A talent for whimsy

Spring artist paints on glass

By KIM HUGHES
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle

One day about 10 years ago, Jean

Moran was getting ready to dye Easter eggs. 

Always one with an artistic edge, she thought

it might be fun to draw on the eggs.

After guests complimented her on her unique

design work, the Spring, Texas resident

thought maybe she could draw on other objects.

That's how Moran came to paint on wine glasses,

champagne flutes, platters, dishes and even crystal.

"I like to design things without patterns," Moran said.

"Whimsical-type drawings, like frogs, butterflies,

dragonflies, different flowers, vines, moons, the sunset."

When Moran was growing up in Illinois, she already felt a passion for doodling around with crayons. In high school, she took art classes and fashion design, where she first made her mark. "I designed a denim, jean-type mini-skirt. My teacher really liked it and got in touch with someone she knew out on the West Coast," Moran said. "They started reproducing the design and it was widely copied. I never did save that skirt. I really wish I would have," she said.

Moran moved to Spring in 1997 and started to get more serious about her art, especially when friends kept telling her she should sell her items.

"I used to just make something and if someone liked it, I said `Oh here, take it,' " Moran said. "My friends really loved me."

With the encouragement of her friends, Moran opened her business, Rimbrandts by J., 15814 Champion Forest Drive.

The name is similar to that of Rembrandt, the Dutch painter from the 1600s. Changing the `rem' to `rim' was a creative twist to indicate the rim of a wine or champagne glass.

It takes Moran about a day to create one glass, beginning with drawing an image onto the glass. After painting it, she repeats the process.

Before baking them to ensure dishwasher safety,

the glasses have to dry for at least 24 hours.

The end result is a glass with an image snaking

around the bowl and down the stem.

It's a time-consuming process, and even more

so when Moran gets mental block.

"Just like everybody else, I get stuck sometimes,

" Moran said. "Then suddenly I'll get up one

morning and start drawing."

Every design is different, so buyers have a

signed, limited edition of their set.

"Some of the patterns I have are really popular,

so I've maybe changed the design slightly or added colors," Moran said. "I have some designs that are totally sold out, and that I haven't drawn again."

Her personal favorite is a Maui sunrise on a

set of two champagne glasses.

"I really don't know how I do it," Moran said,

when asked how she comes up with ideas for

images. "I really don't. I just sit and it comes to me,

then I draw."

Visit www.rimbrandts.com or call Jean Moran at 281-923-8241