Big Sky Stained Glass

David Fjeld has studied in England with Patrick Reyntiens, one of the premier stained glass artists in that country, along with Paul Marioni at the Pilchuck Glass School in Washington Sate. All of this experience paid off, since today, Fjeld constructs CUSTOM ART for a worldwide customer base.

"Most of our work is in high-end homes," noted Fjeld, adding that many of his clients live in Big Sky. He has designed stained glass for homes in the Yellowstone Club, along with the Bozeman Deaconess Hospital Chapel, the Big Sky Meadow Village Chapel, and ranches throughout the area. Typically, customers hear about his work and hire him to do a specific piece.

"Now, most all of the art we do is commission work for people who want something for their homes. Usually they have an idea to start with, and we go from there. It's all custom."

David Fjeld's work appears in numerous public locations such as churches and convents, hospitals and hotels, local bars as well as some of the most luxurious private residences in the world.

A member of the Stained Glass Association of America (8 years) his work has been for displayed in England, New York, Rhode Island, Georgia, Hawaii, and he's done restoration work all over the Rocky Mountains. He's worked for NFL team owners, Hollywood movie stars, and corporate billionaires.

It is a family trade, David's parents Carl (Stub) and Mary Lou Fjeld, owned Lake Paint and Glass in Bozeman for many years. All three of the sons have followed in their footsteps. Dave's brother, Chuck, works with him in the shop and brother, Timm, is self-employed as a glass contractor.

"We were cutting glass at an early age," he says.



David Fjeld puts so much of himself into each window, a lot of feeling, a lot of care. "I'll go to just about any length to make sure that a window has a real quality. There's a lot of thought and a lot of care."

He didn't make a lot of money for a lot of years and he looks back at that time with a grin. "My first 'studio' was nothing more than a little shack. No heat in the place. I worked over a space heater. My first light easel was a tiny, little window that looked out over an alleyway."

"The lean years are always the ones that separate those with true passion from the pretenders."