Meet Siobhan Lynch | Stained Glass Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Siobhan Lynch and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Siobhan, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I was having dinner at a friend’s place one night and my friend’s father’s advice was “find something you love and do it as a job”.

I was in between jobs and not quite sure what I wanted to do next. I had always worked and did art “on the side”. I was just starting to make stained glass projects and creating my own designs. I was loving it but did not think I could make it into a career. Then I found an unemployment program that taught me how to start my own business. I spent weeks laying the foundation to start a stained glass business including writing a business plan, researching the market, and trying to map out the direction to take.

Now, as a look back, I didn’t follow it fully, but it was a great exercise to help me realistically decide to choose a career in the arts. Instead of having “art on the side”, I had other “side jobs” so I could do my glass work. As time went on, I did less side gigs and more glass. Now, 15 years later, I am only doing glass work.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
When I first started making stained glass panels, my focus was on traditional Irish knot-work patterns. Most of my work still integrates knot-work, symbols and flowing interweaving lines. To me, they represent continuity, balance and interaction AND I love to capture the sense of movement in all of my work.

I think it took years just to figure out how to do the craft well. (I am still always learning). My work has branched out and I am excited that my designs have become more and more intricate over time. And there is always a story behind all my windows, whether it is about the pattern itself, or the inspiration or even where I got the glass from. My biggest problem now is that I have too many ideas and not enough time to get to them all.

Professionally, I got here by constantly taking everything I learned and bringing it back to my glass, whether it was life lesson, a business lesson or personal experience. And to keep going. And to be patient with myself.

There were lots of times when I lost confidence in my work and my career choice and just though “Go get a 9 to 5 job”, “Go get a stable income”, “What the heck am I thinking?”. I had to take many small steps, many side jobs and wear many different hats to get to this point where I am completely comfortable in my life choices and the life/career I have created for myself.

I love to make the glass dance in the light and tell a story… and there is ALWAYS a story.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take them to the Corktown Pub in downtown Hamilton on a Tuesday for a Hamilton Irish Arts music session and dancing. I go every week and it is always a good time. The people are fantastic and wonderful plus I LOVE to DANCE, specifically Irish Set Dancing. It is a group dance and people always enjoy it.

For a week I would show them how great and beautiful Hamilton is in all its natural glory! So many trails, walks, hikes and waterfalls.

Hamilton is full so many fantastic restaurants and one of my favourite places to eat is the Hamilton Farmers Market for snacks and treats. La Luna at King and Queen (Not the fast food franchise) is a wonderful Lebanese restaurant with the best Hummous in the WORLD. The WestTown Diner on Locke South for a great diner breakfast, The Mule for amazing Tacos. Gates of India on James South. Caro for Italian with the best pasta in town…and on and on. So many great places to eat in Hamilton and I can’t name them all!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Definitely my friend’s father, who gave me the original advice to follow what you love.

My parents who exposed me to their Irish culture which in turn heavily influenced my designs and window.

I had some wonderful teachers along the way and mentors who helped me learn my craft and inspired my work.

And finally. I am one of 5 people (now 4) in a glass group that formed 8 years ago, Artistic Group of Glass (AGOG). We meet each month; have dinner, discuss ideas, projects, wine. :). It is a wonderful group that supports and inspires each other. Our “mandate” was to create glass-based fine art through creating exhibitions, exploring unique collaborations and empowering each other to grow and take risks with each of our glass-based practices.

Website: siobhanlynchglass.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siobhanlynchglass/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SLynchGlass

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SiobhanLynchStainedGlass/

Youtube: siobhanlynch3177

Image Credits
David Galway Branko Gregov