Art Glass - Leaded Glass Panels - Designed by Karin + Tony Smith
Whilst both Tony and Karin were at Rossa College attending a FETAC course in Art, Craft + Design
they were fortunate enough to study Stained Glass with Carin MacCana as their tutor. Carin is
known for her fused and painted glass vessels, slabs and Stained Glass windows. Both Tony and Karin
got a kick out of working with glass and since leaving college have developed a range of Art
Glass leaded panels for sale.
Karin tends to use landscape as her inspiration in design whilst Tony is converting his doodles
into intricate designs both are unique. Tony for many years has doodled over note pads these as he says
were an artistic expression of which he seemed to have no other outlet for. Since doing his FETAC course in Art, Craft and Design and enjoying
working with coloured glass he has found a medium in which can get a lot of satisfaction. Glass
is not like a painting it has the added dimension of light through the glass which changes constantly.
The glass they use is carefully selected to reflect the subject thus forming a unique piece of
Art Glass which can be placed against a window with great effect. Karin's landscape designs
are also made up by Tony and the two pieces are as different as they are to each other.

Here there is great movement in the pieces as the Suns rays flow outwards. When it came to the
Moonlight over Seascape selecting the moonlight was the hardest to select it is slightly opaque
and creates an atmosphere just right.

Moons were next on the agender and they both have a different selection of glasses for this design.
Karin says that she wanted to stay to quite a tight colour palette within the the same colour whilst
Tony will mix the colours to great effect.

Tony like a lot of people doodles a lot but Tony has taken these doodles and created something
quite unique. Some of course have had to be simplified somewhat so that it can be make into a
glass panel but you get the idea. The use of colour is important here as they are set into clear
glass.

Some of these doodles seem very organic in shape suggestions of seed pods or flower buds

Karin and Tony are always developing new designs and can be seen most Saturday mornings at
Skibbereen market. In addition to the Art Glass panels they also have a range of unique
Glass Wind Chimes which as they are moved together by the wind create a strangely
Therapeutic sound effect.

Here Tony has created a landscape view in glass. The view from our house on Benduff, from
across the valley which goes down to Connonagh. His first Art Glass interpretation of a West Cork
landscape.

Karin likes to add extra items to her panels with things like Roundels as in Moonlight over
Seascape above and in the panel below a piece of fused glass with a flower motif. She
likes to use unexpected additions in her pieces. Below Karin has used only opalescent
glass to render an effect of land and seascape for a clock.

Karin + Tony will take commissions for Art Glass and if able will take on repairs to broken
glass panels. You can contact them via Virtu - Art email or alternatively when in West Cork
visit the Virtu - Art stall on Saturday mornings in Skibbereen.
Virtu - Art Glass can be purchased from the following Art + Craft Outlets:
