When I stopped by to visit Richard Macdonald, one of the first things he mentioned was the cedar shingles I had applied to a side of his house close to the gallery section of his studio. “They’ve lasted a long time,” Richard said. “Probably due to their shaded location.” I took that as a backhanded compliment as I was not a particularly highly skilled carpenter at the time!

When Richard Macdonald arrived in Maine in the early ’70s, more precisely, Boothbay Harbor, he had no reserves. His ability to produce income was limited to sales from his creative glass art. The market then, in this area, was negligible. The family lived hand to mouth in those early years as Richard and his wife struggled to make ends meet. There were times, Richard told me, when buying a copy of the local newspaper was negotiable.

Richard and his wife, Pauline, ran the business and raised three children. It was tough sledding but together they managed to survive. Richard worked to create a market for his glass art. He had traveled for years doing shows all around the country, creating visibility for his work. There was no other way but I n person, schlepping a van-load of product hither and yon, hoping to generate interest. It was a long haul but ultimately he and sometimes as many as nine helpers began to gain a foothold in the American crafts art market. Over the years, as travel became more effortful, Richard settled into a personal pace that better suits him and his beautiful glass creations.

Richard is self taught, driven by innate curiosity and visual adventure. He charged into an art world that was hell bent on the overt mechanized tide of conformity. The ’60s and ’70s were tough on him and his way of doing things. He was unwilling to follow along, but it took a lot of energy and hard work to establish and succeed within the strictures of the moment. Although Maine was his new home he still needed to go on the road to peddle his wares. For 40 years he packed his van, drove around the country, set up displays, promoted and sold his work. As a one-person show he devised ways to transport and display his fragile creations.

He designed a large panel which could be cranked up onto the roof of his vehicle which provided more space and easier management. His New York City shows at Lincoln Center Plaza and Columbus Avenue at the back of the Natural History Museum were among his most productive shows.

Richard continues to create and discover. Some of his new work includes double-sided mirrors that move on a stand collecting and reflecting light from all angles. And a beautiful sunflower “follow the light” mirror. He still ships a ton of new work to galleries around the country and creates new one-of-a-kind custom pieces for private sale. Many of his historic and new glasswork can be seen on his website, www.rjmglassart.com/ or at his gallery on Wall Point Road. He still works seven days a week, often later in the day. The quantity and variety of beautiful stained glass art is astonishing and ever changing, just like the man himself.

A visit is unforgettable.