Empire Amphora

Charles Sorrels started blowing glass over 25 years ago. After graduating from college, Sorrels began his career as a commercial artist. Seeking a change from a career he felt as too limiting, he took a class in glass blowing. This sparked a newfound passion to a medium that he has pursued since that time.

Sorrels’ approach with glass is loose and spontaneous. He is inspired by turn-of-the-century Frenchware and glassblowers such as Emile Galle and contemporary artists, such as Fritz Dreisbach. These influences inform his technique of skilled control and free-form style. Sorrels states, “I enjoy blowing glass. There’s nothing else like it. Glass is such a unique and challenging medium. My goal is to remain loose and spontaneous. I’m constantly striving to improve my techniques and skills all while remaining aware of the life of the piece rather than the objective of my drawing.” He describes his style as, “a contemporary interpretation of Nouveau.”

Sorrels’ work, Empire Amphora, is one of many different types of forms he creates, which also include vases, perfume bottles, bowls, paperweights, and various vessel forms. He currently works out of his studio in Emmaus, Pennsylvania. His main focus is hand-blown glass, but he also uses the processes of slumping, fusing, and mold-casting. He also works in glass restoration.