Artist Feature: Justin Carter
Justin Carter specializes in fume scratch techniques to create his psychedelic dichroic patterns and adorned opals. Currently based in Richmond, Virginia Justin often collaborates with other notable glass artists and fellow cannabis lovers. Justin’s passion for weed, the culture, and the community is incorporated into his artistic style and evident in his art.
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By Calyx Containers in Art of Glass
Justin Carter began lamp working in 2009, specializing in fume scratch techniques to create his psychedelic dichroic patterns and adorned opals. This iconic style can be seen in his geometric marbles, caps, pendants, recyclers and other projects. Justin is currently based in Richmond, Virginia collaborating with other notable glass artists and fellow cannabis lovers. Justin’s passion for weed, the culture, and the community is incorporated into his artistic style and evident in his art.
How did you originally get into pipe-making and heady glass art?
I got into pipe making through smoking weed. When I was 16, I saw a glass pipe for the first time and my first thought was, 'who makes these' and how cool it was that it was their job to make these. I immediately knew that was something I wanted to do. As my skills grew, my initial curiosity of 'what if I did this for a living' eventually led me to where I am now.
Jesse Burke photography
What is it about glass as a medium that keeps you coming back?
I make the work that I would have wanted to see and collect when I was younger. I can look at an opal for the rest of my life and be completely okay with it. The colors, the way they flash, and especially in different settings. If you were to take a piece of glass, put it in the forest, and you had no context of glass, you would think an alien put it there!
Glass keeps me coming back because it's fucking hard. I have never made a perfect anything. My skills and my final product can always improve, and that’s the that shit keeps me hungry.
"The fact that we can create this stuff on the torch, have fun doing it, make a living doing it... I feel so grateful."
Jesse Burke photography
When selecting a glass company to work with, what are you looking for? What qualities are you looking for in your raw materials? How do you know when glass is of good quality?
Who ever is making the cleanest, high quality color gets my attention. Consistency is key, and I have seen companies come in and out of the spotlight. So I think it's more of who is producing what at that time that really matters. Color companies, if you're reading this, we want air free dense color please!
From your perspective, why is glass so important to the cannabis community?
I think people that enjoy cannabis also enjoy the finer things in life, whether it's weed or glass. They're into the artistry and craftsmanship of their favorite glass artist's work. Also, weed tastes best through a glass pipe and they are beautiful to stare at when you're rocked with the homies.
Who or what is your biggest lamp-working inspiration?
Trying to be a little better than I was yesterday is my biggest inspiration. Being able to support my family is my biggest inspiration. Living my life on my terms all day long no matter what is my biggest inspiration.
Jesse Burke photography
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Watch Art of Glass Episode 05 featuring Justin Carter.
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