Always creative, inquisitive, inventive, and imaginative,Caryn Samuell loves animals, gardening, and working with color.
Caryn’s pets have included squirrels, guinea pigs, snakes, parakeets, parrots, dogs, cats, a raven, several crows, chickens, alpaca, fish, lizards, and a tarantula. She currently has an 21 year old Congo African Grey parrot named Tobey, a Golden Pencilled Hamburg rooster named Sir Precious John d’Cockeroo, and 23 chickens – not enough space for names…. Sadly, Caryn’s Golden Retriever, Marshall Dylan, a well-known greeter at Samuell Day Gallery, passed away in November of 2010 at age 16 1/2 years of age. Added to the menagerie is a 40 year old Blue Front Amazon named Buddy and three, yes THREE, French Bulldogs! Noka, Java, and Bella are a delightful handful.
An avid gardener with gorgeous landscaping, Caryn Samuell welcomes visitors, plein air artists & photographers to use and enjoy her grounds at the gallery (also Caryn’s home Born August 2, 1952 (National Friendship Day) in Houston, Texas from a long line of Texans (9th generation).site).
Moved to SugarLand, Texas and graduated from John Foster Dulles High School in 1970.
Worked for Texas Instruments, Inc. and went to University of Houston for a career in Electrical Engineering.
Married David P Vanderbeek in 1980, moved north of New York City to Grafton, MA, mother to two sons, Brian(1982) and Aaron Vanderbeek(1984).
Caryn Samuell founded Glass Workshop in Grafton, MA in 1983 (after many years of working with glass as a hobby), created mostly Tiffany style traditional stained glass and taught classes in stained glass, sandblast etching, glass fusing, and design. After a divorce, Caryn supported herself and her two sons by working out of her home in Grafton, MA as an artist and teacher. Caryn Samuell moved to Cape Cod in 1996 and opened Samuell Day Glass Gallery and Glass Workshop. The location of Samuell Day Gallery on historic Route 6A in Cummaquid, MA enhanced Caryn’s ability to work out of her home and be a mother to her children. Caryn’s sons are now grown. Brian Vanderbeek is now a successful musician (electric bass www.beekbass.com) and leader of a popular band called Funktapuss. Aaron Vanderbeek has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University as well as a Masters in Entertainment Technology/Video Game Design and is owner of www.delectable.com in San Francisco. (Aaron is a concert pianist as well). Needless to say, Caryn Samuell is not only an incredible artist, but a proud mother as well.
Mentors include:
- Dave Bolton(stained glass)Boyce Lundstrom (fusing)
- Narcissus Quagliata (advanced stained glass and design)
- Brock Craig (advanced fusing)
- Norm and Ruth Dobbins (sandblast etching and carving)
- David Reekie (pate de verre and mold-making)
- Rachel Mesrahi(advanced stained glass design and fabrication)
- Charles Benjamin Samuell (Caryn’s dad) Craftsman Extraordinaire
A ttended Pilchuck Glass School (Dale Chihuly) throughout the 1980’s.
Taught stained glass and fusing from 1986 -1996 at the Worcester Center for the Crafts, the oldest craft school in the USA.
Juried member of the Cape Cod Art Association.
Member of the Craft Retailers Association for Tomorrow (CRAFT)
Preferred Retailer – Buyers Market of American Craft
