They’re starting younger all the time.
More and more young entrepreneurs are popping up in the Comox Valley.
Add Connor Purin to the list.
The 10-year-old artist is selling his wares – beautiful stained glass birds – at the upcoming Spring in Fanny Bay Plant Sale, Saturday (May 13), from 9 a.m. to noon at the Fanny Bay Community Hall.
“I’ve been doing this for about two years now,” said Connor, who is in Grade 5 at Cumberland Elementary. “I’ve been an artist since I was about six or seven.”
Connor credits his grandma, Juanita, for getting him into the art of stained glass.
“The birds were actually her idea. She has a cardboard cutout of the bird and draws an outline of that with a Sharpie on the glass. Then I cut it out and grind it, and just like that, it’s a bird. I like stained glass. It’s fun, and I get to spend time with my grandma.”
“I have been creating stained glass for the past 45 years, so I have enough material up there to open a store,” said Juanita. “So I got him started about two years ago. I had to come up with something really simple, because he can’t solder.”
Connor’s sisters – seven-year-old Sasha, and 12-year-old Taylor – are also involved in the process.
Juanita generally gets the three of them together a couple of times a month to craft the birds.
“They did the Christmas Craft Fair (Lewis Centre) and they did really well,” said Juanita. “We also sell them out of our home.”
In addition to the birds, Connor also creates “ocean scenes” on large flat rocks.
He said he hopes to make a career out of artistry, someday.
“I never really expected to make money at this. I do want to be an artist when I grow up. Making money at it is just an extra thing.”
For more information on Connor’s Creations, or to place an order, call Juanita at 250-335-3454, or email jpurin@shaw.ca
