Drew Fritts
Early Flower Marble 1 13/16 inch – Clear Glass
Early Flower Marble 1 9/16 inch – Clear Glass
Experimental “Dot” Marble 1 7/8 inch – Clear Glass
Experimental “Raked Swirl/Chevron” Marble 1 13/16 inch
Discontinued “Fire Twist Marble 1 13/16 inch
Master Marble Maker
Master glass artisan Drew Fritts donated five examples of his art glass marbles to The National Marble Museum. His choices were from his own collection. First, there are two of his early flowers. He makes flowers in many different color combinations and each flower marble is unique. He makes no attempt to have one look like another. Next, are two experimental marbles. One is a color test for Drew’s “Dot” pattern series (another one-of-a-kind marble). The other experimental marble is one in which Drew turned his “Raked Swirl” style into a chevron pattern. And, finally one of Drew’s discontinued marbles, a “Fire Twist.”
Artist Statement: The dynamic nature of the medium, molten glass, the almost endless color palette, and the ever-allusive shape, the sphere, make this a wonderful art form. It lends itself to both experimentation and chance, but at the same time requires extraordinary skill and control. Each marble is a challenge – a new adventure. Every one is an individual work of art.
From the Desk of Drew Fritts: My approach to marble making is both creative and technical. I like to experiment with new designs, but I like to make them more complex than just a simple twist. My great grandfather was a very successful illustrator and a watercolorist, so I come by my need for an artistic outlet naturally. I like drawing but never worked on it much. My main artistic outlet for years was woodworking until it got to the point where I was making things that took days or weeks to finish. I found that I have a very short attention span and I needed a more immediate art form to pursue, and you can’t get much more immediate than hot glass!
I like making torchworked marbles because I can experiment with designs that aren’t found in traditional cane-made marbles. I’m excited because I’m to a point in my development where I have enough control of the medium that I can actually visualize what I want and then execute the vision consistently. Many of my newer designs are examples of this control, but my new flower marbles are what I’m most excited about. They’re fun to make because they’re both creative and technically challenging. Since the flowers are actually built inside the marble as the marble is formed, each one is unique.
Drew Fritts art glass marbles are found in the finest art glass collections around the world.
The Museum of American Glass in West Virginia wishes to thank Drew Fritts for donating to The National Marble Museum. His wonderful selection is now part of the marble display.
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