Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kevin Norris. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kevin, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I am a self-taught stained glass artist. During the pandemic when everyone was baking bread, I was thinking how hot my place would be with the oven on all the time. Like many others during that time being home alone, anxious and depressed I needed to find an outlet.

Living alone, my only companion was my faithful dog, Tyga. I started to pass time by creating artistic interpretations of him. I thought a stained glass portrait of him would be unique and personal. Only one thing holding me back…how to do it.

Then, remembering back to when I was 1O years old, my dad decided he would learn how to make stained glass. He would work on projects at night in our garage. I can recall going with him to pick out glass and he would let me pick the colours of glass he would use.

Our first project piece we made together was a mirror and I picked everything from the pattern to the glass. That was such a special “DAD” time for me. I looked forward to every weekend when we would work on things. I lost my father 2 years later after we made that first stained glass piece and I still have it in my home today.

I googled stained glass shops in my area of South Central LA, to no avail. One of the few glass shops I could find closest to me was Stained Glass Supplies in Pasadena. Due to Covid restrictions you had to make an appointment to shop. I was able to start with all the essential tools and supplies from then owner, Ron.

Since I’m a pretty stubborn and adventurous person, I decided not to watch YouTube videos or read a how to guide book. I wanted to figure it out for myself and see if I remembered anything from watching my dad. I have to say that after many cuts, burns, and missing finger prints my first few pieces we not that pretty to look at, but I was very, very proud. DéGlassé was born.

DéGlassé is a play on words and my glass take on Déclassé. I will forever cater to the “classiest glassholes”. I wanted to make the kind of art “I” wanted. Art that everyone thinks about but rarely gets to see or say.

Even after work in the film industry picked up, I continued with developing my techniques with stained glass. When work slowed to a stop due to the Writers Strike, I enrolled in a community class where students work autonomously on their own creations with the assistance of teacher, Bertha Figueroa.

Kevin, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Kevin Norris. I’m 3rd generation Angelino. I was raised in Granada Hills, in the San Fernando Valley. I’m a Motion Picture Costumer and Stained Glass Artist. My work in TV and Film is primarily as an on-set Costumer. I’ve also had the privilege to be a personal costumer for an amazingly talented and kind actress over the years.

My other passion is glass. I make contemporary, erotic and glow in the dark stained glass. I primarily use the Tiffany Style copper foiling method, as well as leaded stained glass. Currently exploring fused glass with the addition of my new kiln.

My career in fashion started at FIDM in Los Angeles where I majored in Merchandise Marketing. While at FIDM I interned for ELLE Magazine under then Creative Director Joe Zee. I was given the opportunity to assist on LA cover shoots. Flash forward 9 years and I’m working as a personal costumer for one of those cover models.

I joined Local 705 Motion Picture Costumer Union in 2016 and have loved creating movie magic ever since!

When the magic was gone due to the Writer Strike, I found my passion in starting DéGlassé . I met an incredibly talented glass artist out of Washington State, Christine DiMack. Christine mentored me in glow in the dark glass and fusing. My first creations using glow in the dark glass were for a Darth Vader and a Selena Panel.

I get such a sense of nostalgia when I get to use glow in the dark glass. It brings me back to my childhood room decorated in glow in the dark stars everywhere

I started vending as DéGlassé regularly for local queer markets including The Queer Mercado in East LA and The BearGarden Parties at The Off Beat Bar in Highland Park. You can catch some of my more risqué pieces at those events.

I enjoy making custom pet portraits as well as nude portraits in glass. I’m always looking to push my creativity so unique and out there commissions are always welcomed.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

What I find most rewarding about costuming and stained glass are the nostalgic feelings and sense of pride I get. Whether it’s seeing a scene I worked on in a TV show or movie, a movie I watched 25 times or the mirror I made with my dad. It gives me a dopamine rush and it’s very satisfying.

I also find it rewarding to make something people will truly cherish. I’ve had countless stories of clients contact me with tears of joy when they opened a commissioned portrait of their pet.

It brings me so much gratification that I can gift them that feeling. I recently had a client requested dragonflies because they reminded her of her mother who recently passed. I made it using her mom’s favourite colours which even made the sentiment more special.

Personally, both my passions bring me back to a time in my childhood when I was the happiest. If I’m able to reciprocate that through my work and my art, then I have succeeded.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When I was 20 years old I was in a weird transition phase of my life. I wasn’t sure where I was going or what I wanted to be when “I grew up”, and the time for growing up was fast approaching.

After bouncing from every community college in the Greater LA area, I found myself living in a very small rural farm in Bavaria Germany. I moved to another country, not knowing the language, any peoples, nothing. I was able to find work as an Au Pair, taking care of 4 children for a well-to-do German family. It was the total “Fake it ‘till you make it” experience.

That is where I had my “ah ha” moment. I was walking somebody else’s dog in the Black Forrest, watching their children when I realized I wanted more for my life. I felt like the third cast member of “The Simple Life”. I was just waiting for Paris and Nicole to show up and rescue me.

Although I couldn’t speak the language I had a German-English translation book, it did me no good where I was living. Because in Bavaria, they speak Bayerisch, the local dialect and not translator book German.

Nothing I wanted to say to anyone could be found in my little book. However the locals loved my outfits I wore every day and could pronounce Abercrombie Faux Fur Hooded Parka in near perfect English.

I found Fashion was a universal language and industry. There’s always a need for clothes. So there, in that tiny, rural village, I applied to FIDM and left Germany with an acceptance letter.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.deglassela.com
• Instagram: @deglassela @caliboyuk

Image Credits

Tom Gault