Martha Pfanschmidt

"As a child, I drew with crayons while my mother cooked dinner. I lost myself in the activity of drawing; it was my first experience of the infinite. In school, I loved making things: scratchboard drawings, linoleum block cards, clay figures in garish colors. Today, I continue to find much joy in the act of creation. As an artist, I am the alchemist, turning raw materials into beautiful objects. "

Martha Pfanschmidt lives in northwestern Washington State on five acres in the woods. There, she draws her inspiration from the images and colors of nature that surround her. Always happiest when outside, she loves to row, hike, bicycle, and garden. The colors and shapes she uses are all a reflection of her experience of being outdoors, seeing color, texture, and form in nature.

Pfanschmidt makes her kiln glass pieces in a unique way, layering imagery created with colored glass powders to craft artwork with depth and richness. Originally a painter and printmaker, her handling of kiln glass reflects her artistic background. Her colorful, multi-layered pieces are fired in a kiln many times to acquire their mysterious and lush qualities.

Pfanschmidt received her MFA from Vermont College. Early in her career, she worked in a group print studio and painted in egg tempera and encaustic in her studio at home. Later on, she discovered kiln glass through Bullseye Glass Company. The company invited her to do artist exchanges, which allowed her to experiment with glass powders, developing the style of work she continues to explore today.