"Nature is a great informer. The colours and textures of the sea and shells give me much inspiration. The fluidity of the ocean and colours are reflected in my work."
-- Amanda Brisbane

X-RAY MAG: Tell us about your artwork and how you developed your artistic process in connection with themes of the sea and the underwater world.

AB: The process I use is sand casting, which allows me to make negative patterns and designs in the sand using textured items. Shells have a wonderful form, so we developed a range of Seaform vessels using decorative shells as impressions into the sand mould.

X-RAY MAG: What about the sea and its creatures inspires you?

AB: Nature is a great informer. The colours and textures of the sea and shells give me much inspiration. The fluidity of the ocean and colours are reflected in my work. The molten glass takes on a natural feeling of water when poured.

X-RAY MAG: What is your artistic mission or vision?

AB: To create one-off, beautiful art glass sculptures, pushing the boundaries of the material and the technique to its limit.

X-RAY MAG: Are you a scuba diver? If not, what sources do you use to inspire or inform your art works related to the underwater world?

AB: I do not dive, but I snorkel. My inspiration comes from travelling, reading books about the ocean, and visual pictures taken by others.

X-RAY MAG: Who are your favorite photographers whose works speak to you?

AB: The books I have been inspired by are Light In the Sea by David Doubilet and The Earth from the Air by Yann Arthus-Berrand.

X-RAY MAG: What are your favorite dive sites, underwater subjects, locations?

AB: Any coral rich seas. The Caribbean and Egypt are two places that have given me sources of visual delight.

X-RAY MAG: What locations in the Caribbean and the Red Sea/Egypt have you travelled to and what attracts you about the coral reefs?

AB: Shark-El-Sheikh [Egypt] was a rich snorkelling place to view colours under the sea. Jamaica and its reefs also provide a wonderful colourful source. The coral forms and variety of fish seen are all a great inspiration to me.

X-RAY MAG: Please give us insight into how an idea becomes a beautiful Seaform vessel. Is there control from start to finish, or do happy accidents happen along the way that help shape the work?

AB: The sea forms are made by building up a textured design in the sand with shells and other natural textures, never knowing exactly how the pieces will turn out, as we let the glass take on its own form as it is slumped and pulled. We have a very short window of time before the glass hardens, therefore each piece is a one-off. Many happy accidents arise...