Scott Simmons began blowing glass in 1993.  He received his training at the University of Wisconsin, where he had worked for the previous 14 years as a biological researcher. In 1997 he resigned from the lab, built a hot glass studio at his home on a hill overlooking the Sugar River valley outside of Madison, WI, and now makes hand-blown glass full time. He primarily works alone in his studio, creating functional pieces such as vases and bowls offhand at the furnace using traditional tools and techniques.
 
"Inspiration for me comes from all directions; a dance, a painting, a sunset, a fish.  I try to bring the emotion and spontaneity of a performance to the creation of a new piece. All the setup, all the test pieces and trials, are like rehearsal. When I pick up a blowpipe the curtain goes up and the world shrinks down to the droplet of fire on the end of the pipe; no stopping, no going back, total focus.      

My approach is intuitive, more than cerebral.  I am always trying for a combination of color and form that will elicit a visceral response. When I get it right a new piece will make me laugh out loud."

I will be exhibiting my work at BMAC booth 609 and at ACRE in Las Vegas in June.  My website is sunriseglassworks.com, and you can find my work on wholesalecrafts.com #21065. I would be happy to send out a catalog to buyers who can't make it to the shows. Just drop me a line.