Robert Mattes moved the cutter across the flat, red glass, clamped down and broke the sheet in half.

“Next, you align the specifically shaped piece of glass next to another, like a puzzle,” said Mattes, Hopkinton’s recreation director, as he described stained-glass making to a class.

Mattes has always been in awe of the light reflecting through the colorful spectrum of glass and recently took a stained-glass class in Concord so he can bring his new talent to Hopkinton.

“People see stained-glass and they think, ‘It’s absolutely beautiful’ and ‘Wouldn’t it be cool to learn how to make it?’ So, finally I learned how to do it,” said Mattes.

Hopkinton recreation is now offering a six-week class on how to make stained-glass creations.

“It’s something that people really appreciate, and you can make absolutely gorgeous stuff for your home or your windows. Overall, it’s just a really relaxing thing to do,” Mattes.

The current session ends Jan. 25, but another session will be offered soon. Mattes said he plans to continue offering the classes, but will probably take some time off in a couple months.

“A lot of times, depending on the size of their project, people may not finish it all in six weeks, so they’ll stay on and get help into the next session,” he said. “We have some people who started in October and have been doing it since, because they like it so much and they keep signing up.

“We’ve had some people who have gone through the class and loved it. They went out and bought all the equipment so they could do it at home,” said Mattes. “We also get new people that come in for every six-week session, which has been really exciting.

“It’s really simple and it’s a lot of fun. People love to make it, and, in some cases, surprise others and say ‘Hey, I made this for you.’”

Resident Arwen Temple joined the classes to make a gift for her grandmother.

“I ran out of things to get her, so I thought I would try something new,” said Temple. “It was a little harder than I expected at first, but now I’m used to it and I’m really enjoying it.”

Though the process takes practice, it is well worth the time.

Participants create a pattern or select one from a book. Choices vary from simple to complex and feature anything from flowers to abstract shapes. Once each piece of glass is cut and placed on the pattern, copper wiring is wrapped around the edges and soldered together.

The worst part, he said, is foiling, as wrapping each piece tends to be tedious.

“It’s easy but it’s really timeconsuming. People either get really frustrated with it and don’t get into it at all, or they find it absolutely relaxing and they can do it for hours,” said Mattes.

Classes are for teens and adults. For more information or to register call Mattes at 746-2915 or visit www.hopkinton-nh.gov.