Charles Paul Savoie - Studio Art Glass

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Charles Paul Savoie could probably be considered a Renaissance man. His intense pursuit of aesthetic perfection has caused him to delve into chemistry, physics and even architectural theories. Fortunately for him, he studied at the University of Illinois where he was mentored by a group of teachers, not only in the art departments, but also in math and chemistry.

Although Savoie’s primary academic interest was found in sculpture, he found himself continually drawn to the glass hot shop that was directly across from the bronze foundry. One he “crossed over”, he was instantly hooked. Here he focused on the chemistry of the glass in his desire to create “really good colors.”

What he learned early on was that most glass is incompatible. That is, each formula of glass expands and contracts at different rates when heated or cooled. What he also realized is that all compatible glass had a limited color palette. In fact, most of the colors available were rather dull and muddy. So, Savoie set off to create the colors he needed to express himself artistically.

Savoie- artist, engineer, scholar- embarked on an artistic journey to master the craft that so enthralled him. What he didn’t realize then was the meticulous nature of his process and how it would change the course of his life and his career. He is recognized not only for his artistic prowess, but also for his glass formulas creating the luscious colors found in his work

Goblets lay the foundation for most glass artists. At some point, generally early in their careers, they find themselves making goblets. It is the most recognizable form- thus eliminating the often humiliating “It’s nice, but what is it?” from well-intentioned “fans”. Goblets are also a good way to control and master “form”. Venetian goblets are the most difficult to make because they are the most ornate. It takes a good craftsman blessed with an aesthetic eye to execute such fine work.

As you can imagine by now, Savoie immersed himself comepletly, not only in the building of goblets, but also studying their history, social implications and culture. Where Italian goblets’ ornamentation is directly linked to one’s social status, the bold African goblets are specifically cultural.

Savoie’s goblets, along with his long-time interest in botany- he keeps orchids- are the influences for his large-scale limited edition sculptures. These sensual, evocative glass and bronze creations tend to evoke a visceral response of the viewer.

Each piece is roughly an edition of 10 or 12. Once his design is complete, Savoie will blow the glass vessel usually in groups of 2 or 3. Generally, he heats enough glass of a specific color- let’s say red- to blow 2 or 3 pieces of that color. Because they are blown at the same time, they are fairly uniform in size and color, of course. However, the next time he decides to work on the edition he may work in green, repeating the process although the pieces may come out a little smaller or larger than the first group of red ones. Working this way gives Savoie the freedom and flexibility of exploring the possibilities of color on a specific form. So, although they are signed and numbered as a limited edition, no 2 pieces are ever quite the same as is generally the case in an edition.

The bronze process for Savoie is rather unique, as you probably could have guessed. Typically, most bronze sculptures are cast three-dimensional through a process called “lost wax”. What Savoie does is create a three-dimensional model, then flattens it into a long sheet or pattern. From there, the wax mold is made and the bronze poured. It is then manipulated into the finished design. The cast bronze is warmed and bent carefully shaped to fit the glass. Once satisfied, Savoie applies his own patinas. The color of the glass sculpture dictates the patina he will select, to create harmony within the piece.