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Hey! Today we're checking out some stained glass that’s not your grandma’s church window. Jesse Olwen, aka Hemlock Stained Glass, takes that old-school vibe and kicks it up a notch by turning light into a whole story. These pieces don’t just sit there looking pretty - they change depending on where you stand and how the sunlight decides to dance with the glass.
What’s wild is how he mixes classic stained glass skills with a fresh, modern twist. He’s all about those tiny details like kiln-fired paint and the perfect glass choices, but then you see his designs and whoa - they swing from serious symbolism to fun pop-culture vibes that still feel kinda magical. We chatted with Jesse about his creative secrets, epic fails, and how he makes sure his glass is both sturdy and fragile at the same time (because why not?).
Take a peek at these stunning pieces and maybe pick your fav. Ready? Let’s go!
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Jesse told us his ideas usually pop into his head fully formed, like a lightbulb moment that keeps buzzing in the back of his brain. Sometimes he makes a mini-series to dig deeper, exploring different twists on the same theme. Every little part is carefully planned to pack in meaning and still keep things looking awesome and clear.
People often think stained glass creation is straight-up magical - and Jesse loves that mystery. He points out that stained glass is tough enough to last for centuries but fragile enough to shatter with a flick. He plays with that tension, making it feel both ancient and fresh.
Choosing what to paint and what to leave as pure glass is like a little chat between him and the materials. If a piece of glass is already beautiful on its own, Jesse lets it shine through instead of overdoing the paint. It’s like giving the glass a chance to show off.
Jesse’s works cover a lot of ground - from playful pop-culture nods that sharpened his skills, to deeper, more personal stuff dealing with big themes like life and death. He’s got a serious side and a fun side, and both totally rock.
He’s even tried making a stained glass hat (yep, a hat!). It hasn’t quite worked yet - those early versions were structurally wobbly - but it pushed him to think in 3D and come up with new creative ideas. Sometimes failing is just the start of something awesome.
Light is king in Jesse’s designs. Figuring out how opaque or see-through a piece should be is a huge puzzle. He owns some crazy beautiful but super opaque glass, which can block light and flatten the look. So he usually leans toward glass that lets the light party happen, unless he knows there’ll be special lighting behind it.
Jesse says working with clients is way easier when they start by pointing at something from his portfolio and saying, “Hey, can you do that but with a twist?” Plus, knowing where the piece will go is key because stained glass likes a little room to breathe. Tiny pieces just don’t cut it if you want those intricate details.
Coming from fine arts and architecture, Jesse thinks about how his pieces could totally hang in a gallery. He’s just getting started on big series like that though and can’t wait to dive deeper.
His favorite thing? Knowing that some of his stained glass pieces are made for people with serious love and meaning behind them. He hopes that good vibe sticks around for years - like a glass hug you can literally see.
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