Fused Dichroic Glass sculpture by Michael McCoy

Michael John McCoy has the advantage of being a second-generation glass artist. Beginning at age twelve, he developed a passion for his medium through collecting art glass.

In 1992, Michael established Essential Glass Works. From his Idaho studio he creates fine dichroic jewelry and supplies galleries across the country.

His playfully elegant jewelry has gained national attention. In the spring of 2003, Michael won the Merit Award from the Philadelphia Buyers Market of American Craft (BMAC). In 2005, he won the Best of Show Award from the Seattle Gift Show. He continues to generate new designs and product lines. Dichroic glass as a medium holds his interest as it "reflects nature, captivates audiences, and stimulates my creativity."

To create the Tropical Fish, Michael McCoy begins by cutting, by hand, base glass in the shape of the fish. Next, he hand cuts pieces of dichroic glass into pieces as small as 1/16 of an inch. With tweezers, he places these slivers of glass on the base glass, building his designs by stacking these glass slivers up to five layers high. He then places the work in a kiln and fires at temperatures reaching 1840 degrees.

The tropical fish sculpture is limited to 100. Each may have similarities, but none will be replicated. Each maintains a nuance and quality of its own.