Casper, Wyo. — Casper native Roger Severn vividly remembers the second when his life was remodeled as a boy throughout a routine household journey to the mall.

“Manner again within the day, there was a little bit kiosk arrange within the mall, and a gentleman was in there simply blowing glass,” he stated. Whereas his mother went off to do the Christmas purchasing, Roger stayed, transfixed and in awe.

“I stood there for a couple of hours, simply watching, completely fascinated with what the man was doing. I assumed it was superior.”

The seed was planted, so when he bought older, Roger knew he needed to pursue the craft. Drawback was, there weren’t too many glassblowers in Casper, they usually typically didn’t wish to share their hard-earned information. Ultimately he discovered somebody working on the town who let him watch and use the gear. That lasted solely a number of months earlier than the glassblower moved on. Sam and Alicia Watt pose with glassblower Roger Severn at PH Glass Studios in Casper. (Dan Cepeda, Oil Metropolis Information)

“Now I’m hooked,” recalled Roger. “I’ve bought to maintain going, proper?” He slowly purchased his personal specialised gear and put collectively a house studio, and after a couple of hiccups — together with a thief making off along with his gear — he moved to Denver to proceed producing and promoting his work.

Enter Sam and Alicia Watt, two Casper-based entrepreneurs working the Platte Hemp Firm in Casper, Gillette and Rawlins, who needed to promote higher-quality glass merchandise of their shops somewhat than the available mass-produced selection.

“I’ve needed to blow glass for years and years,” stated Alicia. “I’m initially from Montana, and there’s nothing in Montana. And now I’m in Wyoming, and there’s nothing right here; you must go to Colorado or the coasts.”

Alicia discovered Roger in Colorado giving classes and making glass. They quickly began discussing methods to convey the craft, and Roger, again to Casper.

PH Glass Studios, which is scheduled to open on Nov. 1, is the results of these discussions.

Roger Severn poses with glass tubes utilized in glassblowing at PH Glass Studios in Casper. (Dan Cepeda, Oil Metropolis Information)

The enterprise will enable folks to take classes and provides glassblowing a attempt, with Roger giving classes and tutorials. Group or personal classes will probably be accessible. As well as, they’ll supply consultations for anybody hoping to arrange their very own dwelling studio, and inventory provides and gear for native glassblowers.

Glassblowing is a normal time period for glasswork. The fashionable artisan approach makes use of what is actually a modified welding system that concentrates a particularly high-temperature flame onto glass tubes, which the artist bends and manipulates into trinkets, rings, pipes, lamps or dozens of different merchandise.

“A number of this was developed from scientific work,” stated Roger. That flexible glass check tube and lab gear is all made by consultants for very particular makes use of, he stated. There’s additionally affect from the normal glassblowing work perfected a whole bunch of years in the past by Italian artisans.

A set of glass ornaments and pendants made by Roger Severn are collected in a field. (Dan Cepeda, Oil Metropolis Information)

Along with courses, the power will act as Roger’s predominant studio, the place he’ll produce glasswork to be bought at Platte Hemp Firm areas within the state.

Sam Watt says his 11-year-old daughter just lately tried the approach underneath Roger’s tutelage. “It was superb,” he stated. “I requested if she loved it, and she or he stated, ‘Yeah, it was superior.’” (Dan Cepeda, Oil Metropolis Information)

After a personalized air flow system is put in this week, the homeowners plan to formally open on Nov. 1. An open home is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 11, and Roger will probably be doing dwell demos on the annual Booze & Bacon Competition on Saturday, Nov. 12, on the Ford Wyoming Heart.

Roger says his pleasure for the craft is simply as sturdy because it was the primary time he noticed that glassblower within the mall. There’s all the time one thing new to do, and a variation on a way to discover.

“I really feel prefer it’s countless,” he stated. “I might be doing this for 10 lifetimes and never even scratch the floor of what it has to supply.”

PH Glass Studios is situated at 781 Foster Highway. Extra data could be discovered at its web site.

(Dan Cepeda, Oil Metropolis Information)

(Dan Cepeda, Oil Metropolis Information)

(Dan Cepeda, Oil Metropolis Information)

(Dan Cepeda, Oil Metropolis Information)

(Dan Cepeda, Oil Metropolis Information)