Paul Smits

Born in Amsterdam, Holland, Paul Smits is a former engineering physicist with a passion for glass. After taking instruction in various hot glass techniques at “the Studio” of Corning Museum of Glass, Paul settled for glass fusing and kilnforming and decided to build his own studio in Kingston, Ontario. Among his teachers, he counts Rudi Gritsch of the famous Glass Art School in Kramsach, Austria, as well as Josh Simpson and Gabriele Kuestner. By studying the natural flow patterns of hot glass during the fusing process, Paul devised some of his own unique techniques, achieving unusual 3D and wave form effects in his work. For his basic designs, Paul relies on subtle combinations of both transparent and opaque shades of color, as well as inspiration from modern abstract and minimalist painters.