As a lifelong lover of the arts, Cynthia Buchanan has used her talent to create reverse painted glass pieces for over 26 years. Her art features curated selections of vintage and previously-loved furniture, tables, trays, boxes, and more that she has repurposed, or “upcycled,” into new and functional pieces of hand-painted glass art.

     A self-taught artist, Cynthia discovered the art of reverse glass painting while visiting a friend in Santa Cruz, CA in the early 1990s. On the wall of her friend’s home was a beautiful painting shimmering in the sunlight. This caught Cynthia’s eye, as she had never seen a painting reflect light like that before. Intrigued, she learned that this piece was created with painted glass microscope slides in the 1960s and decided it was time to create one of her own. Using a box of microscope slides gifted to her by the same friend from Santa Cruz, she began experimenting with a similar technique. Soon, after gathering updated materials and colors, she was able to establish her own style.

     For the past 26 years, Cynthia has displayed her work in galleries across the country, including venues in Monterey Bay, Laguna Beach, North Carolina, and more. She has painted thousands of microscope slides and has work featured in restaurants, public spaces, and private collections from coast to coast. 

     In 2018, Cynthia relocated to Orange County and now lives in Capistrano Beach, Dana Point with her husband, Simon, and dog, Chloe. She continues to seek out inspiration through the beauty of her surroundings and explore new ideas and techniques with paint and glass. She encourages everyone to discover their own “inner artist” and trust what inspires them, and hopes that viewing her art will bring others joy and inspire them to repurpose, reimagine, & RELOVE.