Truly Blown Away — Humanistic Lens Looking at Glassblowers’ Creative Thinking: A Qualitative Case Study

Authors

• Yugant Patra, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USAFollow

Abstract

This study examines how emotional and cognitive engagement shape glassblowing artists’ decision-making and artistic outcomes throughout the creative process. Using a qualitative case study methodology, the study examines how glassblowing artists conceptualize, execute, and refine their work by balancing their artistic vision with the medium's technical demands through a humanistic lens. Five themes emerge, which are discussed: the identification with self – confronting the demons, I belong here, claiming the molten as my own, the reign of glass and from it fractures rising anew, and having a conversation with glass. The study closes with the need for continued research on the topic.

Keywords

qualitative case study, humanistic theory, creative expression, glassblowing

Author Bio(s)

Yugant Patra is a doctoral candidate (ABD) and graduate research assistant at the Department of Educational Leadership at Kansas State University. Please direct correspondence to [email protected] or [email protected]

Publication Date

8-31-2026

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

Recommended APA Citation

Patra, Y. (2026). Truly blown away — Humanistic lens looking at glassblowers’ creative thinking: A qualitative case study. The Qualitative Report, 31(8), 6422-6446.

ORCID ID

0009-0009-0644-3826