Drink in style with hand

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A Penn Hills native is pouring her passion for art into her Oakmont business, one glass at a time.

Amanda Lee, 42, of Oakmont has been determined to carve out a career in art since she could hold a crayon.

But not everyone shared her enthusiasm.

"My dad was a single dad and did not think art was a career. I was self-taught," Lee said. "Everyone in my life told me it's hard to dream big."

Lee opened Amanda Lee Glassware in 2013.

The 9,000-square-foot store and studio is at 931 Third St., across the street from Oakmont Bakery and tucked behind the Speedway gas station.

When she was 27, she enrolled at Slippery Rock University to study art history.

"I wanted to be an art history professor. I didn't feel challenged enough," she said.

Lee's professor encouraged her to pursue her passion for art and pushed her to study abroad.

She was accepted at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Lee, who is half-Slovak on her mother's side, was eager to start her European adventure and began selling her hand-painted wine glasses to earn money for college.

"I was very excited, and, to save money for the trip, I started painting glasses for friends and family because I love giving fabulous gifts. That's how it all started," Lee said.

Working as a bartender, Lee hocked her glassware to patrons, and it evolved into a home business.

"The glasses pay the bills, but my collage art is my passion," Lee said.

Lee's original collage artwork made from recycled magazine pieces are found throughout the store.

From Marilyn Monroe to the Pittsburgh skyline, her collection includes a collage of the prestigious Oakmont Country Club.

"That one took me two years to complete," said Lee, who was offered $25,000 for the golf-themed piece.

She said her design inspiration comes from art history and her mind.

"I just come up with ideas — Cezanne, the Impressionists — there's a lot of influence there. If I could just do this all day, I would love it, but I have a lot of pride in my glassware," Lee said.

Lee's business slogan — "Hand painted with love and maybe a little wine" — holds true.

Design collections painted onto pilsner, wine, stemless and highball glasses include Pittsburgh-themed sets dubbed Yinzer, Steel Stemless, Black and Gold, The Hat Trick, Christmas Pickle and Pittsburgh Snowman.

Other themes include Pitt/Penn State, Birds and Bugs, Dogs, Flowers, Golf, At the Beach, Midnight, Teal and Rose Gold collections.

Shoppers 21 and older are invited to enjoy a glass of wine from the complimentary wine bar and peruse the hundreds of custom-painted glasses on display.

Visitors also are welcome to pop into the open studio and meet the artists while they are painting.

"It's like an experience here — not just shopping," Lee said.

Customer Lyn DiSanti of Clinton Township sipped some wine recently while shopping for a gift exchange.

"I love the uniqueness of it. I was looking for something Pittsburgh, and this is exactly what I wanted," said DiSanti, who has purchased several glasses. "This is my go-to place for a custom gift."

Lee has spent the past four years tweaking her paint formula to find the right mix that would prove durable and long-lasting.

"Our design was great, but we needed durability," Lee said of her biggest business challenge.

Hand washing is recommended, but all of the glassware, even the ones with glitter, can go in the dishwasher.

"That's what makes us stand apart," Lee said of the paints that last. "They’ve very, very durable."

Best-selling glasses include the Steel City collection, followed by Merry and Bright, a holiday-themed light design and frosted snowflakes.

Custom orders are accepted for 12 or more glasses and usually take a week.

All shipped orders are packaged with a signature wine cork with a tiny "lucky" ladybug attached, a detail inspired by Lee's late grandmother, Carol Conrad, with whom Lee would find ladybugs when she was little.

"My nana was an artist and my biggest supporter," Lee said. "She passed several years ago before I started painting glassware.

"The ladybugs keep her close, and we love sharing the luck we have."

Lee employs several young, female artists as painters.

Riverview High School senior Nora Weitzel is the youngest staff painter.

"It's nothing like I’ve ever experienced before," said Weitzel, who wears jeans and boots splattered with paint from past shifts.

Weitzel plans to major in art after graduation.

Penn Hills High School alum Kaitlyn Thorn began painting at Amanda Lee seven years ago.

"I like creating artwork. I like painting and packaging the most," Thorn said. "It's one design at a time here."

Amanda Lee Glassware ships to all 50 states and dozens of countries.

"This is my dream studio. And it's all mine," Lee said proudly.

Joyce Hanz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joyce by email at [email protected] or via Twitter .

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