CROMWELL - Artist Jessica Zeedyk creates custom designed and hand-painted glassware. Her beautiful, whimsical designs have found a niche market among buyers looking for one-of-kind gifts and momentos for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and other special occasions, as well as commemorative events, school events, holidays, party favors and other keepsakes. Her designs ship all over the United States as well as to Canada, France, England, Russia, Ireland and Australia. One of the most popular requests is for the �"corset design,” which involves transferring dress and party details onto the glassware. Zeedyk has even had glassware commissioned by a Broadway actress who gave the glasses to her cast mates to celebrate the show’s opening night.

       In addition to hand-painted glassware, Zeedyk has a passion for miniatures, with a love of creating fairy homes and gardens. For the past two years, she has had an exhibit at the Florence Griswold museum in the Wee Faerie Village program on display each fall. Jess, as she is fondly known, especially enjoys this aspect of her art â€�"because it is a creative endeavor in which she can include [her] six-year-old daughter.”

       Shr took a few minutes away from her design station to share more about herself and her art.

      

       Tell us a little bit more about the glassware for Broadway; that’s very exciting!

       The corset theme fit in perfectly with the play--the ladies were a part of the cast of the Kit Kat Club in Cabaret! Kaleigh Cronin was the name of the lovely actress. She purchased nine glasses for the Kit Kat Club girls and one for the lead, Michelle Williams. I was really excited that my art work would be used for their special night!

      

       Have you always had a creative streak or did you discover your craft/talent later in life?

       I have always had a creative streak! I am that person that constantly needs to create. My hands and mind are always busy thinking of ideas; my iPhone notepad is full of ideas and notes for all sorts of projects. I was always into art as a kid. I always loved to draw, paint and do crafts. I discovered fimo and sculpey clay around the age of 10 and started making beads, miniatures and figurines. I took just about every art elective in high school--illustration, graphics, pottery and photography. I even braved an all boy CADD (computer aided design and drafting) class my junior year because of my interest in architecture. When I graduated high school, I took graphic design courses at Tunxis Community College .

      

       Speaking of childhood, are you a native of Cromwell?

       No, I grew up in the Unionville section of Farmington. I lived in the New London-Groton area for awhile before moving to Middletown after my husband got out of the Navy in 2004. We made our home in Cromwell in 2007.

      

       Who, or what inspires you?

       So much inspires me. I think number one would be the support of my family and friends. Putting myself out there with my art has been rough. I am a perfectionist and somewhat shy. I find the support of others really helps me step out of my comfort zone and inspire me to do more, which has really helped me sustain momentum as an artist.

       As far as what inspires my designs, I tend to go to nature a lot. I tend to â€�"go to the beach” when I come up with designs and enjoy painting nautical themes. I also love birds and I find they occur frequently in my drawing and painting. I do go through phases of what holds my attention for a given time.

      

       How does your creative process work, from beginning to finished piece?

       I almost always start a project with sketches and/or brainstorming ideas. I have found that my finished product is always a nice combination of the ideas so it really works well for me. With the glassware, the process can be different with each project but nine times out of 10 it starts with a sketch that then gets transferred onto a glass. If it is a special order, I write down all the details and personalization for reference.

       My fairy exhibits, on the other hand, take months of sketches, collecting objects, taking photos and planning before I even begin to bring all the pieces together.

      

       To see how all the pieces come together in Jess’s finished creations, and to learn more about the artist, visit her Etsy Shop at www.etsy.com/handpaintedbyjessica , Facebook page at www.etsy.com/handpaintedbyjessica or blog, www.etsy.com/handpaintedbyjessica .

      

       The Cromwell Arts Alliance will show their support for local artists like Jessica Zeedyk by featuring images of their works on the Alliance Facebook page, www.etsy.com/handpaintedbyjessica