| About the Artist |
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Mickey McLauthlin began as a stained glass artist in 1980. Enlisting in the Air Force out of high school, Mickey pursued a college degree in Business Administration while serving her 4 year active duty commitment. She continued her military service with the Air National Guard while working as a civilian paralegal in Washington and Texas, but always enjoyed various arts and crafts when time allowed. That is until she took her first stained glass class in San Antonio. From that point on, between work, volunteering and a growing family, her spare time was spent honing her glass crafting and designing skills. As a military wife, she had the opportunity to work and teach stained glass in various parts of the country. Her travels have greatly influenced her style and techniques as she continued to gain experience in lead, copper foil, fusing, mosaics and glass design.
The Glass Touch has been a fledgling, part-time business in 5 states since 1990 as Mickey traveled with Scott, her husband of 30+ years and their two children, Andy and Erin, during Scott’s Air Force career. Between packing and unpacking moving boxes, Mickey taught at art centers, participated in juried craft shows and completed commission work, which kept her continuously growing in her glass crafting skills.
Since moving to Colorado Springs in 2002 for their last assignment at Space Command, Mickey was hired by Royalty Gifts and Art Glass, a long time stained glass art studio in Colorado Springs, to do repairs and commission work for their retail shop. The retail business was extremely educational and Mickey very much enjoyed working with the customers, but longed to focus on her own work. With Scott’s retirement and both children out of college, The Glass Touch opened for business full time in Colorado Springs beginning in 2004. In 2007, Mickey, along with several other local glass artist in the Colorado Springs area, was instrumental in forming the Glass Artists of the Pikes Peak Region (GAPPR), a glass art organization for social and educational development of local artists, and is currently serving as Vice-President. Currently Mickey maintains a studio at the Cottonwood Center for the Arts in downtown Colorado Springs.
Although Mickey enjoys repairs and restoration work, her forte with glass is creating “Client Specific” art glass pieces. That is to say, she designs with and for each customer an original piece of glass work - big or small - using a multiple of glass disciplines that celebrates an occasion in their lives, ...and with that ... creates for them today, tomorrow’s heirloom. |