The BACH, Basin Arts & Crafts House, Whangarei, New Zealand

KAREN IRWIN

Contempary Lampwork and Fused Glass Design
Label- PARADISE GLASS

Karen began making lampwork glass beads in 2005 when she took the inaugural class at the Annie Rose Studio. After attending a class by Australian artist Carol Marando what started initially as a hobby became a passion and Karen took the plunge in 2007, quitting her job and establishing her own studio at Ruakaka.

“I enjoy using colour reactive glasses and lots of silver and dichroic.For me it’s not a reproducible medium because when you are in the zone your hands, heart and mind work together without really keeping track of what you are doing. The end result is often a pleasant surprise or a total disaster – boring is one thing it’s not.”

Collaborating with other artists in other mediums Karen is now exploring mixed media jewellery pieces and small sculptural art works and hopes to establish a line of larger garden sculptures next year.


							KAREN IRWIN Contempary Lampwork and Fused Glass Design Label- PARADISE GLASS Karen began making lampwork glass beads in 2005 when she took the inaugural class at the Annie Rose Studio. After attending a class by Australian artist Carol Marando what started initially as a hobby became a passion and Karen took the plunge in 2007, quitting her job and establishing her own studio at Ruakaka. “I enjoy using colour reactive glasses and lots of silver and dichroic.For me it’s not a reproducible medium because when you are in the zone your hands, heart and mind work together without really keeping track of what you are doing. The end result is often a pleasant surprise or a total disaster – boring is one thing it’s not.” Collaborating with other artists in other mediums Karen is now exploring mixed media jewellery pieces and small sculptural art works and hopes to establish a line of larger garden sculptures next year.