I have been making mosaics for fifteen years. I studied under the tutelage of internationally known and celebrated mosaic artist, Yulia Hanansen, for seven years. She taught me the value of finding my own style and the technical aspects of creating mosaics.
Through glass, I am trying to express what I see and feel. When I am making a mosaic each piece of glass is chosen carefully.
Then each piece is cut and shaped with nippers then the glass is ground. Each one of my portrait mosaics takes over 35 plus hours of focussed attention. I am continually striving to increase my knowledge and update my skills.
I have also taken workshops from another celebrated international mosaic artist Carol Shelkin. She taught me about mosaic portraiture and using color. I am active in the mosaic community we do special community projects. I have also widened my scope by joining MAM, Mosaic Artists of Michigan, and SAMA, Society of American Mosaic Artists, a national organization. MAM meets regularly and we fund workshops that increase our knowledge of mosaics.
My focus for the last eight years has been on jazz musicians. Jazz for me has been the rhythm of my life. The music invigorates me. The flow of the music, the creativity, the improvisation, and the various techniques that artists use inspire me .
There is a message I feel that jazz imparts, share what you’ve learned, diversity, courage, and understanding others and letting them speak. The style and color choices I use in my mosaics reflect what I feel when I am listening to the music.
My passion for mosaics has grown every year. I have found my artistic instrument. I truly enjoy every moment I am working on a mosaic piece.