Wade Brooks
ARTISTIC DESIGN STUDIO

“I am inspired by all the plants, living creatures, and the shapes and forms in nature. My work is an interpretation of these in metal, glass, and wood.“

Working with fire, whether at the forge with metal or in the glory hole with molten glass, Wade likes to form and shape both into functional and decorative art. Drawing inspiration from the flowing lines in nature, Wade’s furniture, metal pieces, blown glass, stained glass and sculptures are pleasing to the eye and complimentary to any home or office.

In the blacksmithing studio, Wade first draws a shape of the object to be made and then begins the process of forging. This may take from a few minutes to days depending on the size of the project. The piece is then assembled and finished.

Much the same process is followed in blowing glass, however blowing a glass ball goes much faster than forging a steel rose. Molten glass is gathered on the end of a blow pipe, built up, color added, blown and shaped to form a work of art. It must then be cooled very slowly to prevent breaking. Each of these processes permits a material which is solid and ridged to be pliable and easily shaped with very high temperatures.

Applying the hook to the top of a blown ball.

Wade and Susan both do lampwork. Each creating glass beads and other elements that they incorporate into their art work.

Making funky fish gives Wade much pleasure. Having spent his entire life on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay with commercial and sports fishermen in his family. He is obsessed with fish.

He uses his fish beads to make belt buckles, sculptures of underwater scenes, jewelry, and for sale individually.