Phil Clymer works on a stained glass piece at his home in Tyler, Texas, on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. (Chelsea Purgahn/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

When the sun shines through windows at Phil Clymer’s home, floor tiles are painted with colorful images of gardens and mosaic patterns.

Since retiring from a career as a petroleum geologist about six years ago, Clymer, 67, of Tyler, has been getting more practice perfecting an old hobby.

Clymer creates stained-glass windows, suncatchers and decorative wooden storage boxes.

“In an abstract sort of way, I include geology whenever I can,” he said. “I think of myself as an artist who works in glass…

 “I create the design and then I work with it to push it through to a finished product,” he added.

Clymer often experiments with the materials he includes in his stained-glass windows. Geodes, crystals, seashells and marbles are a few of the materials he’s inserted into his designs. 

Glass-on-glass mosaic windows are currently some of his favorite to create.

“You essentially glue a piece of glass onto another piece of glass and after it’s done you grout it, just like you would a real mosaic,” he said. 

Clymer first became interested in creating glass art in the 1970s, after a friend taught him how to make sun-catchers. He later progressed to creating windows.

Although he enjoyed making a profit while exploring his creative side, Clymer cited several things, including meeting the demands of a “real job” he landed, as having led him to put selling his work on hold.

After retiring, one day he was looking through his garage and found two crates of glass that inspired him to relaunch his passion.

Clymer has primarily sold his work through various local art shows, where he is able to network. He also does commissioned pieces.

For Clymer, each stained-glass window is special.

“I hang my windows inside of another window so you can still see out around the stained glass, but it just makes a splash of color in the room,” he said. “If you’re lucky enough to have sunlight come through and catch it, it can paint an image on the floor. 

“It acts like a slide projector,” he said. “I find it infinitely more interesting than miniblinds.”

TWITTER:@TMT_Augusta

Phil Clymer creates stained-glass windows, suncatchers and decorative wooden storage boxes. He also does commissioned pieces. Those interested in his work can contact him at phil1102@suddenlink.net or 903-534-8763.