Paul's Buttons

I remember as a child, playing with buttons at Grandma's house. She had a one gallon jar full of buttons and it was so much fun pouring them onto the table and seeing how many were the same and which ones were really unique. Well - it's to bad she didn't have buttons this unique and beautiful :)

*Where are you from?
I live and melt glass into unique creations in beautiful Victoria BC Canada.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
Like a great many artists and crafts-persons I have been associated with art and creativity my whole life. I've been a graphic artist, photographer, sculptor, visual artist and now I mostly focus on glass, jewelry and photography.

*How did you decide on your shop name?
Firedance is a name that I've always enjoyed. It reminds me of the actual fire-walking ceremonies I've witnessed and more so the way glass can behave in the flame. Sometimes the dance gets a bit out of control and the glass ends up on the table, much like the dance of life.

*Why did you start your business?
I started melting glass into beads and later into other artworks to fill a need in my wife's supply line for her jewelry making. I knew I could or at least I thought I could make many of the beads she was paying big bucks for.

*What or who inspires you?
Life, love, nature, beauty and a strong desire to see what else I can be make by my hands and my mind is what inspires me. That, along with all the fantastic artists whom I've had the great privilege to know and will come to know.

*What are 5 things you want people to think when they see your product?
Primarily I would prefer if people did not think when they perceive my works. I encourage you to feel what moves inside yourself when you hold or see my glass or photos. Just feel the play of light, colour and textures and try to bypass the thinking brain for a moment.

*What's your supply addiction; is there a specific color or type of supply you just can't pass up?
Why would I want o pass up on anything that stimulates my creative juices? I'm addicted to all of it!

*What do you do when you are not being an artist?
I don't know how to separate from being an artist. Art permeates every activity I engage in.

What activities do you enjoy?
Walking in nature, taking photos, sharing meals with friends, listening to music, exercising and stretching, melting glass, polishing glass, making jewelry, and so much more.

*Which item in your shop did you enjoy making the most and why?
I enjoyed making the off-mandrel pendant and buttons the most. Working freely with glass and not having a mandrel to wrap a glob onto is very liberating and at time frustrating. It stretches me in every way when I make buttons and do off-mandrel glass work.

*Are there other places on the net we can find you?
http://www.firedancebeads.com