Our artisan process.
““Light, my light, the world-filling light,
the eye-kissing light,
heart-sweetening light!...””
Glass enthusiasts agree that the work coming out of Amri Studio is extraordinary. Christina and her team have consistently pushed the boundaries technically and in their compositions and content. Embracing the movement of blurring the line between fine craft and art, their award-winning work is a fascinating play of textures, bas-relief shapes and almost holographic luminosity.
A luminous medium.
We have seen how profoundly our luminous art, with meaningful themes, and created by hand in our artisanal Portland Studio-- can influence a space, and enfold the viewer in a rare sense of being touched and deeply honored.
We are dedicated to bringing this insight and attention to detail -- to our workplace and our personal space.
It feels wonderful to honor both of them, and, especially, the important momentous moments in our lives, with memorable and remarkable mementos.
After all, our time, our families and friends, and our dedication at work, are precious.
transformative concepts.
To go from a blank page, to something alive and dimensional is a magical and powerful process!
Inspirational resources are collected and Dream Time commences. When an idea begins to flower, we sketch and test, then test again until we feel the “ahhh.”. In collaboration, we plan each piece carefully. In this phase, illustration and precise blueprinting becomes our final design.
flawless application.
Our material and each theme is chosen for its beauty and expansive quality of light.
Crystal glass is guided by hand in Italian edge-polishing machines --like the polishing of telescope lenses.
Care and Precision is paramount.
We use impeccable attention while laying out a design - hundredths of an inch count in our pattern-making and stencil layout.
We often combine hand-cutting with a surgeon’s fine scalpel into protective masking material, with other digital and photographic techniques to develop our designs. One single panel may be made up of up to four or five perfectly aligned layers of masking protecting the crystal underneath – which are then carved one after the other, in progressive sessions.
grit to gleam.
We transform thick blank glass, an exquisite, gleaming and demanding material, through a fascinating process of metamorphosis!
Delicate layers of designed stencil is taped on and hit with messy abrasive grit while shapes are carefully guided by a very skilled sculptor under high pressure. A gray, dusty masked panel is then washed to reveal a gleaming luminous crystal sculpture.
within the booth.
The carving is done by sensitive hand-eye coordination to form the lovely curving shapes, little by little and over many days. We think of this material as “transparent stone”- like the finest permanent marble monuments, that were carved by artisans throughout the centuries.
Planning, supreme focus, sensitivity, and perfectioism are the guiding laws of the carver. They are the ones who must hold the final VISION of the design. Most designs are created on the back side of the glass. Wearing gloves to protect the hands, a facemask, eyewear, protective suiting to keep out the dust, in addition to an exhaust system that sounds like a Corvette motor -- the carving process is intense!
carved with feeling.
A spotlight is angled to see the detail and reveal the depth, and the carver must often stop, remove their gloves and run their fingers over their evolving shapes to sense when something is “just right”. High points in the design are created by their opposite--deep carving into the back of the medium. Left is right, and right is left in the delineated design elements—until fully shaped.The delicate stencil is monitored to assure nothing is pierced or peels off or flies off before its time.
Music helps the sculptor while they are ”in the zone” with their piece- whether it is a repeating beat or soft violin notes.
clarity and light.
The final steps are so gratifying! The piece, hidden for so long under its protective, gritty and now ragged stencil layer is carefully taken out of the sandblast booth, light-checked, peeled and washed. It is dried with soft lint-free cloths and installed on our test light wall- to finally reveal the pristine, translucent, crystal piece. Magical! Our whole team comes over to celebrate the result.
a touch of bright,
clear gold.
Classic Italian 23K Gold leaf is judiciously applied to certain details and accents on our pieces by hand, then burnished until gleaming and reflective. This rich, warm, metallic look evokes centuries of fine art embellished with gold leaf to create emanating highlights, and a sacred feel. This is a stunning, vibrant final touch.
breathe.
As we pass these pieces into your hands and space, know that they have been created with the utmost care. We hope these heirloom-level pieces bring you much joy and satisfaction and continue to add to your dynamic or tranquil space.