About Gabriel Blasted Glass:
Name: Charles Gabriel
Born: 1965, Nethermill of Tillyhilt, Tarves, Scotland
Immigrated: to England, 1968; to Canada, 1972
When we arrived in Canada, Victoria, British Columbia, became our home. My five younger siblings and I grew up on southern Vancouver Island, against the awesome backdrop of Canada’s west coast. Spending most of our free time outdoors, it would’ve been hard not to be affected by the natural beauty all around us. My hardworking parents continuously renovated the houses we were living in, so it wasn’t much of a stretch to find myself always involved in projects that required using my hands. From tree forts to trades-work, I’ve always found myself trying to create what wasn’t already there.
Ever since I could pick up a pencil I’ve been defacing things. In grade 3 I sold my first commissions doing pencil sketches of ‘Robbie the Robot’ and popular cartoon characters for 75 cents! That was quite the feather in my little cap. Although, growing up I’d plod through the usual gamut of labour jobs, I’d always keep a graphic iron in the fire. In 1980 I was shown how glass could be frosted with a sandblaster. Though it was a single stage process and fairly interesting, I felt there was more here to be explored. Using varying degrees of pressure & distance, different forms of masking, changing the grit of abrasives and coming up with more medium-appropriate designs, I expanded on the process. I worked in trades enough to be able to upgrade the equipment and try a lot of different ideas over the past twenty-plus years. Never having the desire to mass produce anything, I focused on one-off, handmade pieces. Some worked, some didn’t. Gradually the hobby became a lucrative side job. I managed to pick up more and more interesting commissions and now the sandblasting has taken priority over any other work.
In 2002 I met Rob Skelly, who, at that time suggested going online with a site. It’s been at least a year since then and I’ve given him a few images of work I’ve done. He’s put together this great site. We’ll be adding to it constantly, so be sure to keep checking. Thank you for taking the time to visit- I hope you find it inspiring in some way.
It’s been an uphill struggle to make this venture work and I’m sure there were much more sensible routes one could have followed, but common sense and myself have often failed to see eye to eye! A big thanks to the brothers, Derek and Barry, at the glass shop for all the practice glass (and paying customers!). Also, to Rick and master painter Ronny at the body shop for developing workable post-blast treatments for some of the pieces and having the skill to apply them. To everyone who’s supported this effort through the very lean times with encouragement, patience, jobs, food and love - Thanx, again, for all the fish!
-Charles