Description
“Red & White Beta Fish Paperweight” by Clinton Smith. A brightly colored Red and White Beta Fish Swins infront of a patch of seaweed on the blue ocean floor. Signed by the artist and dated 2016. Signature cane on botton of weight.Measures Approx. 3″ diameter x 2.25″ high.
About the Aritst
Inspired by nature in my surroundings in Berkshire County, I have been creating my art in the forms of paperweights, blown glass, sculptural and lampworked glass for the last 20 years.
I was raised in Litchfield County, CT and became interested in glass, at the age of 19 when I visited Tim Bristow's glass studio in Webatuck Craft Village in New York. Bristow offered me an apprenticeship and I worked under him for two years. After the apprenticeship, I worked at Arnold Larson's glass studio in Poughquag, NY, Gilmore Glass in Millerton, NY, and several other local shops before I was hired as a full time gaffer at Gartner Blade in Ashley Falls, Ma. I have been with Gartner Blade for 16+ years now.
As a self taught lampworker, I had experimented with various lampworking techniques finding the results beautiful, but quite fragile. I soon realized that I could take the fragile lampworked elements and encase them in glass. I was hooked on the paperweight technique. My paperweights emerged half a dozen years later through trial, error and perseverance.
I started dating my wife, Katie in 2004, although we were friends since the mid 90's when we went to high school together. In 2006, we moved to Berkshire County to be close to Gartner Blade. Katie who is a Middle School Art Teacher and a professional photographer found the Berkshires to inspire her artwork and her teaching style. We married in 2008 and bought our first home in 2010. We share a two story glass/photo studio on our property. Our son Charlie was born in 2012. Charlie enjoys my paperweights, and likes to visit me in the studio to find out what kind of creature I am making that day.
I am constantly amazed by the variety of animals and flowers out in our yard. My artwork is directly related to my love of the flora and fauna in the Berkshires. Besides my passion for glass, I am an avid outdoor man and enjoy fishing, traditional archery, and hiking.
