Houston Llew
Spiritiles
Spiritiles are part of the evolving story about wall art enameling. Houston traces his lineage back to Fred Uhl Ball, an artist and teacher in the mid-1970's who dreamt of glass on metal murals and brought them to life. He took a medium focusing on small enameling techniques for jewelry and experimented in glass and metal to create wall artwork. He forged a new path that earned him a commission for a mural on a parking garage in Sacramento and then another at a local hospital.
He mentored Craig Ruwe, who used Fred's large-scale enameling expertise to create an artistry of enameled artworks in complementary dimensions to fine art paintings. Craig sought exhibiting his pieces in galleries and carved a new form in the fine art marketplace.
At one of his exhibits, Craig Ruwe met the painter and sculptor Zingaro. The two artists formed a mutual respect for each other's work, and Craig asked for Zingaro's assistance as his health declined. Zingaro furthered the tradition of vitreous enameled wall art by integrating his background in painting to his own fine art enameled pieces.
Through strange and fated opportunity, Houston Llew met Zingaro, who mentored Houston in enameling techniques. Through their collaboration, combining the medium with the best industrial design they could find and Houston's love to explain things by quoting famous authors, Spiritiles were brought to life. When describing how a person becomes an artist Houston says, "Bad art is copied, good art is stolen. Jean-Luc Godard wisely pointed out 'It's not where you take things from - it's where you take them to.' So steal the best parts of things you love and take them somewhere new!"
The Process:
The glass is applied to one side of the metal using stencils and relying on precise layering with hand sifters. The piece is only fired once. After firing, a pin is rolled over the enameled metal to form intentional crazing marks in the glass.
Although it goes against the medium's traditional teachings, Houston says this technique creates increased light refraction, particularly in the transparent glass, and allows for easier malleability. Like all beautiful enamel works, the results are best seen in person to fully appreciate the effect.
Every Spiritile is handmade according to the same dimensions following the golden mean ratio. With a quirky smile, Houston likes to say these artworks are "Created as windows of the enlightened spirit," inspiring those who interact with them.
While every piece has its own unique essence, all are created to live in community with the others, giving an eclectic collector limitless possibilities of personal expression.
Spiritiles are represented in selected fine art and craft galleries across the US. To represent the line, retailers hold just the right blend of eclectic product, presence and personality.
It is Houston's aspiration that every gallery representing Spiritiles be a place to seek the unusual - the moving - the enlightened element for the environment of the collector.
Spiritiles
He mentored Craig Ruwe, who used Fred's large-scale enameling expertise to create an artistry of enameled artworks in complementary dimensions to fine art paintings. Craig sought exhibiting his pieces in galleries and carved a new form in the fine art marketplace.
At one of his exhibits, Craig Ruwe met the painter and sculptor Zingaro. The two artists formed a mutual respect for each other's work, and Craig asked for Zingaro's assistance as his health declined. Zingaro furthered the tradition of vitreous enameled wall art by integrating his background in painting to his own fine art enameled pieces.
Through strange and fated opportunity, Houston Llew met Zingaro, who mentored Houston in enameling techniques. Through their collaboration, combining the medium with the best industrial design they could find and Houston's love to explain things by quoting famous authors, Spiritiles were brought to life. When describing how a person becomes an artist Houston says, "Bad art is copied, good art is stolen. Jean-Luc Godard wisely pointed out 'It's not where you take things from - it's where you take them to.' So steal the best parts of things you love and take them somewhere new!"
The Process:
The glass is applied to one side of the metal using stencils and relying on precise layering with hand sifters. The piece is only fired once. After firing, a pin is rolled over the enameled metal to form intentional crazing marks in the glass.
Although it goes against the medium's traditional teachings, Houston says this technique creates increased light refraction, particularly in the transparent glass, and allows for easier malleability. Like all beautiful enamel works, the results are best seen in person to fully appreciate the effect.
Every Spiritile is handmade according to the same dimensions following the golden mean ratio. With a quirky smile, Houston likes to say these artworks are "Created as windows of the enlightened spirit," inspiring those who interact with them.
While every piece has its own unique essence, all are created to live in community with the others, giving an eclectic collector limitless possibilities of personal expression.
Spiritiles are represented in selected fine art and craft galleries across the US. To represent the line, retailers hold just the right blend of eclectic product, presence and personality.
It is Houston's aspiration that every gallery representing Spiritiles be a place to seek the unusual - the moving - the enlightened element for the environment of the collector.
