Stained glass artist Sandy Dubpernell is Garry Oak Gallery’s December Featured Artist. A celebration of chocolates, wine and Dubpernell’s beautiful glass will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3 at Garry Oak Gallery.

Dubpernell, who has a master’s degree in biology, has been creating stained glass panels and gifts for over 37 years. She is self-taught and enjoys designing pieces that reflect her passionate love of nature, especially brightly colored flowers and her favorite animals like orcas, wolves, elephants, cats and blue herons.

“I love creating panels of intricate and challenging designs for hand cutting glass (no band saw here). I’ve never worked in leaded glass as it doesn’t allow for the small details of copper foiled glass,” she said.

Recently, Dubpernell has started creating art pieces in fused glass of kiln-fired glass vases and jewelry and adding it to her panels.

“I was never a full-time artist. Working with stained glass was my way of relaxing after a busy day of working for Big Pharma,” she said. “When I retired to beautiful Whidbey Island, I discovered the orca and that was the end of a quiet retirement. I hope some of my designs inspire people to appreciate the beauty, majesty and intelligence of these magnificent creatures and of all the beauty of nature.”

Come join Dubpernell at First Friday and view her passion. There is plenty of parking behind the Harborside Village shopping area on Fidalgo Street with easy access to the gallery. Garry Oak Gallery is at 830 SE Pioneer Way in Oak Harbor. For more information on the gallery, call 360-240-0222 or visit www.garryoakgallery.com.