Veronica Vaughan

Veronica Vaughan

While working for a silver and goldsmith in the late 1970s and early 1980s, I first began to learn about blown glass and fell in love with the beauty of glass.  During this time, I learned about a hiring fair for Air Traffic Controllers. I was hired by the Federal Aviation Administration in 1984 and began a 29 year career in Air Traffic Control. Throughout these years, I satisfied my need to create by designing, renovating and decorating homes, and through cooking and developing recipes.

After retirement, I enrolled in cooking school and later won First Place at the New Jersey State Post-Secondary Education Culinary Competition. A short time later, work took my husband to Corning, NY, where I rediscovered my love of art glass and became a member of the Corning Museum of Glass. During this time, I began to take lessons in glass blowing. When my husband retired, we became full time RVers and traveled the Eastern half of the US and Canada, only deciding to stay in one place once we found the Florida Keys.

After becoming a full time resident of the Keys, I took several lessons in glass fusion before buying my first kiln. I then worked with a mentor who encouraged me to experiment and explore, resulting in me broadening my skills and learning more about the chemistry of glass. Learning that some glass is made with copper, others, and others, such as purples and pinks, with gold, have led to experimenting with chemical reactions and including silver leaf in pieces. I have been continually learning through in person and online courses. With the support and mentoring of fellow glass workers and other artists sharing their experience and knowledge, I have continued to push boundaries and stretch my abilities. I use a combination of sheets of glass, differing coarseness of ground glass and powdered glass in my work. Firing schedules and temperatures vary depending on the thickness and type of glass, and also on the desired outcome. Firing temperatures range from 1150 degrees to over 1600 degrees. Some pieces may take as little as 18 hours in a kiln, others can take several days or a week. It has been exciting to experiment and grow in this medium.

In November 2022, my glasswork became available to the public for the first time at Artists in Paradise Gallery, Big Pine Key.

In January 2023, my work became available at Mary Jane’s Closet, Cudjoe Key, Fl.

In July 2024, I began to sell my work at Salt Provisions, Key West, FL.

In Sept. 2024, my work was accepted at Shady Palm Gallery, Marathon, Fl.

In January, 2024, my depiction of Looe Key Reef Coral was awarded First Place in a judged art show for the 3D Art Category. That same piece also won the People’s Choice Award.

Member, Lower Keys Artist Network

Member, Florida Keys Council of the Arts