8-15-2026 9:20pm

Sustaining A Career In Stained Glass

Beth Callahan Editor

Photo courtesy of M. Sotherden Art Glass

Story by Steven Saus

HARVEYSBURG, OH -- As handmade items become more rare, traditional ways of making art find ways to persist and thrive. One stained glass artist who has made this transition is M. Sotherden. They are a stained glass artist based in Dayton, Ohio, whose work bridges traditional techniques and a contemporary, vendor-driven practice. After studying fine arts, they began their professional career in Pittsburgh, working in stained glass studios where they contributed to the restoration of historic windows, including known Tiffany windows as well as other significant architectural glass.

That early experience established a foundation in preservation-grade methods—cutting, leading, painting, and assembling glass within both artistic and structural constraints. In 2004, following an economic downturn, Sotherden transitioned to an independent studio model, continuing to produce both custom work and original designs.

Today, their primary marketplace is the Renaissance festival circuit, where they operate as a full-time vendor. Rather than focusing on live demonstration, Sotherden’s work centers on direct engagement with customers—selling one-of-a-kind pieces and explaining the materials, techniques, and realities of the craft.

Their output ranges from commissioned windows to smaller functional and decorative objects, all produced within a single-artist workflow. Alongside this, Sotherden maintains a weekly Patreon, offering an ongoing record of studio work, technical challenges, and the day-to-day experience of sustaining a career in stained glass.

You can find their work alongside that of many other vendors and performers at the Ohio Renaissance Festival in Harveysburg from September 5 – November 1, 2026. The Ohio Renaissance festival was recently judged America's best Renaissance Festival by USA Today.

To learn more about M. Sotherden visit https://glasslassie.com.