Today we’d like to introduce you to Angie Snell.
Hi Angie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My fascination with stained glass began while attending church as a child. I was captivated by the colorful windows and the way light transformed them throughout the day.
In my twenties, I took a beginner stained glass class with a couple of friends in Portland. Ironically, I cut myself badly during the very first class and ended up at urgent care for stitches! Despite that rough start, I finished the class and continued creating stained glass long afterward. When I returned with my completed project, the instructor—who was working in the retail shop—was impressed that I had not only finished the class but had continued pursuing the craft.
Over the years, I built a home studio and created pieces for friends and family. Later, a career change unexpectedly strengthened my artistic work. As a landscape designer, I work extensively with computer-aided drafting (CAD) and Photoshop. Those technical design skills have helped me explore larger, more complex stained glass designs.
For the past 26 years, stained glass has remained a constant creative outlet. Today, I focus primarily on commissioned work because I enjoy collaborating with clients to create something that is personal and meaningful to them. I also create smaller gift pieces for a couple of holiday craft shows each winter and enjoy sharing the craft by teaching stained glass classes at the DIY Cave.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t think the most meaningful accomplishments come without challenges. Staying curious and viewing setbacks as opportunities to learn has been one of the biggest reasons I’ve continued to grow as an artist.
One of the biggest interruptions came when I set stained glass aside entirely while I returned to school to study landscape architecture. Looking back, that pause strengthened my work. The technical skills I gained in CAD drafting, design, and color rendering have become valuable tools for planning and executing more complex stained glass projects.
There have also been plenty of hands-on lessons that only come with experience. Learning how temperature affects the behavior of glass and solder in the studio took time, patience, and plenty of trial and error. Those experiences taught me that craftsmanship is as much about understanding your materials as it is about creativity.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in custom stained glass commissions that are designed specifically for the space and the client. Rather than reproducing existing patterns, I enjoy collaborating with clients to create something that reflects their home, personality, and the way they want to experience light.
My career as a landscape designer has had a significant influence on my artwork. Both disciplines involve composition, color, balance, and the way people move through and experience a space. Landscape design requires careful planning, technical precision, and working within community guidelines, while stained glass gives me the freedom to explore color, texture, and light in a more intuitive way. The two continually inform one another.
What I’m most proud of is creating pieces that become meaningful to the people who commission them. Whether it’s a window that greets someone every morning or a piece that commemorates a special moment, I enjoy knowing the artwork becomes part of someone’s everyday life.
At heart, I’m simply a maker. Beyond stained glass, I enjoy crochet, macramé, sewing, tie-dye, and learning new creative skills whenever inspiration strikes.
What does success mean to you?
Success is waking up excited to create and ending the day knowing you’ve made something meaningful. I feel fortunate that both my profession and my artwork allow me to solve problems, be creative, and continue learning. If I can make a living doing work I enjoy while creating something that brings joy to someone else, I consider that success.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crafty_as_glass
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftyASdesign
- Other: craftyASdesign@gmail.com
