Stained Glass Artisan and Inventor

Mike Raven was an Internationally known Designer and Crafter of Original Stained Glass Windows.   In the summer of  1975, while living in Tallahassee Florida he made a trip to  Dallas Texas, where he met his fiancée's  family.  It was on this trip he met a family  friend, John Kebrle,  who was a well known Stained Glass Artisan.  Mike had always been interested in crafts and was an accomplished metal and wood worker.  Stained glass was very intriguing to him and although he only spent an hour in the studio, he went back to Florida and began experimenting with Glass.

Mike never received any formal training in Glass Crafting, but after going around and picking up broken glass from dumpsters at glass companies, and experimenting he came to a new understanding of glass and by incorporating his knowledge of soldering and other metal-working skills, he developed his own method of Glass Crafting.  His first works went on display in 1975 at the North Florida State Fair, where he won a first and second place in Stained Glass, first and third in wall hangings, and first and second in furniture. 

 Mike  designed all his own tools to accommodate his style of Glass Crafting which is distinguished by it's strength and free-flowing designs.

 Mike built his studio in Charleston, Oregon, and has received many awards for his Glass Crafting.

Unfortunately, Mike's professional career as a Stained Glass Artisan was cut short in 1985 by uncorrectable eye difficulties.

Below are photos of Mike's Stained Glass work,  his patented Raven Glass Cutter,  and studio with many of his custom made tools.

This photograph of Mike Raven appeared in 'Stained Glass' magazine in 1982/83.

THE RAVEN GLASS CUTTER

Article from "Tallahassee Democrat" about Mike's Glass work.

Mikes photograph was chosen for the cover of "The Encyclopedia of Working With Glass" in 1983.

Chair that Mike created which won first prize at the North Florida State Fair, now owned by Charlie Waters of the Dallas Cowboys.

Experimental Wood Project by Mike Raven this won 1st prize at the Florida State Fair.

Shell window for Resturant by Mike Raven