of the annealer – I had found the most amazing effect – the color became a part of the base bead like I had never seen before. It was magical.”

Her first beads and her current beads are “like night and day,” Dawn says. She continues, “I often find myself looking at them when I get particularly hard on myself for not having a ‘perfect’ beading session (and that happens often). Those beads bring me back to reality and allow me to appreciate where I am today.”

Dawn sells her beads, exclusively, at a the number one rated bead store in Connecticut, ‘A Bead of Roses’ in Monroe and sells her finished jewelry pieces at ‘The Gilded Lily’ gallery in Milford. She is scheduled to do a live demonstration and sell her work at the Killingworth Art Center’s ‘Artist Trail’ in October, and has been invited, for the second year, to show at The Guilford Art Center’s, ‘Artistry 2009’ in November. She has also has established an online store on Etsy but says she finds that people need to see and feel the beads in person to appreciate (and buy) them.

We wondered where she saw herself in the future with respect to lampworking. She replied, “I am striving to be a renowned lampwork artist and teacher in Connecticut - teaching at Brookfield Craft Center and privately. That is my dream.” Another of Dawn’s dreams is to meet Kate Fowle in person, she says, “Her electroformed beads are truly breath taking. I love her style.”

Dawn’s question to those who have made lampworking their full time job is, “How do you make the transition from hobby to full-time career? How do you know if you are good enough? I question my future every day!” A

Please join me in the forum to congratulate Dawn, or ask her questions regarding her work. Click here to go directly to the thread.

You can see more of her work at her Etsy store and on her blog.

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