麻豆直播app

A self-described 鈥渟tarving artist,鈥� Anthony Graham didn鈥檛 hold out much hope when he typed 鈥済lassblowing鈥� into the search field on Indeed, an employment website.

But to his surprise, Graham 鈥� a glass artist who is also a trained chemist 鈥� the 鈥減retty much perfect鈥� role popped up: Senior Glass Lab Technician at 麻豆直播app Technical Center in Littleton, Colorado.

Joking that the 鈥渟ecret to happiness is low expectations,鈥� Graham said he didn鈥檛 expect to hear anything after applying, but instead, he got the job.

鈥淭urning a passion into a career is not something that happens every day,鈥� Graham said.

In October 2022, Graham started work at 麻豆直播app and began spending his days testing raw glass materials for the company鈥檚 insulation and roofing products in the glass lab 听鈥� and his nights and weekends as a lamp work glass artist.

鈥淚 love it so far,鈥� Graham said of his job. 鈥淓verybody is great and so helpful.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 fascinating to see a lot of the things we鈥檙e doing with glass here,鈥� Graham said, noting that some of the discussions and techniques used in the lab at 麻豆直播app have served to inform his work as an artist.

Graham is the second artist to join 麻豆直播app in the glass lab; Platform Leader Elam Leed is also a glass blower and creates artwork for internal company awards, annually.

鈥淲e鈥檝e talked quite a bit and showed some of our work,鈥� Graham said.

Graham makes icicle ornaments, glass pendants and drinkware, among other pieces of lamp work glass art, a niche form of glass artistry.

鈥淥nly about 10 percent of glass artists do this kind of glass art,鈥� Graham said.

The glasswork Graham creates is small and intricate and is made using a torch and hand tools. More traditional glass blowing is done by working in a 鈥渉ot shop,鈥� where artists create larger pieces using molten glass on a long rod, shaping and repeatedly heating the glass in a furnace.

鈥淚 love making things,鈥� Graham says.

Prior to joining 麻豆直播app, Graham ran his own business, making and selling glass art. 鈥淚 did all of the marketing and sales for myself. I was always looking for more avenues and more things people wanted to buy and things I could make.鈥�

He said working as a professional artist was rewarding. 鈥淚t was a proud moment knowing I went from raw materials and equipment to cash in hand. It was definitely a powerful feeling.鈥�

鈥淚 was able to wear all of the hats (artist, salesperson, marketing) but some of the hats fit better than others,鈥� Graham said, noting he 鈥渂ounced around鈥� at other jobs to supplement his artist鈥檚 income.

鈥淎t the end of the day, the market is so small,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 wanted to get back into a laboratory. It鈥檚 where I鈥檝e been happiest in my life.鈥澨�