Vanagon for my Husband

"Well there ain't nothing wrong with the way she moves, Scarlett Begonias..."

This custom fused glass panel was a heartfelt commission created for a devoted Grateful Dead (my husband!). Taking his favorite VW Vanagon as the central subject, the entire piece is built on the playful, psychedelic imagery of the Dead's classic track.

The Story in Glass: Look closely at the background. The sky is rendered in a vibrant, textured yellow frit—"The sky was yellow..."—and is dominated by a bold blue fused sun—"...and the sun was blue." The bright red van itself, a symbol of freedom and travel, proudly displays the flower motif right in the center with a cheerful fused flower on the grille.

This piece is a perfect fusion of automotive love, iconic music, and the textural beauty of kiln-fired glass.

Vanagon: Fused layers define the body, windshield, and distinctive headlights of the beloved van.

Sky of Yellow Frit: I used a fine yellow glass frit to create the entire textured sky background, directly reflecting the lyric: "The sky was yellow."

Fused Blue Sun: A solid, fused blue element is integrated into the yellow sky: "...and the sun was blue."