Firedance Beads Art Glass Studio

Paul Rouleau's Firedance Beads Art Glass Studio is located in beautiful Victoria, BC on Canada's west coast.  For the past 5 years Paul has been making and exploring lampwork beads and off mandrel glass pendants.  This year he's focused more on lampwork glass buttons and cabochons for necklaces and rings.  This fall begins a new avenue of study in hand-forging silver.  He is really excited about setting up a workbench and learning more about this wonderful shiny metal.

Paul fell in love with glasswork while watching some glass artists in Mexico over 30 years ago.  He always wanted to try it, but thought it required huge annealing kilns and glory holes, big tools and big space in which to work. Facing the space contraints of a small urban apartment, Paul instead focused on photography and the healing arts.  He had yet to discover lampwork.

''Every day I sit in awe at how an injury can change one's life in ways that are mysterious and wonderful, if sometimes confusing.''

In 2000, Paul suffered a bad neck injury that forced him to give up his livelihood as an acupressure therapist.  He found himself living in chronic pain with damaged nerves sending his hands bad messages.  Paul thought that fine hand coordination and artistic endeavours were a thing of the past for him.  Fortunately, the brain is a wonderful thing that keeps learning and adapting, and with perseverance his hands keep getting better, with fewer spasms and more control. 

He began lampworking glass in 2005 with his life partner, Helen of Earotica Jewelry. Together, they took their first basic bead making workshop on a typical Victoria winter evening. It was cold, wet and very dark outside. The little workroom at Glass-Smith & Co. seemed welcoming and cozy in comparison and they were warmly greeted by Nicole Valentine, the instructor for the weekend. Feeling apprehensive and a little childlike with enthusiasm Paul learned torch basics and safety tips, and then watched as Nicole showed them how easy it is to make a simple bead. After picking out glass rods and a work station Paul proceeded to light the torch and set out to make a "simple bead".

''Everyday I go to the studio the glass teaches me new lessons.''

Paul says of that first experience, ''Let me tell you, 'simple' seems to have a different meaning when others do things. For me it was 'let's make a glass puddle' as I eagerly applied abundant torch heat to the glass rod. I hadn't tried to wrap any of the melting glass onto a mandrel and already I had a slag heap going.Well, that was then. Although I still make the occasional puddle on the workbench I can now wrap molten glass on a mandrel ... on a good day.''

'' I love finding new ways to work it into shapes and forms with colours that are appealing and desirable. I love the process of discovery, learning and playing ...''

 

See more of Paul's art at the following websites.

http://firedancebeads.com
http://firedancebeads.etsy.com
http://firedancephotography.etsy.com
http://paulsbuttons.etsy.com
http://firedancebeads.artfire.com
http://earotica.etsy.com  This site features Helen's jewelry incorporating glass creations.
 
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This post was contributed by Brandi of Enthral Designs Silver Jewelry in Winnipeg, Manitoba.