Etched Narratives
Steven’s handblown glass always had two strands, designed objects of utilitarian nature, jugs, plates, bowls and glasses. The other direction relates to narrative and storytelling employing engraving and etching methods. Earlier in his career he was often criticised for developing these two strand in tandem, both directions were essential to the creative practice and informed each other. The techniques he developed to explore stories within his glasswork, were unique methods of masking and then etching, and combined sandblasting to create layers and depth within the illustrations. The techniques were a deviation from tradition in the 1970s. The illustrative work and slower technical processes use gave him a chance to be reflective on his creative research and inputs. Drawing specially from inspiration from the mythical and historical. Later works relies on new combination of etched images have a secondary heating allows the narrative etched layer to directly transform form of the object.
