Master Stained Glass Artist Shares Her Talents in Avon Lake

Judy Kean has already made her mark on the art world. The Avon Lake resident, who runs in Avon Lake, has been asked—twice—to create guitars for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Guitarmania project.

Her second guitar, Bullseye, was bought by Dave Berryman, the president of Gibson Guitars. That piece followed the 2007 Guitarmania work titled The Glass Parrot, which benefitted the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s United Way project. The colorfully elaborate oversized guitar was completed using stained glass, a medium Kean specializes in. Her work is displayed in juried art shows and homes and businesses throughout the Cleveland area.

Kean has honed her art through practice, classes and after 26 years is now a master instructor, including teaching adults and children. Currently she teaches classes at Lorain County Community College (LCCC) and in her basement studio in Avon Lake on Timberline Drive.

“Next time you wonder, ‘What’s in that person’s basement, well this is it,’” Kean says, looking around a basement that is part working studio and part storage for hundred of sheets of colored glass.

In addition to creating stained glass projects for clients, she uses the studio to teach. On one particular Thursday, Patch gathered with Kean and four students putting finishing touches on projects they started four weeks earlier in a beginner stained glass class at LCCC.

She is hoping to share her knowledge of the “lost art” of stained glass. On this particular Thursday, four students are gathered in Judy Kean’s basement studio.

Don Case of Carlisle, Norm Bevan of Oberlin and Roger Marcum and Betty Pasterak, both of Lorain, show off their colorful pieces, cut out from patterns and soldered.

“My favorite part was soldering,” Case said. Next to him, Bevan reviews his piece before deciding whether to add a patina to the piece.

 “I think that was my favorite part too, I have to improve on that but it was a vast improvement (from starting),” Bevan said.

Pasterak said her favorite part was cutting the glass and was looking forward to a future class when she could hone that skill.

Kean is hoping to continue to share her knowledge and love of the art. April 1 kicks off National Glass Month. To celebrate, Kean will be holding at open house from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. on April 10 at The Glass Studio, 323 Timberlane in Avon Lake.

The studio will be open for teachers, scout leaders, home-schoolers and the general public wanting to see the studio.