Painter Edith McNally meets Trish Croft.
Trish Croft loves all things glass! In the 1980s she took some night classes in leadlight at Gymea TAFE, and was hooked. She makes windows, lamps, sun-catcher hangings, boxes, candle holders, Christmas tree decorations and the like, and has progressed from more traditional designs to the sculptural. Pieces of agate, glass nuggets and beads, shells and formed wire all find their way into more recent and contemporary designs.
Trish finds the varied textures and colours of glass entrancing. The ever-changing light delights her eye as pieces transition throughout the day. Covid lockdown created fun opportunities to see what could be imagined with materials at hand. Coloured scrap pieces, old window glass and mirrors all proved useful.
Trish found inspiration from opportunities to see glassworks from masters in other countries such as the beautiful Morse museum in Florida with its amazing lamps and panels by the famed Tiffany and his contemporaries, and Japan’s Tomoya Imasu, who creates intricate sculptural pieces inspired by natural forms.
Space at home for display or installation is always a challenge so most things are now made to give away as gifts to family and friends – unless, of course, it can’t be parted with.
Trish says “it’s the act of selecting the glass, creating the piece and seeing how the light streams through it that’s the real buzz. Hopefully the recipients of gifts enjoy this as much as I do”.
Trish is an artist with no commercial aspirations, creating for her own satisfaction and to bring joy and enrich the lives of others. This really is the essence of an artist.