Lac la Biche – Lac La Biche artisans say the most fun part about working with stained glass is being able to play with colors and textures to create stunning works of art.
Noella Somerville runs a business called Healing à la Source out of her home. This local artisan, who also does leatherwork, is also a certified cultural arts instructor, and she started working with stained glass in 2012. Her first contract was at a church in Janvier, located between Lac la Biche and Fort McMurray. The project created a total of 16 of her 3′ x 6′ stained glass windows and took her two years from start to finish.
Another custom piece by Somerville was three stained glass panels created for Calgary’s Bridgeland Distillery.
“It took four months from start to finish,” she said, adding that half of the contract money went toward purchasing the glass. She said, “Every time someone approaches me with an idea, I’m happy to make it happen.”
Your options for purchasing the type of stained glass needed for these projects are very limited. Somerville says he only has one place in Alberta where you can buy this glass: his Bissett Stained Glass in Edmonton.
Like any other art form, there are many steps to follow when creating stained glass, whether it’s a two-piece piece or a 200-piece piece. As Somerville explains, it all starts with a pattern. She then selects the glass, cuts it, grinds it, foils it, solders it, and polishes it.
When working on a project, she uses three types of grinders, a soldering iron, a glass cutter, and many small tools.
“I’m using the same methods I used 100 years ago, but with better technology,” she says.
In addition to the workshop in the basement of her home, she also has a boutique where she displays her products. “Healingàla Source is also part of a small group of artisans based in Alberta, and she is part of the “Economuse” program. This program is part of her Artisans at Work network, an organization that includes a variety of artisans from across Canada and Europe.
Her art is sold at various stores in Lac La Biche, British Columbia, as well as at farmers markets and shows.
Somerville, a school bus driver, works on stained glass projects in between his regular bus trips.
She also teaches classes in her studio to share her knowledge and passion for stained glass with others. For the beginner class, she explains, it takes her about four hours to make a three to four stained glass project.
She primarily teaches on Wednesday nights, but also teaches on weekends and is available at other times.
“In my studio, I teach three to six students at a time. If the group grows larger, I need to rent another space,” she explains.
Somerville, who believes art can be healing, also does holistic work. She has the ability to make simple projects complex, such as 3D birds and rotating swirls, and she also does mosaics, overlays, and many other types of stained glass art.
“What I love most about stained glass is that you can choose the colors and match the textures. It’s really amazing when you see the finished product in the light,” she says. “There needs to be balance in life, and creating is part of that.”
