Abracadabra Art Glass is run by Jill Painter of Marin County, California. She and Merry Morrison have shared a studio through their life's many changes, designing, creating, repairing and restoring Stained, Beveled, Slumped, Fused, Cast and Painted Glass.
Abracadabra Art Glass
1678 Indian Valley Road, Novato,California 94947
415-847-5348
owned by Jill Painter
aka, Jill O’Farrell, Jill Gildroy
Jill’s Bio
Glass has been a very important constant in my life for over 35 years. This magic media still electrifies my senses. It satisfies so many of my own desires; graphic design, creating functional art with my own hands and heart, while combining bevels, jewels and wheel cutting, sandblasting, cast glass, or painting on glass.
I enjoy creating a window with a very special and specific meaning to the person or family who sees it every day.
It gives me deep satisfaction to bring back a window that has been in need of restoration. When Merry and I worked on the Tiffany Windows we were both in awe of the craftsmanship and beautiful painting. The glass itself was absolutely luscious! What an honor to be able to work on them.
Through the years I have been very fortunate to have worked for companies specializing in Stained Glass, Scientific Glassblowing, and Glassblowing, learning different aspects of glass working.
1966-70 Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
BFA in Advertising Design and Visual Communication
1977-79 Reflection Studios, San Rafael, Ca, now in Emeryville, Ca
Repair and Restoration Stained Glass
1979 Pilchuck Glass School, Seattle, Wa
Glass Painting, Slumping with Klaus and Isgard Moje
1979-81 Abracadabra, San Rafael, California, closed in ‘81
Stained Glass Repair, Painting on Glass
1982-87 Maslach Art Glass, Greenbrae, Ca, now on Bainbridge Is., Wa
Cold Working, Packing and Shipping, Store Clerk,
Marble Making, Marble Designing, Marble Stock Making,
Hot Shop Assistant
1986 Research and Development, Berkeley, Ca
Cold Working, Glass Lathe and Lamp Working
1986 J. Fine Glass, Berkeley, Ca, now possibly in Mi
Marble Making
1981- now
Abracadabra Art Glass, Novato, Ca
Stained Glass Commissions, Restoration and Repair,
Lighting, Lamp Repair and New Commissions
Commissions and Restorations:
Taylor Stokes Lighting Four Seasons, Kona, Hawaii
Ritz Carlton, San Francisco, Ca
Rafael Theatre, San Rafael, Ca
Jerry Reynolds Lighting Gramercy Park Café, NY, NY
Private Collector: 3 Tiffany Studios Window Restorations, from Passaic, New Jersey
St. Anselm's Church 97 shady Lane, Ross, Ca, Stained Glass Window Restoration
Age of Elegance Residential Window Restorations
Woodchuck Antiques Lamp Repair/Restorations
Julie Williams Design Residential Kitchen Cabinets
Many of the windows pictured on this website are in private homes in the Bay Area
Merry Morrison and I have raised our families, been friends and shared a studio for over 37 years. She has and will continue to build windows and help restore panels when a large job comes in. For the past 5 years she has expanded her repertoire to include Jewelry Making. Her designs are whimsical and slightly steam punky, stylishly simple using striking combinations of copper and silver.
She is a member of The Marin Jeweler’s Guild in San Rafael, Ca.
See her Bio in her link in my Great Links Tab.
Thank you to the many extremely talented and wonderful people and clients who have enriched my life and continue to inspire and challenge me with their projects and friendship.