Travers Thurman

Pink Cherry Tree Marble

Borosilicate glass

"On a spring day, I noticed an ornamental cherry tree in front of a local bank shedding its flowers in the wind. I parked my car and began walking around the tree, taking pictures and video from every angle to try to understand how the tree exists in 3D space. I was determined to get its likeness into marble. This piece was a result of that exploration. It has been a years-long project, is ongoing, and has required the development of multiple techniques. The piece here is a full multi-part construction with a beautiful branch structure that is the closest representation to date of what I am looking for.”

— Travers Thurman

About the artist

Travers Thurman

American

Travers Thurman is a flameworker and glass artist based in Western North Carolina, where he creates intricate borosilicate glass marbles and paperweights, specializing in encasing detailed tree forms in clear glass. His process involves mixing colors into cane, drawing them down into fine stringers, and using these to handcraft elements of the trees. Through careful placement of semitransparent colors and layers of clear, he aims to mimic the effect of light passing through leaves when the artwork is backlit. This technique requires precision to avoid bubbles and burn marks.

Inspired by Impressionism, Thurman adapts the concept of mixing colors intentionally to convey a wealth of information with each individual mark, creating a rich visual texture in the three-dimensional space of glass. Debuting his tree series at a marble show in 2022, Thurman found his work resonated, and decided to embrace his focus on this distinctive style. He continues his work in the beautiful Appalachian mountains, drawing constant inspiration from the natural world that surrounds him.