This month my bestie Lela and I decided it was time for another creative adventure, so we headed back to Paint with a Twist for a fun night of art, laughs, and a little bit of chaos! There’s just something special about taking classes together—we always have the best time catching up, getting inspired, and seeing how completely different our projects turn out. Between the paint and plenty of conversation along the way, it turned into one of those evenings that reminds me why creating art with friends is so much fun.
Lela and I finally took a resin and glass class this month at Paint with a Twist, and I’ve been wanting to try one of these classes for quite a while! I originally ordered the Colorado flag design for myself, but unfortunately, they didn’t have it available when we arrived. Honestly though, once I saw all the different options, it was hard to choose because they had so many fun designs. They even had a turtle sample displayed to show different techniques and ideas for creating the resin pieces.
Here is Lela’s finished resin art piece, and I absolutely love it! Sunflowers have always been one of my favorite flowers, so I was excited to see how hers would turn out. Lela is incredibly talented and did a magnificent job bringing this piece to life. The colors, texture, and little details all came together so beautifully, and the resin gave it such a rich, vibrant look. Watching everyone’s projects develop throughout the class was so much fun, but Lela’s sunflower was definitely one that caught everyone’s attention.
I chose the mountain landscape because it immediately reminded me of Colorado and the mountains I love so much. It was such a fun experience learning how resin, glass, and color all work together to create something unique. Here is my finished resin mountain scene! One of the things I really loved about the supplies Paint with a Twist offered was that they didn’t just provide glass—they also had shells, rocks, and other textured elements to work with. Since I absolutely love texture in artwork, I couldn’t resist adding some of those natural pieces into my design. I think the shells and rocks gave the mountains and landscape more depth and personality, making the piece feel a little more organic and connected to nature. It was fun stepping outside my usual fused glass techniques and experimenting with different materials in a whole new way.
Here is my finished mountain landscape resin piece hanging in my inspiration room. I really love how it turned out, especially all of the texture and sparkle created by the different materials. The crushed glass catches the light beautifully, while the stones and shells add a natural, earthy feel that reminds me of hiking through the Colorado mountains. I also enjoyed how relaxing this project was. Unlike fused glass, where I’m constantly thinking about firing schedules, compatibility, and kiln temperatures, this class let me simply play with texture, color, and design. It pushed me to think differently as an artist, and I can already imagine creating seasonal landscapes, ocean scenes, and maybe even some abstract pieces using these forms. Since I already have several more blanks waiting for me, this definitely won’t be my last resin adventure!
BTW, on the way to class, Lela and I stopped by a gallery and had such a fun surprise—we ran into fellow artist Irv Middlemist! I’ve purchased several of his beautiful pieces over the years, so of course I ended up bringing home another one of his amazing 3D creations. What made the visit even more special was that he actually recognized me and greeted me by name, which completely made my day. His artwork has so much depth, texture, and movement, and I always find myself drawn to the way he layers materials and creates dimension in his landscapes. Honestly, walking through the gallery was inspiring before we even made it to class. Between visiting the gallery, seeing incredible artwork, and then spending the afternoon creating with resin and glass, it turned into the perfect art-filled day. And yes… I absolutely love my new piece!
Sometimes the best days are the ones filled with creativity, inspiration, and time spent with people who make you laugh. Between visiting a beautiful gallery, reconnecting with a talented artist I admire, and spending the afternoon experimenting with resin, glass, rocks, and texture, this day was exactly the kind of creative recharge I needed. I left with a beautiful new art piece, new ideas spinning in my head, and wonderful memories with my best friend Lela. Something tells me this is only the beginning of my resin adventures, and I can’t wait to see what I create next.
If you would like to see more of my fused glass work, please refer to my website Elegant Fused Glass by Karen. If you get a chance, check out all my site and my Elegant Fused Glass by Karen YouTube. If you would like to stay abreast of what I’m up-to and learn a little more about jewelry, check out our newsletter. It is published the last day of each month.
Keeping my kilns warm,
Karen
