Nancy Sheridan, Glass Artist

Nancy Sheridan, Glass Artist is next to her kiln holding a fused glass bowl.

Nancy Sheridan is a fused glass artist and founder of Glass Oasis, a studio specializing in the creation of functional and decorative fused glass art. Her work is characterized by a deep connection to nature and a focus on the interplay of color, texture, and light.


Artistic Inspiration and Style

Sheridan’s creative process is heavily influenced by the diverse environments she has lived in, including a lake in Texas, on a reef in the Western Caribbean, by the Chesapeake Bay, and her current home in New Bern, NC. Her art often reflects these natural settings, featuring:

  • Vibrant Color Palettes: Drawing from her background in acrylic painting and digital illustration, she uses bold colors to create visual impact.


  • Nature-Driven Themes: Many of her pieces are inspired by aquatic life and natural structures, such as her work involving "Sea Nymphs" and reef-like textures.


  • Functional Elegance: Her portfolio ranges from decorative wall art and "powder and enamel" portraits to functional items like air plant holders, wine charms, and candle holders.


Techniques and Process

As a student of the renowned glass artist Narcissus Quagliata, Sheridan employs sophisticated techniques to manipulate how light interacts with glass. Her technical repertoire includes:


  • Glass Powder and Enamels: She uses glass powders to create detailed imagery and "portraits" within the glass, such as her "Sea Nymph" series.


  • Experimental Pours: She has adapted traditional paint-pouring techniques for glass, using specialized enamels (Big Mouth Paint) rather than standard acrylics to create abstract, marbled patterns that can withstand kiln firing.


  • Kiln-Firing and Manipulating: Her process involves meticulously cleaning glass surfaces, layering materials, and using specific firing schedules to achieve desired effects like "cells" or "lacing."


Ultimately, Nancy Sheridan’s work is a celebration of nature's fluid beauty, aiming to transform the rigid medium of glass into vibrant, light-filled expressions of joy and self-expression. You can find some of her work on this website and on Etsy.