Curtiss Olson at Fireborne Creations in Glass

Curtiss Olson
Portland, Oregon

These delightful wall plaques make a whimsicle addition to wet bars, game rooms, patios and many other places!

Plaques measure approximately 4” by 10”. Sizes vary greatly since they are made by hand. Prices* are $60 to $150, with most being in the $70 to $90 range. Cufflinks are $34 per pair and the Pendants are $28 each.

Curtiss Olson began working in copper foil stained glass in 1978. After seeing a demonstration on fused glass in 1983, he switched directions, taking classes at the Fusing Ranch, Multnomah Art Center in Portland, Oregon and the Portcon Glass Show in Seattle, Washington.

Olson specializes in fused glass wall pieces and pins. He owns and operates Bad Attitude Art Glass Company in Portland, Oregon. Olson gets his glass from Cline's Glass or Bullseye Glass in Portland, since he says “glass must have the same coefficient of expansion and contraction. If you use different brands, it's like mixing oil with water and you come out with garbage”.

Olson discovered art as a form of therapy after a serious auto accident. This therapy led to Olson becoming a full time artist. He may sound like a man with an “attitude”, but that aspersion doesn't bother Olson a bit. Accused by an insurance claims adjuster of having a “bad attitude” after Olson balked at the settlement on his '67 Cadillac Eldorado, he decided to change the name of his company (formerly Hot Buttered Glass) to Bad Attitude Art Glass.

Olson spends anywhere from 8 to 16 hours a day immersed in thousands of glass bits, bowls of glass eyeballs, mouths, noses, etc. He cuts the glass into basic shapes, stacks on the facial features and puts it all in his kiln. The spirit and touch of Olson's work ranges from small pins to life size fused glass characters.

It is not difficult to see that Olson's personality is reflected in his work; colorful, unusual, bizarre and definitely “one of a kind”. Much of Olson's inspiration comes from the pages of Dr. Suess and other children's books.

“Bad Attitude” may be the name of Olson's company, but his happy, humorous pieces clearly make people feel good. His aspirations are both simple and profound. "I want to give people something to make them smile in this serious world" he says.

fireborne…Creations in Glass currently offers these and many other fine Curtiss Olson pieces in the gallery.

Please be advised that these pieces are handmade and patterns as well as color proportions will vary. Also, their appearances will vary between what is visible online and how they appear in person. Your complete satisfaction is guaranteed.

* Prices do not include shipping and handling and are subject to change. Please call (503-227-6585) or email fireborneglass@worldnet.att.net for current information including availability, pricing and shipping costs.