Felicity Smith
"Glass is like nothing else I know. It has attitude. Glass has all the characteristics of liquid, yet it's not a liquid. It's eccentric. Glass keeps you focussed, it will not be taken for granted. I like that."
Felicity Smith has been working with glass for two decades and works across the board, moving easily between large stained glass feature installations, through sculptural works and table centre-pieces to classic fashion jewellery statements.
Winner of the John Olsen scholarship, Felicity incorporates her fine arts training into her studio glass practice. Born in Zimbabwe, educated in Ireland, her rich African and Irish roots resonate in her works as she draws reference from her earlier life experiences.
Felicity's glass arts practice stems from her leadlight apprenticeship in the 1980's which imbued the artist with a deep respect and love of her medium:
"I love the way the light interacts with glass. I can't walk into a cathedral without being moved by the colour and the action - the magical effects of the light moving through and around the glass before spilling coloured light over the floor. Taking that magic and putting it into someone's home, well that's the privilege of my trade."
After a decade working with 'cold' glass Felicity moved into the area of 'warm glass and 'hot' glass.
"In my early career, I learned all about cold glass, which is reliable and predictable. Warm glass is, by contrast, very temperamental. It's unforgiving. One needs to be disciplined and forward-thinking in one's approach."
'Warm' glass, also known as kiln-fired glass, involves casting and fusing a number of layers of glass and design elements together. The glass is then made molten in specialised glass kilns before being gradually allowed to return to its solid state, transforming in the process to a new, unified whole.
The fused piece may then undergo a second or third firing before being ready for cold working which may include cutting, grinding, bevelling and polishing. The process is lengthy and often problematic.
"When I load the kilns, I am taking a calculated risk. I know what should happen, but it might not. It's challenging and frustrating - I'm working with my medium but it's answering me back. There is a definite dialogue!

I continue to work in glass, in addition to sculpture and painting. Art & Soul Gallery Boonah sell my kiln formed glass, bronze and 2D works which are on permanent display.