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Lighting a Career Path Through Ar t SHORTCUTS ART 52 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 4 F inding a career path that will fulfill the requirement of keeping the wolf from the door but also satisfying the soul can be tricky. Some never find it; some do so later in life. "It didn't cross my mind until I was 40 that one could make a living as an artist, let alone be successful," says stained glass artist Theresa Buccola. She has found that success. From her studio/gallery in downtown Carmel, she plies the centuries-old craft of turning plain windows into sub- lime works of art. It wasn't an easy journey. The New Jersey native originally studied com- puter science at NYU but that didn't resonate. Leaving academia behind, she struck gold with a Manhattan bike messenger service until itchy feet landed her in San Francisco, where she suffered a series of unfulfilling, dead-end jobs. "I didn't want to sit in carpools and work in offices wearing clothes I did- n't want to wear," she says. A chance meeting with stained glass artist Flora Dionysia finally lit the way. "I knew I was onto something — I'm interested in mythology; she was named for two Greek goddesses," Buccola says. A visit to Dionysia's studio set the hook: the budding artist began mastering her chosen medium. However, the path from inspiration to realization is not without speed bumps. "After moving to Monterey, times were tough for a while," she recalls, "but I was doing what I loved. On the outside I had nothing, but I was highly focused." Working tirelessly from a tiny Sand City studio, she built a client base. Today, the bulk of her work is by commission. Buccola is a prime example of the axiom that if one does what one loves, the rewards will follow. "I feel most people are doing jobs they don't want to do," she says. "That gives rise to all sorts of problems because people aren't fulfilled." Theresa Buccola Stained Glass is located on San Carlos between 7th and Ocean in Carmel. The gallery is in a courtyard adjacent to the Wells Fargo park- ing lot. To learn more, go to www.theresabuccola.com or call 831/238-9830. — Michael Chatfield Stained glass artist Theresa Buccola traveled through life, from New Jersey to California, looking for a fulfilling career. From computer science to bike messenger, she finally found creative inspiration in glass art. She now has loyal Carmel fans. Photo: Kelli Uldall