“I’ve always loved art,” said Risa Dera, a stained glass artist and instructor, who works out of her Cherry Hill home-based studio.
Dera, who loves animals, sells her art at Cedar Run Wildlife Preserve, as well as through her website, RisaDeraStainedGlass.com, and at a shop in Mystic, Connecticut. She strives to make her pieces affordable. Dera also takes commissions, and teaches stained glass classes and private lessons for adults. She has previously taught art classes to children and adults at a variety of local art centers.
“What I love about stained glass is that it’s totally dynamic,” said Dera, noting that the way in which light interacts with the glass can completely change the viewer’s experience.
“When you pick your colors and you’re trying to set a mood, you have to take everything into consideration,” says Dera. “And that’s where my fun comes in – working with the colors and the textures [of the glass], and trying to make somebody see something… that I see, [and see] the beauty in what I see.”
As a student at Kellman Academy (now Kellman Brown Academy), which, at the time, was affiliated with and shared a building with Congregation Beth El, Dera recalls early experiences that led to her love of stained glass. The sanctuary, or main prayer space there, was encircled with a ribbon of stained glass.
“I used to love to sit in there and watch how the colors played on the carpet and on the chairs,” said Dera.
Dera went on to earn a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design, and worked in publishing and design. When she started having children, a neighbor who was creating stained glass art gifted a starter kit to Dera. Her stained glass art took off from there. While she was raising her children, Dera could do portions of the stained glass-making process while waiting at appointments, and in between other time constraints.
The L.C. Tiffany method that Dera specializes in involves finding or creating a paper pattern, choosing glass, and using specialized tools to cut the glass according to the pattern. The next step requires wrapping the edges of each piece of glass in copper foil. The pieces are then put together like a puzzle, and soldered.
Dera later earned an MFA in color perception through Warnborough College, recreating classic paintings in stained glass for her thesis.
On Wednesday, August 26, Jodie Lash was in Dera’s studio for her fourth private lesson. Drawn to geometric artistic styles, Lash recently turned to stained glass.
“I’ve been looking for a craft that is technically challenging but also rewarding,” she said.
Lash had sought out instruction at a glass shop further away, before connecting with Dera, who lives only four blocks from Lash.
Lash noted that it’s not only the art that she enjoys about her lessons; it’s also spending time with Dera.
Dera concurred, saying, “That’s what it’s all about– laughing and having fun.” To learn more, visit RisaDeraStainedGlass.com.
Jodie Lash pieces together her stained glass art, which she designed based on a symbol for the card game Lorcana and plans to gift to a friend she met through playing the game.
Jodie Lash solders her stained glass art, which she designed based on a symbol for the card game Lorcana and plans to gift to a friend she made through playing the game.
Risa Dera (right) poses with student Jodie Lash, in Dera’s studio. Lash designed a stained glass piece based on a symbol from the game Lorcana, and plans to gift the piece to a friend.
A stained glass lion created by Dera hangs in her Cherry Hill home.
