5 ELVES OF INTEREST
The
Glass Painter
BY WILLI MILLER
PHOTOS BY ROB DOWNEY
Dee Morton is one of the mainstays at craft shows in
Indian River County, with a following that includes
locals, winter residents and tourists. Her hand-painted
designs enliven canister sets, tableware, bottles, wine
glasses and anything else that can take the heat of her oven.
Morton works with an acrylic enamel made specifically for
materials such as the glassware and china she uses as her
canvas. The vibrant colors of her paint are heat-set for durability
so her wares can have function as well as form.
This holiday season, Morton has added another dimension
to her painted glassware. She offers a martini glass with
stuffed olives painted on the glass and a whimsical frog
made of polymer clay clinging to the stem. "For my daughter,
a loyal Gator, I made a set with a clay alligator on each
glass," Morton said. Word of mouth and avid collectors keep
Morton busy creating inventory for craft shows and filling
special orders.
All of her pieces can be personalized, with text and graphics
or a special clay figure. Prices for a set of four stock glasses
range from $20 to $36. Glasses with a sculpted-clay addition
start at $10 each. Personalized designs vary in price, and
Morton will even paint on a customer’s own glasses and
bowls. The artist has added another angle to her hobby
recently. "I've gotten in to painting furniture, especially wicker,"
she said. Availability is limited, however, with pieces on
display at Melange in Sebastian and by special order.
Morton says she enjoyed working in graphic arts as a student
but didn't begin her glass-painting sideline until about
15 years ago, when she was looking for a way to boost her
income. Now one of her day jobs is transcribing medical
records in the pathology department at Indian River Medical
Center. Another is taking care of children at The Jungle Club,
in Vero Beach, while their parents work out. Morton is also
the lady in charge when anything involving crafts is scheduled
for the Heritage Center in Vero. One popular event
there that kicks off the holiday season each November is the
craft show that has become a major attraction at Christmas in
Downtown Vero Beach.
Morton lives in Sebastian with her husband, Jurek, and
daughter, Tyler, a University of Florida student who occasionally
works in mosaics. Her workspace is her kitchen
counter but her letter to Santa always includes a wish for a
real studio.
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