Sheryl Ellinwood, Ellinwood Studios - Pella, Iowa

Some years ago, Sheryl Ellinwood learned to blow glass on a dare. Today her glass is featured in galleries and private collections throughout the U.S. In 1994, after earning her Masters degree in both glass and sculpture, Ellinwood established ellinwood studios. This private studio is located on the shore of Lake Red Rock in Central Iowa.

Recognized for originality of design and commitment to quality, glass from ellinwood studios has received many awards, among which are the Labino Glass Award from the Toledo Museum of Art and the Glass Art Society's Award for Excellence.

Early in her career as a glass artist, Ellinwood focused on blown glass using the traditional hot glass furnace, plus fused glass, and sculptural works. Her blown glass was made one-at-a-time using age-old methods of glassblowing. Currently, Ellinwood is no longer making larger hot glass pieces but is instead focusing on fused glass jewelry and wall pieces, plus one of a kind sculptural works.

Frequently asked questions, answered in the artist's own words:

Just what is DICHROIC GLASS? (And why is it so expensive?) Dichroic glass is characterized by its ability to reflect light of one color while transmitting light of another. HUH? The color changes depending upon the angle from which it is viewed. The colors are intense, metallic and gorgeous! Dichroic glass is produced by depositing multiple thin layers of metal oxides onto glass. Inside a vacuum chamber (similar to the vacuum in outer space), these oxides are vaporized by a high voltage electron beam and deposited onto the surface of the glass. This surface creates a filter that selectively transmits and reflects specific wavelengths of light, thus creating the different colors. Both the difficulty of the process and cost of the oxides makes dichroic glass extremely expensive. There is nothing else like it!

For more information on Sheryl Ellinwood's work, including what we might have in stock, please email or call us at 1-877-439-6554

sheryl ellinwood, ellinwood studios