A Ukrainian artist has taken glass painting to a whole new level with a series of unique mugs, teapots, and wine glasses bearing vibrant hand-painted designs. The glassware with intricate details features colorful flora and fauna such as hummingbirds, mushrooms, butterflies, and more.
Better still, the artist’s decorated pieces are fully-functional.
Vita Panchenko, from Kyiv, Ukraine, who owns a small family business called Vitraaze, told The Epoch Times via email that she has amassed over 500 designs over the years since starting her venture. The talented artist also takes personalized commissions.
“When I was a student, I read an article about glass painting and decided to try it out,” she continued. “I took a glass bottle and bought special paint for glass in the nearest shop.” However, after painting her first bottle she said her “very simple design ... wasn’t nice at all.”
But instead of giving up on the art completely, Vita decided to forge ahead and “perfect it.”
“I am crazy about doing everything as well as possible,” she explained.
Six years later, Vita’s craft developed into a highly-skilled passion and her love for glass painting has only grown stronger. Besides nature-inspired designs, the artist also plays with color, with items such as a bright flower mandala and night sky wine glasses emitting beautiful beams of blue, red, and orange when hit by sunlight. Meanwhile, she also undertakes custom-made orders and has crafted a colorful dog portrait as an unusual keepsake for a dog owner.
Each piece of glassware that Vita produces is hand-painted with non-toxic paint, before being heat-set to ensure the designs are not damaged when they are washed.
The artist’s handiwork brings the majesty of stained glass to the humble kitchen table.