Yellowknife (Aug 16/06) - Stained glass work is easier than it looks, according to artist Carman Steele. He fell into the art form only last year and he doesn't see himself stopping any time soon.

"The whole process is interesting," Steele said.

Carman Steele shows off one of his many stained glass pieces, Solo, which was designed by artist Dawn Oman. - Jessica Klinkenberg/NNSL photo

It started when Dawn Oman, who owns an art shop in Yellowknife, asked him to help her unload some stained glass. "When I saw it I told her that wasn't stained glass. She asked me if I could do any better."

Oman's stained glass was actually just painted glass, and Steele started working on the traditional stained glass where every piece is cut individually and fit together with copper.

"The first piece was (called) Aurora Wanderer. I made it up and it sold right away." The work showed a man walking under the aurora borealis.

Steele has done a variety of things over the years, and at 67-years-old, he doesn't see the need to slow down.

"I've done a lot of things that I feel gratification for." Some of those include carving, metal cutting, wood lays and pewter figurines.

"It's a sense of accomplishment to see it all come together," he said.

A 14x10 piece of stained glass takes a lot of work, Steele said. "That will take you 24 hours. I get all the pieces together then I come back the next day."

Steele has received positive feedback from admirers of his work, and has started his own stained glass classes so that anyone can learn.

When people take Steele's glass he says they're surprised. "They didn't think it would be so hard cutting the glass." However, he feels that it's a simple process if someone has patience.

"All you have to do is have the right person show you," he said. Everyone teaches and learns differently so people have to find a teacher right for them he said.

"I'd like to see more people get into this stained glass. It's very relaxing, there's nothing about it that can hurt you if you're careful."

Steele's stained glass can be seen and admired at Dawn Oman Art located at 4911 47 Street.