Meet This Month's Featured Artist

Hello!


My name is Paul Rouleau, but most of you know me by my Justbeads name, which is "FireDance Beads”.

After a bad neck injury in 2000 I had to give up my previous livelihood as a body worker. I found myself trying to come to terms with living in chronic pain with damaged nerves that give my hands bad messages. I thought that fine hand coordination and artistic endeavours were a thing of the past. I also believe that the brain is a wonderful thing that can be reprogramed as it were, and with perseverance my hands are getting somewhat better with fewer spasms and more control.

I fell in love with glass while watching some glass artists in Mexico over 30 years ago and always wanted to work in the medium. The closest I got to it was pottery. I loved it but it required too much space for an urban apartment dweller. Because of space constraints I focussed on photography and body work as I thought you needed huge kilns and glory holes and big space to work in glass. I did not know about lampwork yet.

I began lampwork in December 2005 with my life partner, jewelry goddess Helen. We took a basic bead making workshop on a typical Victoria winter evening. It was cold, wet and very dark outside. The little workroom at Glass-Smith & Co. seemed welcoming and cozy in comparison. Our little group was warmly greeted by Nicole Valentine, our instructor for the weekend.

Feeling apprehensive and a little childlike with enthusiasm I learned torch basics and safety tips and then watched as Nicole showed us just how easy it is to make a simple bead.

After picking out glass rods and a work station I proceeded to light the torch and set out to make a "simple bead". Let me tell you, "simple" seems to have a different meaning when others do things. For me it was "let's make a glass puddle" as I eagerly applied abundant torch heat to the glass rod. I hadn't tried to wrap any of the melting glass onto a mandrel and already I had a slag heap going.

Well, that was then. Although I still make the occasional puddle on the workbench I can now wrap a simple glass bead on a mandrel ... on a good day.

Everyday I go to the studio I realize just how little I know about glass. I love finding new ways to work it into shapes and forms with colours that are appealing and desirable. I love the process of learning and playing ...

I especially want to thank all the great people I've met here on JustBeads. Your feedback really helps me get through the rough days when the pain is overpowering. I think that I'm starting to get it when I read that my beads have brought some joy into another person's life. I hope that energy follows those beads and keeps on spreading joy and beauty as they move from you to ...

Cheers,
Paul

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