Art Chowder January | February 2021 Issue No. 31 | Page 21

Yvette : I ’ ve done a fair amount of traveling . Again , because of being a host mom , I had kids from all over the world : South America , Germany , France , and the U . K . So I ’ ve had opportunities to go see them . It was kind of like payback time .
Yeah , ya know , I would call them and say , “ Okay , it ’ s payback time ! I ’ m coming to spend a week or two weeks with you .” We made great memories because not only did I get to visit my kids again but I got to know their parents too . It was a lot of fun .
M . J .: So when the pandemic is under control , is there any place you ’ d like to go ?
Yvette : Um , you know I ’ d like to go to Thailand . I ’ m drawn to the amazing art there and I ’ d love to go see what might inspire my next series .
M . J .: So , when you are starting a new piece , do you plan it all out or create as you go ?
Yvette : My process is both organized and disorganized . I definitely envision my glass pieces before I start ... Sometimes , for me , it can be inspired by a dream , a picture , or even just a canvas . Then I have a mini-plan . A starting point .
I usually work on several pieces at a time because I get bored . So I work on three or four at a time and I am definitely keeping in mind that it has to work with shattered glass . I usually don ’ t sleep well for the first night because my brain is working out the details .
The next day I start a rough sketch ; then the work usually just takes over . I follow my impulses and all hell breaks loose . I go nuts ! Some would describe it as a zone you cross into and I totally agree . I start with painting , then usually hours of gluing glass to the piece . It ’ s the process I love the most about glass art . It ’ s very meditative and the pieces of glass just fit right .
When I emerge from my peaceful daze , I am a little out of myself . The final touch is usually adding more details and then VOILA ! It ’ s finished .
Thankfully , my partner , David , takes care of the business end of things . All the paperwork , finances , and stuff so I can do what I do . He ’ s great !
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