Corner Detail

Sitting

Water tower at dusk

Nancy Nicholson is an artist with over twenty years experience working in stained glass. Her work combines a fine art sensibility with broad technical experience and craftsmanship. Nancy’s signature work is an ongoing series of cityscape panels that explores the layering of light, color and dynamic forms of the urban environment.

“My work bridges the traditional to the contemporary. I connect to the arts and crafts movement of the late 1800s, when a perfect union between art and craft existed. I want to dispel the so-called “limitations” of the medium and to push the boundaries of what has been mostly considered a decorative or religious art form. I consider myself a painter, only my “canvas” is the illuminated sky and my “paints” are the glass and lead.

I begin by taking photographs, looking for views with dynamic angles or sharp contrasts in scale, color and texture. As I move through the city, there is a constant shift in perspective as the shapes merge and overlap, creating surprising shapes and relationships. There is also a flattening of perspective as the density of forms allows for close objects and distant objects to appear side by side. I am particularly drawn to the shifting of light, shadows and reflections that add layers of abstractions to the geometry of the city.

I make drawings from the photographs, pulling out the essentials from the image. From these drawings I make paper patterns to use when cutting the glass. After the glass is cut, I sandblast details like window shapes and brick patterns. I use glass paints to add details of shadows and textures. I fire the paints in a kiln to make them permanent. Finally, I put the pieces together using the traditional techniques of copper foil, lead came and solder.”

In addition to her cityscapes, Nancy has designed both traditional and contemporary panels for numerous environments including private homes, corporate offices, restaurants and schools. Recent projects have included panels depicting the office building of a long established business in Wilmington DE, the Longfellow Bridge in Cambridge, MA, and the set design and cast from a Tony Award winning Broadway show, that was presented as a gift to one of its stars.