THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 10, 1994 TAG: 9407080272
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close-Up
SOURCE: Janelle La Bouve
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
James Dills has met with success in one craft and a few rejections in another.
Dills is a glass sculptor who makes objects from solid or spun glass. He uses glass rods, oxygen, propane and a torch to create his works.
Many of his glass items are small. He mostly makes sea swimmers like dolphins and whales. But he also makes elephants, carousels, trains and lighthouses.
``They all start out clear,'' he said. ``If I color them, it's after they are made.'' To add color, he paints on a glass stain. Sometimes he adds 14-karat gold trim.
After the glass pieces are sculpted, Dills checks them for cracks, using special tools for any needed repairs. There's a torch with a tiny tip to focus a small flame on weak spots that need to be fixed. To relieve any remaining stress, Dills fires the item in his kiln.
All items must be fired in the kiln.
Dills has created his own designs, including ships and intricate castles.
``Nobody makes them like I do,'' he said.
And the prices aren't bad, either, he said. His castles, for example, sell for $75.
``That's still cheaper than the competition.''
He mostly sells his works to retailers, but he does take custom orders. He also sells at a few craft shows. His prices range from $5 to $150.
Despite his success in sculpting and designing glassworks, Dills hasn't met with much fortune in another of his interests: comic strips.
What Dills is really interested in is getting his comic strip syndicated.
``I've gotten quite a few rejection slips,'' he said. ``But I did get a good word of encouragement from an editor in California. It was a personal letter and that made me feel pretty good.''
His comic strip features a bird and a mouse that live in an apartment run by an overbearing, human landlord.
``I've been working on these characters for more than 10 years,'' he said. ``You have to work up a batch of six weeks worth of comic strips and send them to the syndicate. Then, they go through the screening process. The good ones rise to the top pretty quickly.''
He already has sent out two batches and is working on a third.
``It takes a lot of time. But you can't get discouraged.''
Full name: James Shinichi Dills
Birthdate: Sept. 27, 1961
Raised: ``I was born in Japan. My father was in the military. We lived in Charleston, S.C. But I grew up in Virginia Beach for the most part. My mom grew up in Sasebo, Japan.''
Childhood memories: ``Growing up in Charleston, S.C. I had such an innocent childhood.''
Marital status: Single
Occupation: Glass artist
Hobbies: ``I like to draw. I'm working on a comic strip. I play guitar and do martial arts. I took lessons and I keep up with it.''
Last book read: ``Battle for Stalingrad.''
Favorite song: ``All Along the Watchtower''
Favorite movie: ``The Good, the Bad and the Ugly''
Can't resist: Book stores
Pets: Cat named Felix
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? ``To be rich and famous''
Greatest accomplishment: ``Being a good person''
Favorite TV program: ``Northern Exposure''
Biggest problem facing Chesapeake: Rapid growth
Favorite Chesapeake restaurant: Ho-Ho Restaurant
Favorite way to spend a day off: ``Go to the beach, swim, lie on the beach and girl watch.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
James Dills sculpts objects from solid or spun glass. He uses glass
rods, oxygen, propane and a torch to create his works. Many of his
glass items are small.
by CNB