Q & A with World Renown Dichroic Artist Paula Radke
With over 25 years of experience, Paula Radke has perfected the art of creating and producing the most beautifully unique glass dichroic beads on the market. As the originator of the dichroic glass bead making process, her high-end leading product lines are in high demand and sold worldwide, used by some of the finest jewelry designers in the world. She shares her advice and inspiration with others who want to earn a living doing what they love most.
Q: What inspired you to turn your creative idea into a business?
A camping trip to Taos put me in touch with the primitive creator in all of us. I delighted in using simple tools to create beautiful glass beads in front of the campfire. I knew I had hit on something unique and beautiful, and started to develop a plan that would enable me to make enough of them to supply the demand I thought would be there.
Q: What inspired you to start your business?
My mother is a superb seamstress, my father was a talented woodworker, and my uncles were painters and writers. After six years working in the corporate world, my creative DNA refused to be denied and a business in art glass was begun. My corporate background gave me the discipline I needed to turn bead making into a viable business.
Q: How is your business unique?
Certainly the product I make is highly unique. The process is complex and time-consuming. The material I use is rare. The fact that I have 25 years in clichroic glass is also unique to this industry.
Q: What are your most helpful resources?
I am a "lone ranger" in this venture to a large extent. My supplier of dichroic glass has been terrific about getting me the material I need in a timely manner. The demand for dichroic glass is far greater than the supply. I have been buying from the same manufacturer for 25 years and have created a symbiotic relationship that benefits us both.
Q: Do you, have any mentors or role models who've helped you?
My fourth grade art teach recognized and encouraged my talent in every medium he showed me. My first glass teacher, Boyce Lundstrom, taught me enough about glass making to start me on my way. My close friend and talented glass artist, Michael Dupille from Seattle, has also been an inspiration in the sense that he stretches my boundaries with new ideas.
Q: What advice would you give someone who wants to turn their creative idea into a business, but doesn't know where to start?
Q: What's been your greatest challenge?
Keeping the business end of things separate from my art is my greatest challenge. I am constantly challenged not to compromise my designs to accommodate a price point.
Q: What's been your greatest accomplishment?
Surviving for 25 years and the fact that my beads are recognizable as Paula Radke's beads are my greatest accomplishments. I laugh when I think about the thank-you cards I occasionally receive thanking me for bringing beauty into the world.
Q: What is the most important thing you've learned during this process?
To understand the difference between what I can do, and what I really want to do. Yes, I can do it, but do I want to? rve taken on some project that made me crazy because they weren't what I wanted to be doing. That's the artist in me. When I make art glass, I want to make beautiful art glass, not just something someone needs. After 25 years, I now have the luxury of making those choices.
Q: What are your short-term and long-term goals?
My short-term goal is to begin supplying the major craft store chains with my work easily and efficiently. My long-term goal is to launch a new line in architectural glass such as tiles and other home embellishments.
Q: If you had it to do all over again, what would you do differently?
To tell you the truth--nothing. I like to believe that there are no mistakes, but even the more discouraging events have been helpful in the long run.
Q: What inspired you to turn your creative idea into a business?
A camping trip to Taos put me in touch with the primitive creator in all of us. I delighted in using simple tools to create beautiful glass beads in front of the campfire. I knew I had hit on something unique and beautiful, and started to develop a plan that would enable me to make enough of them to supply the demand I thought would be there.
Q: What inspired you to start your business?
My mother is a superb seamstress, my father was a talented woodworker, and my uncles were painters and writers. After six years working in the corporate world, my creative DNA refused to be denied and a business in art glass was begun. My corporate background gave me the discipline I needed to turn bead making into a viable business.
Q: How is your business unique?
Certainly the product I make is highly unique. The process is complex and time-consuming. The material I use is rare. The fact that I have 25 years in clichroic glass is also unique to this industry.
Q: What are your most helpful resources?
I am a "lone ranger" in this venture to a large extent. My supplier of dichroic glass has been terrific about getting me the material I need in a timely manner. The demand for dichroic glass is far greater than the supply. I have been buying from the same manufacturer for 25 years and have created a symbiotic relationship that benefits us both.
Q: Do you, have any mentors or role models who've helped you?
My fourth grade art teach recognized and encouraged my talent in every medium he showed me. My first glass teacher, Boyce Lundstrom, taught me enough about glass making to start me on my way. My close friend and talented glass artist, Michael Dupille from Seattle, has also been an inspiration in the sense that he stretches my boundaries with new ideas.
Q: What advice would you give someone who wants to turn their creative idea into a business, but doesn't know where to start?
- Never give up. Hold onto your vision.
- Don't be discouraged by changes in plans. Each change is an opportunity for improvement.
- Don't forget to charge for your time! How many people don't realize that until they hire their first employee. You are going to have to pay them!
- See what the competition is doing. Understand your market and your price point required to be competitive.
- Build a team of employees who know each other's jobs, who are loyal to you and each other, and who function like a familial team.
Q: What's been your greatest challenge?
Keeping the business end of things separate from my art is my greatest challenge. I am constantly challenged not to compromise my designs to accommodate a price point.
Q: What's been your greatest accomplishment?
Surviving for 25 years and the fact that my beads are recognizable as Paula Radke's beads are my greatest accomplishments. I laugh when I think about the thank-you cards I occasionally receive thanking me for bringing beauty into the world.
Q: What is the most important thing you've learned during this process?
To understand the difference between what I can do, and what I really want to do. Yes, I can do it, but do I want to? rve taken on some project that made me crazy because they weren't what I wanted to be doing. That's the artist in me. When I make art glass, I want to make beautiful art glass, not just something someone needs. After 25 years, I now have the luxury of making those choices.
Q: What are your short-term and long-term goals?
My short-term goal is to begin supplying the major craft store chains with my work easily and efficiently. My long-term goal is to launch a new line in architectural glass such as tiles and other home embellishments.
Q: If you had it to do all over again, what would you do differently?
To tell you the truth--nothing. I like to believe that there are no mistakes, but even the more discouraging events have been helpful in the long run.
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