Glass artist Allison Paul was inspired by folklore to make Ogopogo art after moving to Kelowna.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Allison Paul

An artist is taking inspiration from Okanagan Ogopogo folklore to make glass artwork.

Allison Paul said she's been drawn to glass since she was young, rearranging her mother’s glass trinkets.

“I always wanted to lead an artistic lifestyle, but I never thought of it as a medium before,” Paul said. 

After Paul got laid off from her office job due to the pandemic, she was trying to figure out what she wanted to do.

She was already working with polymer clay because she felt she was better at 3D shaping rather than drawing but would often burn the clay.

“I started thinking about the things with my artwork that were issues and trying to think of a medium that would solve that, and I thought of glass,” Paul said. “It all made so much sense and all came together.”

When Paul was younger, she would often say that she didn’t know what she wanted to do but knew that she wanted to make things for people to enjoy.

She was learning how the different glass colours worked together and started making dinosaur figures, because it was more exciting to her than just making a marble that she had no use for.

“I grew up near Dinosaur Provincial Park, and a lot of dinosaurs crept into my work, but when I moved to Kelowna it went from dinosaurs to the Ogopogo,” Paul said. “I was excited about possible mythical beasts and bringing magic into everybody’s daily life.”

Artist Allison Paul has always been drawn to dinosaurs and mythical beasts and made an abundance of dinosaur figures when she was learning how different glass colours worked together.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Allison Paul

To make one of the solid figures, Paul begins with coloured glass rods and will blend colours together to create different effects. The glass is heated up with an oxygen propane torch and sculpted.

“It gets rip-roaring hot,” Paul said.

The glass is then cooled in a kiln to relieve any stress in the glass resulting in a stronger product.

The spikes on the Ogopogo’s back get pulled out individually, with a small flame to melt all the spikes.

“The glass itself, gravity, the flame, and a cheese knife are my most used tools,” Paul said.

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Paul had to learn quickly how the different glass colours work together and how to maneuver the flame chemistry to get her desired effect from the glass.

“You have to get to know the colours, and if the music is good, it usually goes a little faster,” Paul said.

To make glass art, Paul said artists need a proper ventilation system in their studio because some colours have heavy metals and release harmful fumes.

“It’s hot, heavy, sweaty work. As the glass gets bigger it gets heavier, I tend to work small because I like working in detail, but when it's plus 30 and I’m over a torch it gets hot really quick,” Paul said.

Not only has glass art given Paul the artistic lifestyle she has always desired, but it’s taught her how to take care of herself.

“If I haven’t eaten enough in the day and I’m trying to add little dots to a critter's eye I’ll notice myself shaking and I’ll crush a juice box and five minutes later I’ll have laser control precision,” Paul said. “It’s about paying attention to yourself and taking care of yourself so you can make the art safely.”

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