THE HISTORY OF SATAVA ART GLASS

The art glass that Richard creates is based in nature themes and motifs. When first starting out in the late seventies he mostly worked in the art nouveau technique, like many, because that was the accepted art glass style at that time. Just a few years later his work took off into a different direction, incorporating more of his own style, creating new looks in pictorial nature scenes with designs like the Harvest Moons, Mt. Shasta, floral lines, as well as, a series depicting images of Native American drawings. All these designs have evolved throughout the eighties and nineties, and continue to be created with new colors, shapes and inspiration.

During most of the 1990s he started to focus more attention on ocean life and nautical themes, creating the Moon Jellyfish and Nautilus series. Stemming from a visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which enabled him to view jellyfish in an exceptional setting, much like viewing art at a gallery, he knew then that he needed to capture the nature of the jellyfish in glass. After spending three years experimenting with various formulas to achieve the translucent colors needed to make the jellyfish, finally by 1995 the series was ready for display. The Moon Jellyfish fast became one of his most successful creations and since that time has been displayed and sold all over the country by various galleries and aquariums.

Richard Satava was introduced to glassblowing in 1969 while at Oceana High School in  Pacifica, California.   He subsequently studied art and glassblowing at the College of San Mateo and California State University, Chico.  As important as the skills that he learned while taking courses was the experience he received at California State University, Chico by being a technician for their glass shop.  In 1977 he established his own Northern California glass studio called Satava Art Glass.