Artist's Statement

Lyndon Pullins is co-owner of Aurora Colors. Getting him to write about himself is almost impossible. I hope what I have written does him justice.

Personal History ~
Lyndon Pullins was born in Fairfield, California. His father, Robert, was in the Air Force at that time so they moved around a little. During the 60's they lived in Colorado where his mother, Julia, was from and then on to Oklahoma when he was ten. Lyndon and his older brother truly lived the life of Tom Sawyer, spending their summer days outdoors learning about nature and critters, though somehow they made it to the dinner table on time. Though his two younger sisters stayed at home, they naturally became tomboys with their brothers influence. Even with their access to the outdoors, when Lyndon reached eleventh grade their father decided to move his family away from their 'city life' in Oklahoma to Sabetha, Kansas - quite a transition for all of them but one Lyndon came to appreciate.

At sixteen Lyndon began working for a roofer but still managed to finish highschool. He was making better wages than his father. Moving to Arizona in 1970, he began Lyndon's Roofing, had many employees and a very prosperous roofing business for many years. Always fascinated with new technology (probably a spillover from his father's career) he paid over $2,000 for his first cell phone - very heavy and large. He used a dictaphone to instruct his secretary whom he almost never saw as he could just leave her a tape on her desk every day and talk by phone from the field. He had married in 1973 and they had three boys and two girls. His wife found her salvation in a religion that kept her with church members almost nightly while he tended the children and read the entire Old Testament. Their last three children were born during this time. In the end, he could not accept the beliefs of this church and when she divorced Lyndon in 1989, his roofing business came to a sudden end. He continued working as a roofing foreman for a local business until moving to California.

That is when one could say he was born again.

Our families had known each other since before we were born and when our paths crossed in 2002, the road was clear. He had recently turned fifty and had been divorced for over twelve years. Lyndon sold his Arizona home, reduced his toys and household contents and moved with his two cockatiels to my home in Petaluma, California. It was a perfect time to retire from roofing.

Glass History ~
While he showed an interest in learning the stained glass technique, Lyndon did not see Aurora Colors as a career change. Even so, he became my first student and was willing to take a trip to a glass convention in Las Vegas. There is where he got hooked and bought a small glass kiln. Soon he was studying with some of the best in the glass world and Aurora Colors expanded. My dream of having a retail store was made possible in 2004 with Lyndon providing a store presence while I continued my 'paying' job. His dream is to be with me and have vacations!

Lyndon's main domain has always been our glass store and studio. There he quietly creates his art, often surprising me with a new work which I may not notice he has placed for sale until a day or so later. Though accomplished in most stained glass techniques, his art is usually fused and kiln formed. Many of the pieces available in our gift shop were made by Lyndon when he's had 'nothing to do' and his experiments with the various techniques and products at his fingertips have assisted greatly in his artistic development. One such experiment caused him to design outdoor torchieres of copper with halogen or oil lamp inserts. A patent on his design is filed and final registration is pending.

Not realizing his artistic talents until his 50’s has brought Lyndon a pleasure and grace which is reflected in his works. The beauty of his kiln formed lamps and functional art is not only due to his ideas - it is because of his diligent cleanup and finishing work, so often neglected by glass artists. His skill as an art glass artist and instructor is evident by his students’ satisfaction and his consistently high quality art. Lyndon jokes about his ‘glass hospital’ as people bring all types of repairs to him and very unusual glass cutting jobs. He is the only one in Sonoma County, maybe in the North Bay, that repairs slumped (bent glass) lamp shades. After years of creating custom fused or stained glass and hundreds of repairs, Lyndon has honed his skills as a journeyman glass artist.

~ written by Vangie for Lyndon Pullins

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Art Education:
2002    Leaded and Foiled Stained Glass, Vangie Pullins at Aurora Colors
2004    Introduction to Glass Fusing, Dan Fenton, Fenton Glass Studio, Oakland, CA
2004    Painting & Staining on Glass, Dan Fenton, Fenton Glass Studio, Oakland, CA
2004    Pate de Verre & Kiln Casting, Dan Fenton, Fenton Glass Studio, Oakland, CA
2004    Beginning Bead Making, Michelle Mitcavish at Aurora Colors
2005    Precious Metal Clay I, Camille Torres at Aurora Colors
2007    Mold Making, Dan Fenton at Aurora Colors

Attended in Las Vegas, NV:
2003    Get Fired Up (beginning fusing), Lisa Voigt
2003    Introduction to Etched Glass, Norm Dobbins
2003
2005
2005    Glass Carving Revealed, Norm & Ruth Dobbins, Professional Glass Consultants, Santa Fe, NM
2005    Gold Leafing on Etched & Carved Glass, Norm & Ruth Dobbins

Noteworthy Accomplishments:
“Rivertown Rainbow Bridge Memorial” to Bar Ale, Petaluma (1959-2000)
A memorial to the Petaluma Bar Ale, birds and animals that came to such a tragic end by fire on October 29, 2000. Internal skylight mural approximately 11 feet by 6 feet, installed at Rivertown Feed & Pet Country Store on 1st Street in Petaluma in March, 2003. This mural skylight has leaded and foiled stained glass with painted details, faceted jewels, and the sun and rays were silver stained a pale yellow and kiln fired.