I wanted to be an artist since I was a child. I discovered that I can create an idea better out of glass than I can on paper or with paint, and I feel more connected to the work. Deciding to pursue my passion, I began my journey. Growing up in West Virginia, nature has always been my biggest inspiration. My work speaks for itself, displaying natural colors and shapes as part of my designs. I hope to share my creations with people who share my love for handmade art inspired by nature.

ARTIST BIO

James Woodson’s love for art and music sparked his desire to become a glass artist. Attending art and music festivals made him realize the endless possibilities when creating glass objects. After purchasing his first piece, James decided to seek out an apprenticeship. In 2004, he began a three-year lampworking and glass blowing apprenticeship with Josh Bostic at Blackwater Glassworks in Charleston, West Virginia. Since then it has been James’ mission to continue to expand his knowledge and experience in the wide world of art glass. In 2007 James received a work-study scholarship to Penland School of Crafts in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. That summer he completed an offhand soft glass blowing course taught by Earl O. James of Cleveland, Ohio. He also completed an intermediate flameworking class taught by scientific glass blower Sally Prasch. James built a home studio and continues to experiment with new techniques and ideas. He worked at Blenko Glass Company from 2007 to 2010. In 2009, James taught a paperweight workshop and gave lampworking demonstrations at Blenko for their Festival of Glass. In 2010, James attended the International Flameworking Conference at Salem Community College in New Jersey. He did work exchange to attend the Glass Art Society Conference in Louisville Kentucky. In August, he helped teach a stained glass workshop at Blenko, and participated in the Art Glass Invitational in Hillards Pennsylvania. In 2011 while working at Whatiswhatisart Studio in North Carolina he took a neon workshop with David Wilson, an Italian goblet workshop with Cameron Reed, and Proportions in Form with Eusheen Goins. In 2013, James took a color technique workshop at Corning Museum of Glass with Alex Brand. In 2017, James was the teaching assistant to Venetian glass blower Emilio Santini at Corning, and attended the Glass Art Society conference in Norfolk, VA at the Chrysler Museum of Glass. His work has been featured at several craft fairs- Bridge Day, The Mound Festival, and FestivAll. James currently assists Alex Brand, glass artist of over forty years, at Virtu Glass Blowing Studio located at The Greenbrier Artists’ Colony. Alex invited James to support the project and work with him in December 2012. The studio provides regularly scheduled live glass blowing demonstrations.