Duncan McClellan’s fascination with glass began at age five when he visited a glass factory in West Virginia. After successfully working with leather and clay, he had the opportunity to learn at a studio in Ybor City, Florida in 1987.
He studied the creation of larger forms with Fred Kahl and John Brekke, instructors and artists working at the New York Experimental Glass Workshop. When producing larger and more complex forms, assistance is used to provide an extra pair of hands during the blowing and polishing processes. 

Some of his current works depict, through the use of recognizable icons, emotions relating to family, personal growth, and the spiritual connections between people as souls.  The focus is centered around the internal graal technique and overlay techniques, incorporating hand cutting and photoresist.  To finish these works, acid-etching, fire-polishing techniques are used.  These processes, used in his one-of-a-kind and series works, enables imagery inside, on the surface, or in some cases both, to juxtapose combined images to articulate the message or idea.

Learning these techniques and through experimentation with the media has allowed McClellan more freedom of expression, to better draw the viewer to what he envisions, and hopefully to touch similar emotions.