"It's really easy to ignore your own needs when you're in training because it's all about learning and studying," said Dr. Semchyshyn, who recently returned to St. Louis after training in California for 3 years. "Ultimately, it was so nurturing to me, just to be taking care of that little part of myself that is something other than medicine and other than concentrating on learning and working really hard and trying to push myself that way. It's kind of hard when you first start to take the time [for an art hobby], but I'm sure it's the same with people who have kids and really devote time to their family."
In a home studio, she creates one-of-a-kind leaded glass designs intended for hanging as sun catchers or ornaments. She usually incorporates organic elements such as sliced polished geodes, rocks, and minerals and has also started to add pieces of wood and stone beads. "I usually get inspired to do a piece by a person, someone that I'm close to, their personality," she said. "I feel I want to make a nice piece for them, and I go where that takes me."
Each piece takes about 2 weeks to make. Making the design consumes the biggest chunk of time. She makes designs on paper and uses special scissors to cut a pattern for where the glass will be placed. "Once I have that down, I decide what glass is going to go where, what color, what kind of glass," said Dr. Semchyshyn, who does not sell her work.
Finishing brings her a sense of fulfillment. "There's a lot of thinking involved, and having a hand in making something that I think is really beautiful" is very satisfying, she said. "My favorite part is polishing it off at the end, holding it up, and seeing the final product. You're never 100% sure what it looks like until everything is all soldered together. You have to work with how the glass looks with light shining on it and also with light shining through it, which can be a totally different look."
Dr. Natalie Semchyshyn's leaded glass designs often include organic elements such as geodes or pieces of wood. Courtesy Dr. Natalie Semchyshyn