Artist Profile: Nate Penick

A Window on the World of Nate Penick and the Art of Glass Blowing

By Natalie Del Valle

It can be hard to imagine that a smooth, round marble, that is cool to the touch now, was once a lump of molten glass. However, to Georgias Nate Penick, 19, this little fact would begin his interest in glass blowing and eventually lead him to discover his passion as a glass smith.

Nates fascination for glass blowing started in the early years of high school, although that wasnt his intended pathway at the time. I was originally into photography. Then, one day while I was trying to capture a photograph of a marble, I started to wonder how it had been made, Nate says. From that moment on, he fell in love with the idea of glass blowing. He spent a lot of time researching and studying the art, and the more he learned, the more enthralled he became with it. He continued his studies in the techniques of glass blowing and was inspired by glass smith and mentor, Robert Mickelsen. He took his first actual class as a high school junior. Robert told me I had a real talent for working with glass, and I just loved it, Nate says. He ended up taking 30 to 40 hours of formal training to learn how to use the special tools needed to shape the glass before venturing off on his own.

Now, Nate makes marbles, bracelets, elaborate pendants and little glass sculptures he calls creatures. He creates 40 to 50 pieces a week, sometimes more. I make the pieces as they are requested, and sometimes, I get asked to make custom pieces, Nate says. It takes him anywhere from 25 to 30 minutes to create a single piece, but it can take over an hour for some of the more intricate flower pendants to come together. Once you get the hang of the basics of glass blowing, you can create whatever you want and can imagine, but it can be hard, and a lot of people give up. I must have broken three times as many pieces as Ive actually made, he says. However, despite all the gorgeous, detailed pieces Nate has created over time, he takes the most pride in his first creation, which is a small pendent.

Interestingly, Nate doesnt just use clear and colored glass in his pieces to make them beautiful. He also uses silver, gold and crushed jewels, such as opal, that can withstand the heat of the glass in which its encased. The glass is very hot while working with it. It runs around 1200 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter, and the flames have to be at an even higher temperature to melt the glass down, Nate stated.  Nate uses the colorful glass, metals and stones to create pendants that look like a window to outer space or as though he has perfectly preserved a colorful flower. As of now, Nate creates his art at home. Soon,  Nate will get a warehouse to continue his passion.

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