Cheryl Chapman

For Cheryl Chapman, joy and curiosity lead the way. Each piece begins with play — vivid color, shifting light, and the delightful unpredictability of molten glass. My work celebrates the wonder found in everyday moments, often inspired by the cheerful spirit of animals and the simple happiness they bring to our lives.

Glass is a medium of transformation — fragile yet enduring, fluid yet fixed in a single breath of heat and motion. Through this process, I strive to capture emotion and humor in solid form, finding beauty in imperfection and spontaneity in structure.

Whether whimsical or contemplative, every creation carries the same intent: to make people smile, to catch a glimmer of warmth in the light, and to remind us not to take life too seriously. After all, art — much like a silly dog — is best when it makes you feel joy for no particular reason at all.

Cheryl Chapman has taken fused glass in a new direction by kiln firing vibrant enamels on glass in a fun, interesting and unique way. By infusing her art with bright colors and whimsical images she brings joy to the viewer in unexpected ways.

Most of Cheryl’s work is done using a reverse glass enameling process and takes multiple stages of painting and firing. You are viewing the final image through the glass that it was painted on. Each piece starts with an original drawing and will go through as many as five kiln firings, building up layers of vitreous enamels. She uses clear fusible glass and high-quality opaque enamels that will not fade over time. 

Cheryl has been working with glass for over 35 years and has been enameling on glass for almost 20 of those years. She is known for the style and techniques she has developed and has taught them to other glass artists at workshops around the country.
 

“My glass enamel paintings reflect my love for animals and nature with a twist of whimsy. My aim is to make you smile.” I am in awe of the numerous species on our planet: living, extinct, undiscovered, and those yet to evolve. The more I research and observe, the more I am astounded and inspired by the diversity, interconnectivity, and visual harmony of species. Combining art and ecology, I celebrate amphibians, botanicals, insects, crustaceans, fungi and other biological treasures. I use a variety of materials to create highly realistic and incredibly life-like works of art. As an instructor and speaker, I encourage direct engagement with the natural world, courageous creativity, ecological stewardship, and connection through shared wonderment. Through collaborative research, I offer visuals and artistic perspective for the advancement of science. Zebith S. Thalden