"Mango Racer Stripe Lizard Paperweight"

Eric Bailey

"While working at the torch in my studio, I am constantly analyzing and pondering how I might use glass to re-create and interpret objects that intrigue me, whether they are man-made or found in nature. "

Eric Bailey personally creates each piece of his unique glass in his studio in Corvallis, Oregon. Using vibrant colors, he is highly influenced by mid-century design.

Bailey uses a torch and open flame to create his artwork. Commonly referred to as flameworking, this type of glassblowing uses a gas-fueled torch to melt rods and tubes of clear and colored glass. Once in the molten state, the glass is formed by blowing and shaping, using a variety of tools and hand movements over the open flame.

The artist holds a B.F.A. from Oregon State University, where he studied ceramics. After graduating from OSU in 2000, Bailey went on to work as an apprentice for a nationally recognized glassblowing family business in Oregon, where he worked for the next seven years before setting out on his own.