Meet MerryNell Fullmer

We had the good fortune of connecting with MerryNell Fullmer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi MerryNell, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Taking risks is simply taking action outside the box. Action is inspired by the desire for change and growth. When the desire is strong, the risk factor gets overshadowed by the inspiration and driving desire. Therefore the fear of risk taking is transformed into excitement. In 1987 I left a great career as a Development Engineer at Hughes Research Labs in Malibu, CA to pursue a career in the health and wellness field.
In 2010 I began studying glass fusing. It has been 4 years now of in depth studying with a master that has catapulted me into a place of personal expression through glass art.
Risk taking shows up now when entering national exhibitions as well as when creating images from deep within my heart and soul.
Risk is necessary for the flower to bloom💜

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The art style of my work is very new and often creates a challenge for interpreters who are familiar with my classic styles and mediums of painting. My style is referred to as “painting with glass” or sometimes “painting with light”. This is not painting on glass, yet transforming glass to appear painterly by melting it together over and over until the image is complete. Due to serendipitous synchronicity I connected with the master of glass panting, Narcissus Quagliata, and have studied with him for 3 years. His techniques forced me to learn a whole new language of working with glass. This new language has catapulted me into a realm of creativity that I could not achieve without his guidance.
Presenting my work to exhibitions is challenging due to the lack of familiarity in the style of work. Yet I must admit the uniqueness stimulates curiosity as well. Therefor I intend to continue to proceed developing my skills and forging a new path in the art world.
My journey presents lessons and challenges constantly, mostly regarding my resistance to looking deeper within myself. Although these explorations result in growth and meaningful creative expression, the confrontations can be difficult, requiring courage and persistence and faith!
I’d like the world to know that painting with glass offers a beauty and depth beyond painting with paint. Glass dances with the light, creating wild varieties of color and perceptions.
thank you

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
What a fun question! Walt Disney Concert hall is a must with a visit to MOCA. A stroll through Chinatown and Olvera St with a walk though of the gorgeous Union Station. Beaches are beautiful here so a walk along Venice Beach and Santa Monica pier is a must. A trip to the LA Natural History Museum and a Dodger game too!
Throughout the week we would explore all the yummy vegan restaurants around the area.
Not enough time is one week to show her all the beauty and culture!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Mary Colborn, my grandmother and namesake, deserves recognition. She was an artist and would include me as a young girl in her painting classes, yet her greatest gift was that of unconditional love and support. She believed in me when it felt no one else did. She was an example of exceptional creativity and kindness. My children, Jesse and Pate Williams, provided me the opportunity to look at life from a different perspective and grow my overall ability to interpret my world. Because of them my perceptions have a much broader scope and i can appreciate the endless possibilities that exist in all situations. Because of them I stay curious.
There are so many books, mentors and experiences that have lifted and encouraged me!

Website: merrynell-art.com

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Linkedin: merry nell colborn

Facebook: Milestone Glass