Bob began his career as a glassblower in 2003, taking lessons from Andrea and Dennis Schmitz of Pyromania glassblowing studio in Newport, OR. He went on to work with Larry Sommer of Toledo, OR, where he refined his solo glassblowing skills.

Bob started accumulating his own glassblowing equipment, and opened the first version of Ocean Beaches Glass in Seal Rock in October of 2005.

During the following year, Bob started planning a new building with his wife, Vicki. The goal was to move the studio out to Highway 101, and to build it large enough to also house an art gallery. The work started in early 2007, and the new Ocean Beaches Glass Gallery opened in December of that year. Vicki now runs the overall operation of the gallery.

The majority of Bob’s work has been in bowls, vases and floats, in which he emphasizes dramatic use of color and the fluid nature of molten glass. He’s also developed certain specialty items, such as “Treasure Floats” (in which “treasures” of a person’s choice can be enclosed in a blown glass float), Memorial Orbs (in which the ashes of a loved one can be encased in solid glass), and custom light shades.

Bob had been a pharmacist in his “previous life” (and is still, on occasion), and relishes this opportunity to expand his creativity. You can see Bob’s work at Ocean Beaches Glass Gallery on Highway 101 on the north end of Seal Rock, OR, or on his website, http://www.blownhotglass.com