A FIRST PERSON ACCOUNT OF RUNNING A SMALL BUSINESS.MARK Schoem was set to become a psychologist when a class in stained-glass art changed his life. On his way to a doctorate from USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. , Schoem left his studies and went to work for a stained-glass studio in 1976. Today, he owns his own studio, Ancient Arts, in San Pedro. Staff reporter Claudia Peschiutta talked with Schoem about the art of making stained glass stained glass, in general, windows made of colored glass. To a large extent, the name is a misnomer, for staining is only one of the methods of coloring employed, and the best medieval glass made little use of it. and creating a market for it. "I worked for other stained-glass studios for three years before I started my own. It really didn't take any money because I started it in my garage. "I was working by myself when I first started. The only kind of work I was doing in the beginning was residential. Now, I would say about half of my work is for churches or cemeteries This is a list of famous cemeteries, mausoleums and other places people are buried, world-wide. It may never be fully completed or, depending on its its nature, it may be that it can never be completed. However, new and revised entries in the list are always welcome. ." "In the beginning, there's usually a series of meetings and consultations and the client pondering pon·der v. pon·dered, pon·der·ing, pon·ders v.tr. To weigh in the mind with thoroughness and care. v.intr. To reflect or consider with thoroughness and care. and thinking about what they want. Then, there'll be a drawing phase. Sometimes, the client will bring a drawing from their own architect. Usually, I draw it. "We have the glass selection and I like to have my clients participate in it. Usually, in my studio, we'll look at different samples in the window so they can see different textures, different colors. There are literally thousands of stained-glass variations. "Then, we cut the glass and before we put it together, I'll invite the client to come back and show them the cut-out window or a section of the window on a light table. Then, we put the whole thing together. The pieces of stained glass are held together with lead. "The average commission is about $1,000. It might be a 2-foot-by-3- or 4-foot-sized fairly intricate design. "I'm on a hot streak right now. I can't explain it. "I don't think my kind of business follows the general trend of the whole economy because it's a small niche. "I think there's more stained-glass activity in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, than anywhere else in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . "I don't think there are as many (studios) as there were 10 years ago hut it's still very popular. More people than you might imagine put stained-glass in homes. "To me, stained glass is the most beautiful visual art. It's not necessarily appreciated in the official art world. "If it's done gracefully grace·ful adj. Showing grace of movement, form, or proportion: "Capoeira is a graceful ballet of power and control, artists kicking and jumping in synchronized movement" Alisa Valdes. and elegantly and with some imagination, then it's really outstanding and you get a lot of satisfaction out of this kind of creativity." |
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