Joel Wilkinson - Heirloom Glass Designs
is just one of a handful of studios of it’s type in the United States, specializing in custom, hand-beveled and wheel engraved glass panels and antique restoration for engraved glass. These unique glass panels are customarily used for interior or exterior doors, windows, custom cabinetry and foyer entryways, or a standalone work of framed artwork.
Joel Wilkinson is an awarding winning Master Glass Engraver with over 25 years of experience in fine art glass beveling and stone wheel engraving. Honing his skills learnt while an apprentice, he has perfected his skills and techniques into a highly evolved art form. Each project is a creative challenge and learning experience that produces an outstanding work of art. Joel welcomes the creative challenges as a way to approach new concepts and knowledge in reaching new artistic goals.
Techniques and Methodology
The Heirloom Glass Designs studio work reflect the traditional techniques and are a result of hours of studying historical designs from the brilliant cutting period at the turn of the 19th Century. Joel creates these masterpieces from studying those fine makers of American Brilliant Period (1876-1916) cut glass, and merging modern day designs with the earlier period concepts. He matches the early artisans with a flair for design that emerge with the geometric and floral designs that you see today. A variety of different sized and shaped stone wheels are used to produce each glass panel. The grinding stones must be trued and reshaped during the production of each design, therefore are constantly engineered and adjusted during running to determine and maintain cutting accuracy.
The grinding stones are mounted on a turning shaft, the glass panel is hand held while engraving the design and beveling process. A steady hand is necessary to guide the glass over the top of the stone wheel as it turns in a water bath that prevents burning or cracking to the glass. Finally, when the design is engraved a specialized polishing wheel is employed to highlight specific areas that enhance the light and shade within the design using intaglio, continuous and halftone techniques. Joel focuses on the properties of the glass and the action of specific wheel engraving marks, drawing the eye beyond the surface into the glass whose refraction develops further possibilities.
Heirloom Glass Designs accepts art commissions for a variety of designs, ranging from the complex to simple covering both traditional, abstract and contemporary. Restoration work on antique mirror engraving, and on antique glassware whether for antique dealers or for family heirlooms and treasures, is also available. If you are interested in acquiring or commissioning a glass panel heirloom please contact me to discuss.
Joel Wilkinson
Heirloom Glass Designs Studio
1913 Crandall Way
Paradise, California 95969
530.877.9737
Gallery, Awards and Exhibits
'Splendor of the Sierras”
Juried Fine Art Show,
North Star, Lake Tahoe, California
Awarded 1st place. Glass category
Stain Glass Junction, Gridley, California
Made In Chico, Chico, California
Fir Street Gallery, Paradise, California
Paradise Garden Tour, Paradise, California
Cypress Stained Glass, Carmel, California
Satava Art Glass, Chico, California
Techniques and Methodology
The Heirloom Glass Designs studio work reflect the traditional techniques and are a result of hours of studying historical designs from the brilliant cutting period at the turn of the 19th Century. Joel creates these masterpieces from studying those fine makers of American Brilliant Period (1876-1916) cut glass, and merging modern day designs with the earlier period concepts. He matches the early artisans with a flair for design that emerge with the geometric and floral designs that you see today. A variety of different sized and shaped stone wheels are used to produce each glass panel. The grinding stones must be trued and reshaped during the production of each design, therefore are constantly engineered and adjusted during running to determine and maintain cutting accuracy.
The grinding stones are mounted on a turning shaft, the glass panel is hand held while engraving the design and beveling process. A steady hand is necessary to guide the glass over the top of the stone wheel as it turns in a water bath that prevents burning or cracking to the glass. Finally, when the design is engraved a specialized polishing wheel is employed to highlight specific areas that enhance the light and shade within the design using intaglio, continuous and halftone techniques. Joel focuses on the properties of the glass and the action of specific wheel engraving marks, drawing the eye beyond the surface into the glass whose refraction develops further possibilities.
Heirloom Glass Designs accepts art commissions for a variety of designs, ranging from the complex to simple covering both traditional, abstract and contemporary. Restoration work on antique mirror engraving, and on antique glassware whether for antique dealers or for family heirlooms and treasures, is also available. If you are interested in acquiring or commissioning a glass panel heirloom please contact me to discuss.
Joel Wilkinson
Heirloom Glass Designs Studio
1913 Crandall Way
Paradise, California 95969
530.877.9737
Gallery, Awards and Exhibits
'Splendor of the Sierras”
Juried Fine Art Show,
North Star, Lake Tahoe, California
Awarded 1st place. Glass category
Stain Glass Junction, Gridley, California
Made In Chico, Chico, California
Fir Street Gallery, Paradise, California
Paradise Garden Tour, Paradise, California
Cypress Stained Glass, Carmel, California
Satava Art Glass, Chico, California
Wheel Cut Art Piece
As a glass artist for over 35 years, Joel has had his hand in just about every aspect of the art of glass. This piece was glue chipped by Joel, then slumped by artist and friend Owen Gabbert, finally wheel cut to a brilliant polish. The piece itself is 17" across, 25" together in stand. $1250.00
Universal Symbol
As a student of the Martial Arts, this design represents infinite angles. Joel has used the design in a number of other applications including the hand stitched wedding attire for he and his wife Cheryl and hand made jewelry. $1400.00
Deco Eye
This 31 1/2" circular piece is beveled on 1/4" peach colored glass. The piece is particularly difficult beveling the inside curves. This frame is approximately 3" in width, Black Walnut, hand designed by a local artist. $1700.00
Oak Leaves and Acorns. The king of the forest
This freehand design is a favorite of the artist. The piece was mirrored and framed after the carving was done. $280.00
