Tinker Belz Art, LLC Flameworked Glass Gallery and Studio started as dream. Victoria Belz was drawn to a variety of artistic mediums including drawing, sculpting, and painting, but in 2006 she discovered her passion for glass. Enamored with the endless possibilities, and the luminous quality and beauty of glass, she began to develop her skills as a glass artist.
Lampwork bead artistry is the time-honored practice of using a flame to heat soda lime glass to a molten state and wind it onto steel rods called mandrels. The act of painting and sculpting with hot glass on these tiny canvases was the catalyst for Victoria’s pursuit of her art.
Victoria continued to study flameworking and attended glass workshops with master glass artists. Having developed her skills, she was eventually able to share the joy of glasswork with others. She moved her modest home studio to a local art center where she extended her reach in the community by offering a varied selection of flameworked glass classes.
Today, students of all skill levels can experience working with molten glass to create glass flowers, beads, blown ornaments, sculpted icicles, pendants, marbles, and more. Victoria specializes in small class settings, typically a maximum of six, to focus on individual learning and growth in the studio.
In addition to teaching, Victoria thrives on being able to cater to a growing customer base. To suit a wide variety of customer interests, she has expanded her expertise – exploring wearable art, sculpture, and artisan styles – along with custom gifts including kitchen utensils, martini glasses, and charcuterie knives.
She finds glass to be a challenging medium, an amorphous solid that always demands her attention. Victoria encourages collaboration with her clients to achieve a combined vision for unique glass art. Her commissioned works include floral bridal jewelry, sculptural anniversary hummingbirds, as well as memorial ash pieces, most notably her marbles infused with dichroic glass.
Victoria’s art has been featured throughout the Chicagoland area in galleries and fine art shows. Victoria has been interviewed for multiple publications and was featured on WGN News in the spring of 2021.
A highlight of her 15-year career was when she was selected for The Flow magazine’s issue “15th Annual Women in Glass” edition. Her signature necklace, entitled, “Bridal Suite” was featured on the CD cover digital edition. “Bridal Suite” took Victoria 40 hours to make, but the result was worth the effort. The piece is covered in layers of delicate white flowers emerging from hammered fine silver to create an elegant scene.
Victoria was thrilled to have her work included in the magazine, saying “The Flow has inspired me since the early days, so it was an honor to see my name among many of the idols that I admired.”
One of the most rewarding aspects of her experience is sharing her process with others. Working with the surrounding community, she has taught in multiple art centers, and has provided live glassblowing demonstrations in the hope to inspire and educate others about her passion.
Victoria’s curiosity for new techniques continues to pull her in different directions. Currently, she is exploring larger sculptural works which mimic organic structures. The intricacies of nature are perhaps the most inspiring to her, providing boundless opportunities for interpretation. The world around her continues to energize and fill Victoria with wonder.
Her continued growth and passion have led to the next step in her journey, the introduction of her very own creative space. Having outgrown her previous location, Tinker Belz Art, LLC Flameworked Glass Gallery and Studio, currently under renovation, will soon be opening in The Berry House Shops at 227 S. 3rd St. Suite 108 Geneva, IL, 60134.
“Living in the Fox Valley region for the past 22 years and currently in St. Charles, the opportunity to expand my reach within the community and become a more influential contributor is a dream come true. This area is rich in history and culture, with a uniqueness that is exciting to be a part of. After years of planning, I could not be more delighted to create a studio of my own.”
The new location will offer a fresh look with an even wider range of art for new and established customers and collectors to choose from. The same one-on-one instruction and attention to detail will be available, as well as fun and informative group classes in flameworked glass. Guest artists and collaborators will be invited to show and teach within the studio, offering new ways to experience the arts.
To keep up with Victoria Belz on her journey and to receive updates regarding her grand opening, you can follow @TinkerBelzArt_ on Instagram and @TinkerBelzArt on Facebook, or visit www.tinkerbelzart.com
1 Comment
Great article. Good luck in your new digs!