About Me & My Art
A BIT ABOUT WHO I AM
I'm David Alan Kaminski
... and I'm a professional glass artist!
I strive to make a positive impact on the world through my artistic efforts, whether it's simply by setting a good example, or by highlighting some the beautiful and wonderful aspects of the magical world we live in.
I'm so grateful that you're here, taking a look at my work!
Please don't ever hesitate to reach out and communicate with me!
SOME OF WHAT I'M UP TO
A Focus on Millefiori
I've had a fascination with millefiori & murrini ever since I laid eyes upon them.
A couple friends of mine, Matt Pike and Chris Watson, were serious glass enthusiasts that I met through the cannabis industry.
They both had milli collections, though Chris' was more like an artist would keep and Matt's was much more like that of a murrini enthusiast.
A SLIVER OF BACKGROUND
Collecting & Learning
The first phase of my journey was absorbing as much information about the 'Murrine Scene' as I could - artists, styles, techniques and more.
I created a little blog, interviewing artists and profiling people's collections. It didn't last long, but it served as a great stepping stone!
It made me feel as though I had a place in the industry, as I was rather intimidated by the glass scene and glass artists, being a new collector.
MY TRANSFORMATION FROM
Collector to Creator
Not long after creating the blog and beginning my collection, I knew I had to make the transition to making milli.
The fascination became a bit of an obsession, and after having seen thousands of images, and purchasing thousands of dollars worth - I came up with a plan to become a glass artist.
I took a one day, one-on-one class with a local artist, followed by a 3-day one-on-one class with milli making legend Jerry Kelly.
It took some convincing to get Jerry to teach me, but I'm so glad he did. He and I have since gone on to do multiple collaborations, and I'm so honored by that opportunity.
MY RAPID GROWTH AS A
Traveling Artist
Next, after taking the plunge to learn how to make milli, I walked away from my high paying job as a contract based ERP programmer to become a 'full time' glass artist.
I took this opportunity, and used the money I had saved from my programming contracts, to travel all across the United States and collaborate with some of the best murrini artists in the glass industry.
Some of these names include Stephen Boehme, Erik Anders, Ryan Teurfs, Nathan Middleton, Ryan McCluer, Andy Buckles and countless others.
This really helped me to grow my skills quickly, but also to develop my own style as a combination of the techniques I absorbed from others.
A FLEDGLING CAREER WITH
Cartoons Aplenty
I found a comfortable place in reproducing cartoon characters in borosilicate murrini form.
For many years, I looked for holes in the milli market where a high-quality character could be utilized by the glass market.
I made it my mission to make the best possible iterations of those images as I could, like the Bob's Burgers family of characters I produced.
This was successful for me financially, and helped to establish me in the market, but - it left me wanting.
AN ARTIST FILLED WITH
A Love for Teaching
With my passion for particular attention to detail in producing my glass art, and a history of being paid for training end users in the Information Technology world, I knew that another outlet for my energy would be teaching.
I truly do love to share the knowledge I work hard to gain.
My favorite poem is "The Bridge Builder" by Will Allen Dromgoole, which tells the story of a man who crosses a river only to build a bridge before continuing his journey, for the sake of the safety and ease of travelers who will inevitably come after his departure.
I love to play this role myself - taking the friction out of the learning process, and helping people go from zero to sixty with their skills.
THE CURRENT SEASON IS
A Time for Growth
As of late, I have forbade myself from making cartoon characters any longer, unless I get express permission from those responsible for their intellectual property.
I feel I had to do this in order to push myself into growing more as an artist, and to get closer to my vision of what I want my art portfolio to look like.
My work now revolves around the living - portraiture, still life, botany and agriculture, flora and fauna.
I am continuing to push myself and see how far I can develop my murrini making skills, and also how I can apply those images I create to truly honor the perfection and synchronicity that makes up the natural world.
A SNEAK PEEK INTO
What the Future Holds
I have so many things I want to do with my art. Some of my goals scare me, as I know how much of a stretch they will be to execute.
That being said, I hope you will stick with me while I chip away at the mountain that is my glass career, and thank you so much for being here.
It means the world to me that you take an interest in my work, and who I am as an artist.
Sincere thanks for being here, and I wish you all the best!
