Filla John started blowing glass about 17 years ago in 2005. He was at the Tonasket Barter Faire where he saw OG Badger Glass, his first mentor, selling pipes. After picking up one of the glass pipes, he was given a business card and told to call the guy when he got back to Spokane. Filla John recalls walking into the shop and seeing OG Badger blowing glass in the middle of his store. He was fascinated and given the opportunity to learn the craft.
When asked about favorite colors and techniques, Filla John said when he started there were only a handful of glass colors available, so he really enjoys creating with the new palettes of glass and has been having a lot of fun playing around with the newer transparent colors. In 2008 he made his first Fillacello and decided it was his favorite technique, earning the name “Filla John” from a roommate who said that was all he made. If he could collaborate with anyone, it would be Eushen because he has a great personality and from the looks of his glass, he also does amazing things with fillacellos.
When not on the torch, Filla John gathers inspiration from nature while taking his kids out hunting and fishing. While Fillacellos are a self proclaimed favorite, Filla John does some fantastic, precise, linework and we can’t wait to see more dichroic incorporation in his pieces!
Stop by the glass shop in Fire and Frost Cannabis on Fourth Plain and Andresen in Vancouver to see Filla John’s work and save 15% this month!
