A still life in glass
- Paul is an internationally-acclaimed master of contemporary flame worked glass
- His pieces extend and transcend the tradition of floral glass paperweights
- Science, spirituality and nature come together in his intricate artworks
Paul Stankard developed his exacting technical skills when he worked as a scientific glassblower producing precision laboratory instruments in the 1960s. By the 1970s, he had transferred that expertise to creative expressions in glass. First influenced by the iconic Millville Rose paperweight, Paul developed techniques for encasing floral designs in glass. With continued perseverance, his work evolved to include botanicals, assemblages and his acclaimed orbs. Considered a master of contemporary glass creations, Paul’s pieces blend technical mastery with nature’s mystical and magical beauty. “Spirituality and process are entwined for me. As a motto on my studio wall says, Laborare est Orare. Labour is prayer,” he says.
Discover his work
INTERVIEW
Tapping into my personal interests, expressing my childhood passion for nature, and perseverance are key. As a child, I had low self-esteem and was labelled a slow learner due to my undiagnosed dyslexia. It drove me to pursue excellence and personal satisfaction.
My floral designs are achieved through the process of flame working, using bench burners and simple tools. At this stage of my career, my approach is referential and focused on infusing my floral designs with organic credibility and an element of myth.
As a child, I lived near a forest and loved picking flowers for my mom. At first, my glass skills were a means of expressing interest in native flowers. They evolved later into a personal language speaking of nature’s beauty on an intimate, primal level.
To me, beauty is a pathway to the divine, so yes. I think of my studio as a sacred place.
