Tom Maras Thomas began his art education in ceramics at Worthington Community College (Worthington, MN) and continued at Moorhead State University (Moorhead, MN).  He was introduced to glass blowing at Moorhead State U. and graduated in 1995 with a BA in ceramics and glass.  After graduating, Thomas built two ceramic studios and practiced as a free-lance glass artist.  In 1996, he taught ceramics, sculpture and Art Appreciation at Worthington Community College.  Since 1998, Thomas has worked with glass in the Twin Cities, establishing his own glass studio in Maplewood, MN.    ll of my pieces are hand blown.  I design and blow each piece individually without molds.  My work includes vivid, contemporary color designs, many current works representing abstract landscapes. My pieces have multiple base colors, which are achieved by stacking layers of pure colored glass.  After the base color is completed, clear glass is gathered out of a furnace and blown out to about two-thirds of the size.  At this time, silver leaf patterns and colored bit designs are applied, the piece is blown out to full size and a clear base is added.  The final step is to transfer the piece to another glass blowing rod, where the top of the piece is shaped and a colored rim is added. I strive for perfection while glass blowing.  “My perfection” includes uniform thickness, clean color designs, colored rims, simple bases and no grinding.  There is no glue involved; all attachments (such as the bases) are done hot.   I enjoy “dancing with glass”--the taming and shaping of molten glass.  I am attracted to the immediacy of the glass blowing process.  Glass has a reflective quality unlike any other medium and is a pure translator of color.  I love every aspect of glass:  conceptualizing, displaying, utilizing and especially creating glass.