Solitude and contemplation have led me to the realization that there is something greater out there than we can visually see. Through my glass sculptures I try to represent my observations of the society and the world in which we live. I try to be positive with myself as with others. I have this desire to release my creativity; to let that special little something that each and every one of us has inside to flow. I want to share what I feel is my gift with the world.

Art inspires and makes me feel alive when I am in the creative process. I have always been a bit shy, a little under spoken, but never short on courage to live. I am sensitive and have a fragile soul; being emotional and passionate.

I am content with myself and with what I have achieved thus far in life. I think one achieves a certain inner harmony, when one finds peace and positivism within oneself and with others who share life within one's world. I am extremely grateful for what and who I am, knowing what my destiny in life is, and having the determination to go forth in achieving it.

This brings up the beginning of how it all started with me and my glass. Back in 1999, I by chance met an artist named Bohumil Elias who came into my life as a Master and a teacher. I stayed in Bohumil's atelier as an apprentice; there I learned the magic in creating these amazing glass sculptures. I was given a unique medium to realize my thoughts and ideas through. For the past 10 years I have worked with glass and the process of three dimensionally layering it, to create an object or form. I have been living my dream of making the truest and most sincere statements of artistic, cultural, and social value that I know. I feel free like a bird to soar. I want to dedicate my life to creating and being imaginative. My time on this beautiful planet is short; I want to compose something that will outlast me, something that will bring a sense of curiosity to many yet to come.

Through my art I hope to become closer to God, the creator of all around us. This is what inspires me; let it be the sound of water splashing over ancient rocks in a stream, the clouds floating high above in the sky, or the smooth curves of a woman's body. With this all there are then emotional reflections; creating a sculpture from start to finish lets me dive deep into myself. As if looking at myself in a mirror, I have time to reflect upon many things.

When one experiences something drastic or unexpected, it can completely change one's perspective and value of existence. This is what led me to discover my destiny and meaning in life. I am and always have been a dreamer; a favorite quote of mine from Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist is: 'And, above all, don't forget to follow your destiny through to its conclusion.' Dreams give me something to look forward to, a sense of religious hope, and something to strive towards. Meaning and purpose; dreams also nourish the soul.

From the beginning I wanted my entire glass collection to be bright and varied in color; a kind of childhood innocence I feel. Playful and free. I try to be in a positive world, around people whom I can relate too. One of mankind's greatest downfalls is greed; one has to strive to see a sense of passion and purpose in life. I have a feeling of ecstasy each and every time I create a new piece, giving life to another work of art. Each sculpture is unique in its own way, as is everything created by God's hand; it makes me feel I am really only a small part of a much bigger picture.

I live and work in the Czech Republic: the heart of world's most mature glass market and a place full of culture and history. It is here that I use float glass as the material base for my sculptures. I paint and layer the glass in a process known as Rouputine. The pieces are then individually hand ground and polished to final shape and brilliance. Sandblasted reliefs and detailed designs within play with the exterior and interior realm of the sculpture. The finished object has incredible reflective, refractive, and transparent properties, and is as much a painting as it is a sculpture. Glass is a chaotic and delicate material to work with, but one of great reward.

I want my art to represent the individual in me. It is often hard to find a balance in life, and not just focus on one thing. I strive at being patient, detailed and precise; spending a lot of time planning and sketching before I actually start making a sculpture. I like to be alone when I create, unblemished by distractions or negativity, allowing the love, peace and harmony of the universe to penetrate my inner self. The feeling of agape when contriving a new sculpture, of total originality and exclusivity, is pure and consuming love. Agape also manifests itself as enthusiasm, which in turn carries me towards my goal.

Nothing in life is black and white; usually things become more complex than originally anticipated. With experiences of life and traveling, one gains wisdom and a positive perception of our world. Really we only know the world in which we live. Knowing more about oneself is in essence, knowing more about others. My art and the life I lead is one of humbleness and of appreciation for it all, and really the simpleness of it.

This website commemorates 10 years of creativity and design with regards to working with my glass, evolving upon my ideas, and forging a new path in life. It is a celebration of life and living. I have chosen to devote my life to the good fight; making distinctive pieces of art, and I bring to you here, my collection.

Please Enjoy!

Wesley N. Rasko