Stained glass and everything in betweeen
- Amandine is inspired by her travels and the sea
- Drawing and painting on glass are at the heart of her practice
- She is attentive to the expressive possibilities of colour
Amandine Steck creates and restores stained glass, and adds unexpected materials to her works, such as fabric, ceramic and sand. Her atelier, L’Amande et l’Obsidienne, was originally founded in 1976 by Martial Mayel in Honfleur in Normandy, a region with a remarkable heritage of 16th and 19th-century stained glass. Since taking over in 2014, Amandine has worked on both restoration projects and original commissions, designing each piece to interact with light and space while exploring the endless possibilities of glass. "I draw inspiration from the sea, its myths and my travels. I combine Japanese, Moorish and Art Nouveau references in search of harmony in line, colour and light," she explains.
Interview
- When did stained glass first capture your attention?
- I grew up near the Chartres Cathedral, home to one of the largest ensembles of 13th-century stained glass in France. As a child, I was fascinated not only by the windows, but also by the nearby Galerie du Vitrail. It is run by the renowned Ateliers Loire, and there, I could see both historic restoration and modern creations.
- How would you describe your approach?
- Drawing and painting on glass are at the heart of my practice. I began with painting before learning cutting and assembly, which is unusual. I also consider myself a colourist, attentive to the subtlest nuances of hue and the expressive possibilities of colour.
- How do you balance innovation with tradition?
- I introduce materials that viewers do not expect. I have integrated fabric, ceramic, sand, enamel and even analogue photographic techniques, such as cyanotype on glass. People forget that it is a highly versatile craft that allows for contemporary creations through textures, colours, light and out-of-the-box materials.
- Have you learned any life lessons through your craft?
- Yes. I learned how to be patient and how to appreciate slow processes. I now let things unfold at their own rhythm. Nothing happens instantly, which is the opposite of the world we live in. Since I started running my own workshop, I have learned that I must make time, not simply wait for it to come to me.
Amandine Steck is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2008
Where
Amandine Steck
