A flair for the flare: Novice glassblower learning the tricks of the trade

It was a YouTube video that sucked Hunter Linstead into the world of glassblowing about a year ago.

Once he watched a series of how-to videos posted online by well-known glass artist Dustin Revere, Linstead wasted no time in researching what kind of torch he could use to set up shop in his friend’s shed in Kalispell.

Linstead described Revere’s tutorials as “the Bob Ross of glassblowing,” referring to well-known painter Bob Ross, the curly-haired art instructor known for his instructional television shows.

After graduating from Flathead High School in 2014, Linstead had no idea his life would veer in an artistic direction. He doesn’t profess to have had any artistic leanings during his childhood.

He started college to study computer science, but sidelined that pursuit while he delves deeper into glassblowing. He works the front counter at Wheat Montana in Kalispell to pay the bills and spends as much spare time as he can shaping tubes of glass over his 1,800-degree torch.

“Glass is really cool,” he said. “The effects heat has are immediate. You can totally predict what glass will do. It just appeals to me. You can make anything with glass.”

Linstead is honing his skills with small pieces that become pendants or other jewelry items. Some turn into refrigerator magnets.

He’s currently dabbling with creating implosion pieces, a glassblowing design pattern created by pushing colored glass inside clear glass. Linstead uses boiling silver to create his implosion effect.

“It captures the light in interesting ways,” he said.

In addition to Revere’s tutorials, Linstead was inspired by a documentary called “Degenerate Art: The Art and Culture of Glass Pipes,” which tells the story of making glass pipes as folk art.

“That made me really need to try it,” he said about his newfound artistic pastime.

Linstead is intrigued by the history of glass itself. Glassmaking is said to have started in Mesopotamia or ancient Egypt in around 3,500 B.C.

He hasn’t yet sold any of his pieces but is gearing up to do so in the near future.

“I have a few pieces ready to sell,” he said. “At first I was too sentimental” and couldn’t part with the pieces. “Then at Christmas I thought, this is a good, cheap gift. Now I feel I have the skills” to make retail pieces.

Linstead has connected with other, more experienced local glassblowers to learn the trade, and hopes to one day make a living at it. Until then, he’s content to continue learning and shaping his ability.

“I love doing this,” he added.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.