Long Island Art! Interviews Stained Glass Artist, Brian van Kuik
Long Island Art! is always learning about
unique art forms and the talented artists who work in all of those
mediums. An old-fashioned medium is given a fresh life by artist Brian
van Kuik, who does his work in stained glass. Long Island Art! learned a
bit about what inspires Mr. van Kuik and what “foils” his productivity.
Long Island Art!: First, we’d love to know who inspired you to pursue a career in stained glass?
Brian van Kuik: A career? Um…I would have to actually say my friend Martha, and a bartender. Basically, two people I met one day who both said, “why aren’t you selling your glass?” I thought, Well, okay. So I had some business cards made up. Never thought of it as a career, though. Basically just something to keep the hobby going.
LIA!: What was the first piece you ever made?
BvK: The first piece I ever made is actually sitting in my office. It’s a yellow cross with red diamonds and ends. I had just gotten a kit as a gift and just wanted to make something. Really poorly made, too. So, of course it’s hanging in my office. I’d have to do a ton of work on it to ever make it “sellable.”
LIA!: How old were you when you started?
BvK: 5,375. I was living in my other place. I think I got my kit in 2006.
LIA!: Aside from custom works and craft fairs, do you have any events or galleries you want to attend to display your work?
BvK: I would like to get a few of my pieces into a gallery, but I don’t know which I’d like to get into. Whoever is willing to show my work, I guess. And only after I get a few more showpieces done.
LIA!: Have you tried to get into Ripe Art Gallery?
BvK: Not yet. I’d like to try.
LIA!: They’re great there. Any events you would like to tell the public about?
BvK: I don’t have any events coming up right now. I’m just working on getting pieces done. Though, I’d like to get into the New York Witch Festival in October.
LIA!: What’s on the cutting board at the moment?
BvK: My fingers! But really a piece for a friend who is redoing my business cards. A commission piece. I have a few other sketches I want to try to turn into glass, too. Some using glass my mother gave me from when she used to make stained glass pieces.
LIA!: When do you find you are best able to focus on your work? Do you think other artists would benefit from trying this technique?
BvK: I don’t know if other artists would benefit, so to speak, but I work best late at night. It depends on who is around, too. I have trouble working creatively around some people.
LIA!: The wrong company is definitely a distraction. Aside from that, what is the greatest distraction you have?
BvK: TV and video games. If I had Cable, I wouldn’t accomplish anything.
LIA!: No Cable? Wow! You must be really focused on your goals to eliminate Cable. With that in mind, what are your “big picture” goals for your creative work?
BvK: I don’t have any goals aside from some ideas I want to see through. Some will take more planning than others, but just take inspiration from products I see at the glass store.
LIA!: What are the overall goals for your business?
BvK: At the moment, I want my business to be self-sustaining. Ultimately, I’d love to be able to support myself on it.
LIA!: You can do it.
BvK: I could, but I have to get to the skill level necessary to do custom pieces for people who are really well off!
LIA!: We’re sure you’d already appeal to them. Regardless of what they like, what is your favorite piece you’ve made to date?
BvK: I would say it’s my Buddhist Knot. Then my Inushuk: that’s a nice finished-looking piece in a wooden frame.
LIA!: Looking back on your experience in your craft, what advice can you offer aspiring artists?
BvK: Dabble until you find the mediums that work for you. I have a lot of interests, but glass was just the medium that worked best for me.
LIA!: Where should people go to purchase from you or to order a custom piece?
BvK: Right now the best way is through my Facebook page, Taomoon’s Workshop. The “For Sale” folder has all available pieces with prices. As for customs, just send me a private message. We can meet to discuss it if you’re local enough. If not, we can just discuss it through chat.
To see Brian’s glass creations or to speak with him about his work, follow this link: http://www.facebook.com/TaomoonsWorkshop?ref=ts&fref=ts
Veronica Spettmann Reporting
Published: February 24, 2013
Long Island Art!: First, we’d love to know who inspired you to pursue a career in stained glass?
Brian van Kuik: A career? Um…I would have to actually say my friend Martha, and a bartender. Basically, two people I met one day who both said, “why aren’t you selling your glass?” I thought, Well, okay. So I had some business cards made up. Never thought of it as a career, though. Basically just something to keep the hobby going.
LIA!: What was the first piece you ever made?
BvK: The first piece I ever made is actually sitting in my office. It’s a yellow cross with red diamonds and ends. I had just gotten a kit as a gift and just wanted to make something. Really poorly made, too. So, of course it’s hanging in my office. I’d have to do a ton of work on it to ever make it “sellable.”
LIA!: How old were you when you started?
BvK: 5,375. I was living in my other place. I think I got my kit in 2006.
LIA!: Aside from custom works and craft fairs, do you have any events or galleries you want to attend to display your work?
BvK: I would like to get a few of my pieces into a gallery, but I don’t know which I’d like to get into. Whoever is willing to show my work, I guess. And only after I get a few more showpieces done.
LIA!: Have you tried to get into Ripe Art Gallery?
BvK: Not yet. I’d like to try.
LIA!: They’re great there. Any events you would like to tell the public about?
BvK: I don’t have any events coming up right now. I’m just working on getting pieces done. Though, I’d like to get into the New York Witch Festival in October.
LIA!: What’s on the cutting board at the moment?
BvK: My fingers! But really a piece for a friend who is redoing my business cards. A commission piece. I have a few other sketches I want to try to turn into glass, too. Some using glass my mother gave me from when she used to make stained glass pieces.
LIA!: When do you find you are best able to focus on your work? Do you think other artists would benefit from trying this technique?
BvK: I don’t know if other artists would benefit, so to speak, but I work best late at night. It depends on who is around, too. I have trouble working creatively around some people.
LIA!: The wrong company is definitely a distraction. Aside from that, what is the greatest distraction you have?
BvK: TV and video games. If I had Cable, I wouldn’t accomplish anything.
LIA!: No Cable? Wow! You must be really focused on your goals to eliminate Cable. With that in mind, what are your “big picture” goals for your creative work?
BvK: I don’t have any goals aside from some ideas I want to see through. Some will take more planning than others, but just take inspiration from products I see at the glass store.
LIA!: What are the overall goals for your business?
BvK: At the moment, I want my business to be self-sustaining. Ultimately, I’d love to be able to support myself on it.
LIA!: You can do it.
BvK: I could, but I have to get to the skill level necessary to do custom pieces for people who are really well off!
LIA!: We’re sure you’d already appeal to them. Regardless of what they like, what is your favorite piece you’ve made to date?
BvK: I would say it’s my Buddhist Knot. Then my Inushuk: that’s a nice finished-looking piece in a wooden frame.
LIA!: Looking back on your experience in your craft, what advice can you offer aspiring artists?
BvK: Dabble until you find the mediums that work for you. I have a lot of interests, but glass was just the medium that worked best for me.
LIA!: Where should people go to purchase from you or to order a custom piece?
BvK: Right now the best way is through my Facebook page, Taomoon’s Workshop. The “For Sale” folder has all available pieces with prices. As for customs, just send me a private message. We can meet to discuss it if you’re local enough. If not, we can just discuss it through chat.
To see Brian’s glass creations or to speak with him about his work, follow this link: http://www.facebook.com/TaomoonsWorkshop?ref=ts&fref=ts
Veronica Spettmann Reporting
Published: February 24, 2013
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