At the end of the 1960s, our family moved to Tajikistan, where my father was one of the managers of a nitrogen fertilizer plant. Once my father offered to work as an apprentice glassmaker, and I no doubt agreed. It was a very rare, unconventional profession, and I was immediately interested in it. Years later, I realize that this was a priceless gift from my father.
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I studied as an apprentice for three months, and then joined the army on a summons. When I came back, the master was no longer there. Therefore, I completed all the training on my own, based on books from the company's library: “A Guide to the Basics of Glassblowing” (M. Gol) and “Glassblowing” (S. Veselovsky).

A chemical laboratory needs glass appliances and utensils to operate. They are constantly breaking down, and they need to be repaired or new ones made. Some scientific laboratories need to manufacture unique devices and instruments that they have invented themselves — according to their drawings. This is a very exciting process, and you get incredible pleasure from it.

Each time I tried to do things that were above my level—that way I got one step closer to mastery.

Back in Tajikistan, I started working as an outdoor glassblower: at festivals and big festivals. Once they asked me to show how a glassblower works in such conditions. I came, showed it and got involved in this business.

In Kaliningrad, this grew into a regular job on Kant Island during the summer. This place is visited by a huge number of tourists who come to see Königsberg Cathedral and the philosopher's grave. And someone specially comes to see a glassblower at work. Five years ago, three ladies came up to me on the street and asked me in English, “Are you Mr. Lenshin?” It turned out that they live in Brazil and once saw a TV movie about my work. So they were interested in her that they specially flew to Russia to see me and talk. Can you imagine?

The unusual and delicate work attracts people. Poems were written about me, and writer Larisa Pribrezhnaya even wrote about my work wrote a fairy tale that later grew into a novel”Freya and the Lord of the Hot Drop”. For many high-ranking officials and famous personalities, I was asked to make works out of glass. It doesn't make much difference to me who you do your job for, the main thing is that it brings joy to people.
It's nice to receive awards, especially state awards. This recognition gives an additional impetus to continue working, to improve yourself. But it's important to remember that you don't become a master for awards.

I managed to live 56 years doing what I love, and starting a wonderful family is a blessing. I am proud of my country: that it has survived and recreated itself anew, and my personal work has been integrated into this common cause.