When summer hits the Valley, so does an abundance of desert blooms. From towering, twisted cacti to wildflowers blanketing the fields, Arizona has much to offer in the way of eye candy for any artistic medium.
Newt Grover, Owner of Newt Glass in Scottsdale, has a keen sense of what colors and patterns in nature will translate seamlessly to the indoor and outdoor spaces of any home. His blown glass masterpieces are nothing short of jaw dropping, and keep the conversation flowing at a dinner or garden party.
"Much can be done with a southwest palette. Cacti and prickly pear plants are two desert favorites here in the Valley and lend themselves well to blown glass design. So much inspiration can be found from natural botanicals and the aquatic themes of summer. l'll often run across a tree or flower, and think, 'I can really use that form for part of a chandelier.'"
Newt notes that each piece he creates has to fit the environment and the purpose, so each customer is different. The feel is of utmost importance, as well as longevity; the piece needs to hold up over time with the evolving decor of the home.
"I need parameters, and then I put my spin on it. I am a big believer in our talents and gifts coming through us – how are they presented in the real world? It’s not about ego with my projects, I have gratitude for customers who put their trust in me to create their ideas and visions."
Newt does not name his pieces, as he doesn't want to skew what the customers had in mind for their pieces of art. In the case of the outdoor floral potted pieces, he says the customer saw a similar design that he had done for Wildflower Bread Company and wanted that same look for the front entrance to her property.
"These are inspired by poppies and trumpet flowers -- a very flowing design was what I was going for."
Newt adds that a whimsical appearance based in fantasy is an added touch to most of his pieces. This enchants the piece, much like stepping into a fairytale forest.
"A cactus can be made abstract quite easily...slightly based in reality with a touch of the unreal."
One of Newt's favorite local projects is the floral project adorned with butterflies on the ceiling. In that particular space, Newt had worked on other pieces throughout and was there when the house was being built. The couple lives high in the mountains, overlooking a 180 degree view of the Valley.
"The couple told me that I needed a piece as a focal point for a New Year's Eve Party debut...it was October so I had to work quickly. They trusted me to go with my vision. It wound up with high praise and amazing feedback. I like to sit back and hear the comments about my work before telling them I created it, (when I attend parties and my pieces are on display). The owner loves landscape design and loves florals and butterflies, so we brought the outdoors; in. Inspired by the chrysanthemum flower, and touched by fantasy, this piece has flowers that are over 4 feet in size."
Sometimes, colors from the outdoors make for a fresh and bold addition to a home, keeping the tropical, summery vibe all year long. In the case of the spiral chandelier, this had the exact intended aesthetic.
"This client and I heavily discussed the use of color. Their house had a South American look and feel, so a large amount of texture and color throughout -- this piece had to be lively. I played with colors and shapes and the client saw it throughout the process and was very open to my vision."
Newt believes that his high satisfaction rate comes as a result of sharing and listening coupled with involving his client every step of the way.
"Some of my best work is a collaboration between me and a client. My goal is to put beauty into the world and not color someone else’s experience. I don’t explain my pieces, it should speak to the person who purchases so he/she can create their own story. I tell them my thought process and inspiration but, it's all about beauty at the end of the day.”