Forty years ago Jim Kingwell picked up a blowpipe and began teaching himself to blow glass. What began as a five-year experiment became a life-long fascination with a challenging media: molten glass. Formally educated in ceramics, Kingwell is self-taught in the techniques of blowing glass, and this year, he celebrates forty years of making glass art. Kingwell can be seen blowing glass at Icefire Glassworks in Cannon Beach where he shares a studio with fellow glass artist Suzanne Kindland. Kingwell, when asked what it takes to survive in the business of making and selling fine craft, said "it helped that I didn't know what I was in for when I started. By the time I realized how big the challenges were, it was too late; I was already in love!" Kingwell is currently working on his next five-year experiment. Icefire Glassworks, Cannon Beach (888) 423-3545