ABOUT US

FROM THE ARTISTS

In the work done at Cloudmaker Studio, we believe, lives a part of everyone whose energies have helped create each piece. We believe in the essence of art -- that it rises from the challenge to create a more perfect beast and it draws it’s breath from the energy of everything that touches the mind, heart and spirit of the artist. This energy lives within the glass and lead and is transmitted to other minds, hearts and spirits by the universal energy of light.

In our work, we try to bring our visions of art to life in stained glass. All design work is original. Crystal Taylor also works in oils and pastels. A fine artist, not a glass technician, she brings fine art design to the realm of stained glass. Other design work is created by D.P. Taylor. Both are award-winning artists.

The work that Cloudmaker Studio creates is done mainly in traditional lead came techniques. These are the same basic techniques that have constructed the windows in Europe, Asia, and Africa for over I ,000 years.

First, we hand cut a copy of the original art design with a special double-bladed knife. An area of glass is selected for color, grain, and texture for each pattern piece. Each piece of pattern (made of heavy paper) is placed over the chosen area of the glass, then drawn around with a marker and cut out. This is done with a hand held glasscutter and pliers. As the pieces are cut, they are placed on a large light easel with dabs of putty. This glass easel allows us to view the panel with true light and movement before it is leaded together. If everything is acceptable at this point, the pieces are then ready to lead. This is a process of fitting each piece one-by-one back to the original art design and locking them together with a webbing of lead came. When the leading is complete, each joint (intersection) is then soldered with 60% tinI4O% lead solder with a hand held iron at about 370 degrees Fahrenheit. The final step is cementing or mudding. This is done with a mixture of Whiting, Plaster-of-Paris, Portland cement, turpentine and linseed oil. This is forced into the lead came with brushes and partially allowed to dry. The panel is then brushed, picked, and buffed clean.
 
In more than a millennium, there have been considerable improvements and greater knowledge gained in ways to construct glass panels for even longer life. We believe what we do is a marriage of the old and the new, and that “Cloudmaker” studio, in its time, will contribute to the continuation of that 1,000 year old legacy, and is taking the art of stained glass into the 21st century. Owning an original Cloudmaker piece of art is owning a piece of history.
 
Cloudmaker Studio, Doug and Crystal Taylor Chris Konz