Hello World of Bongs Community, when i think about fish, i don´t think about food. I have the amazing smokeable pieces of Chelsey Dahlstrom (Trapperstudio) in the mind:

WHAT GOT YOU INTERESTED IN GLASS IN THE FIRST PLACE?

My boyfriend has been involved in the industry for over 15 years now and when we moved to Montana I helped set up his new shop, so I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by glass work from some amazing artists. He had been pushing me to start blowing glass for a few years because of my art background. Seeing all the amazing art gave me that little extra push I needed to dive in.

WHERE DID YOU LEARN YOUR SKILLS?

Doing a lot of sculptural work with ceramics in college really helped me have a head start in the sculpting side of my work but understanding glass was on a whole new level. In the beginning I was fortunate enough to have a couple glassblowers in my area teach me a few things, but I am mainly self-taught. Lots of trial and error and taking the time to study how other successful artists work.

DO YOU CREDIT ANY OTHER GLASS BLOWERS WITH HELPING YOU ACHIEVE YOUR SUCCESS?

The entire community has helped me along the way. Watching Clinton Roman videos in the beginning, connection with other artists online and in my local community and ultimately getting more involved in the glass community as much as possible has been such a great experience.

TALK TO ME A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR STYLE. 

My style can be described as realistic. My inspiration comes from a lifelong passion for fishing and the outdoors. Growing up on a lake in Minnesota my family fished year-round, so I have always loved fishing. Living in Montana is just an extension of my love for the outdoors and there is definitely no lack of inspiration here. I am happy to live in such a beautiful state.

WHAT MATERIALS DO YOU MOST LIKE TO WORK WITH?

Before I was into glass work I loved electroforming bones and glass. Now I’ve put all my focus on expanding my knowledge and skill with borosilicate and love layering rod and frit.

WHAT’S THE MOST FAVOURITE PIECE YOU’VE EVER MADE?

My favorite piece to date is a three headed Large Mouth Bass rig that I did, Bass eating Bass, eating Bass. It was a very difficult piece to make and pushed me to do more challenging work.

WHAT WAS YOUR WORST MOMENT ON THE PATH TO “MAKING IT” AS A GLASS ARTIST?

Like most of us I’ve had plenty along the way but have learned so much more from these moments then any successful moments I’ve had.

AND WHAT WAS YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT?

My proudest moment was finally completing my largest piece to date. It was a custom non-functional Yellow Fin Tuna. The first attempt broke as I was adding the last fin, so it felt damn good to pull it out of the kiln in one piece the next day.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW GLASS ARTISTS?

Keep at it and don’t cut corners, do the work and you will see the progress, all mistakes have lessons. A growth mindset and the willingness to learn is key to success.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE STRAIN/EXTRACT, AND WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE TO DAB IT IN?

I prefer CBD at the moment for my back pain and migraines but when I do smoke I prefer Indica. My favorite piece to smoke out of is an old school fumed onie from a Glassblower in North Dakota by the name Kirby.

IF YOU COULD MAKE YOUR “DREAM” PIECE, WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE?

This is a tough one…. I’m not sure what it would look like, but it would involve an epic collaboration between Raven Skyriver, Micah Evans, Chris Ahalt and myself……dreams do come true, right?

WHO WOULD YOU LIKE, MOST OF ALL IN THIS WORLD, TO HIT YOU UP FOR A PIECE, AND WHAT PIECE WOULD YOU MAKE FOR HIM/HER?

I don’t have any specific person in mind, but it is always very gratifying when another glass artist buys one of my pieces.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR GLASS ARTISTRY IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY?

This is such a difficult question to answer because we see so many amazing artists changing the industry in big ways all the time, glass work is ever evolving and so unpredictable…. endless possibilities. I love the idea of bringing glass work back old school with flower pieces and more of a fine art twist added to them. I have been seeing a small shift in that direction already with what my customers are requesting. I’m excited to see what the community will evolve into.

IF YOU WERE SHIPWRECKED ON A DESERT ISLAND AND YOU COULD ONLY HAVE THREE ESSENTIAL PIECES WITH YOU, WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

I’d leave the glass behind and bring a knife, portable water filter and……coconut oil ?

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC TO WORK TO/DAB TO?

I go back and forth between podcasts and music while I work. For music lately, I’ve been really into The War & The Treaty, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, July Talk and The Talking Heads.