Conversations with Amy Brooks

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Brooks.

Hi Amy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My husband and I moved to Central NJ with our infant son in 2000. I didn’t know anyone and was eager to make friends, so I took a stained glass class in a local shop. I didn’t make any friends, but I fell in love with creating glass art. I started fiddling around with projects in our basement while our children napped, which evolved into making commissioned pieces. I decided to try to make a stained glass business work for my family instead of returning to my previous type of employment and me. It was a great creative outlet, and the flexibility was a perfect fit. We built a studio space behind our home, and my business grew. When we decided to move to Western NC in 2021, I knew I wanted to keep creating glass art, so we bought a building on W. Union St., and I established a working studio/ gallery. I am actively re-establishing my business here and am thrilled to be a part of a vibrant arts scene in Morganton.

Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been smooth, but it has grown organically. As my time opened up, I was able to do more and more. It was beneficial to take classes every year to learn new techniques and immerse myself in the creative process. My biggest obstacles have come from inside wanting things to move faster, questioning what direction to go, and deciding what I value vs. what people like me to do. The more I have gotten in touch with my voice and desires, the smoother the road.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My favorite part of my job is creating commissioned art. I love when people come to me with an idea. Sometimes, it’s fully formed, and other times it’s vague. I enjoy helping them figure out what they want and translating their vision into a custom piece. It is amazingly satisfying when people see the finished product and tell me it is even better than they imagined. Since so much of my art is created specifically for another person, the images I have showing all of it have a wide range of styles, colors, and pictures. Often people are surprised that all of it was created by me. That’s what I enjoy the most, and that’s why I called my business Paradise Glass. I like the idea that everyone has their vision of paradise, and I get to help them translate it into art.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
People often associate stained glass with churches, but it can be much more. Glass is a fantastic medium because it changes and comes alive as light shines through it. Stained glass windows look different throughout the day and seasons and with different weather. With the heat of a kiln, I can fuse pieces that can be turned into functional art. I also can create one-of-a-kind glass elements that can be incorporated into a hanging piece. Fusing and slumping glass broaden the spectrum of what I can make. I often have clients who commission a piece to give to a loved one, and it is a joy to help them figure out all the details. Giving someone a gift tailored to their taste and designed with them in mind creates a special bond, and I am always grateful to be a part of that.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.paradisecsg.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paradisecsg/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParadiseCustomGlass
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=paradise+custom+glass+metuchen+nj

Image Credits
https://3amvirtualmedia.com/ Robin Stenson