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a moment with...Mark Payton

In addition to stunning glass sculptures, this skilled artisan and proprietor of Louisville-based Payton Flameworks (www.paytonflameworks.com) also fires his torch to make smaller baubles such as fan pulls, lamp finials, and bottle stoppers. Each highly detailed piece is sculpted from heated low-expansion “hard glass” rods. With creations that are both playful and elegant, Payton’s designs bring an element of sophisticated whimsy to everyday items.

Why fan pulls? I wanted to make something artistic and functional. I was doing ornaments and one of the galleries started hanging them from their ceiling fans. They became popular as pulls so we started coming up with other styles. Now, we have more than 70 varieties in 400 galleries across the country. Do you have a fan style in mind when creating? No, more of an interior design idea. I think of the kinds of places they will go. I pay attention to the hot colors and trends and try to come up with looks that can go in any setting. We make large chunky pulls for big rooms with vaulted ceilings. A lot of people have fans on their porches, in their kitchens, family rooms, everywhere. I try to envision the kind of person who would buy a specific item to help shape how it should look. What is your most popular piece? The sun, hand, and teapot are stock items that are always in demand. Also, the simple balls and free-form pulls are big sellers. What is your most unusual pull? I’d say anything from the Free Form series (which feature elongated pulls with varying curves and colors). The Joker design is also kind of funky, but could work in any room. How many different variations do you make? We introduce about 10 each year, and also 10 different color combinations. So, there’s something new all the time. Most designs end up being a limited edition, maybe 2,000 total of each are made. Is it easier or more difficult to create on a small scale? Probably the smaller stuff is the most difficult. I have a million ideas for the large figures, but for the pulls I have to work within the artisan’s skill level. They are each made by hand. How long does it take to make a single pull? Each pull takes from 15-30 minutes, which is a long time by glass standards. The more time a piece takes, the more likely a problem will occur. I’m really particular about quality standards; it has to be perfect. Do you have a personal favorite? We came up with a series of bottle stoppers with these heads that have sculpted faces. They are really fun so we’re making them into fan pulls, too. Also, the waffles and the bacon and egg breakfast are great and always make me laugh. I also like the pacifiers – they’re a direct niche piece. Do you do custom orders? Yes. We do custom orders all the time for pulls and finials as well as the glass sculptures. We do a lot of color matching, so it’s no problem if a customer needs a specific shade. Sometimes the customers ideas give us inspiration for new pieces. Have customers come up with any additional uses for your pulls? People have actually requested them as necklaces.
-Deborah P. Neely