"How Fun!"

My favorite thing to hear people say about my mosaics is "How Fun!".  I like it because to me it means my work makes people happy and because I do have fun creating my mosaics.  If it weren't fun and exciting, I wouldn't be doing it.  From the moment an idea comes into my mind to finishing off the grout, it's an exciting & creative process. Every step of the process is fluid and a meander in any step can create a totally different expression.  So I might have one thing in mind when I start but depending on how much I surrender to the process, it could end up with a whole different look!  I usually start with a rough sketch of the design and a general color scheme but allow  my muse to fill in the details.

Musings on Creativity, Part 2

I never really had a plan to be a mosaic artist, it was just a thought in the back of my mind, something I didn't totally connect with.  There were still blocks in my mind to daring to be an artist - "WHO do you think YOU are?" being the biggest one!

Last year my husband and I went to Asheville, NC on vacation - and it was pure magic!  I have been there many times over the past 20 years and watched it develop and come into it's own as an art city.  One day I stumbled into the Jonas Gerard Gallery (you really MUST check him out - http://www.jonasgerard.com/.  No REALLY, go there now!).  His work hit me right in the heart.  He came out of his studio and we started talking. He is a very sweet unassuming man.  You would never know he has work at the Smithsonian and all over the world.  But he took the time to talk to me and for some reason took a liking to my husband and I.  I asked if there were any mosaic artists in Asheville as I had not seen any.  He looked and me and said "No, do you have a portfolio?"  He believed I was a mosaic artist and in that moment I became one!  That's all it took. He fanned the sparks and now it's a flame that won't quit.  Just like the Velveteen Rabbit, sometimes all it takes   is for someone to believe we are real... 

Reflections on Creativity, Part I

At a barbeque a couple of weekends ago, I was showing my mosaic photo album to some folks I had not seen in a long time and someone asked me if I've always been artistic.  Well, that's a loaded question and a there's meandering story to answer it...I believe we are ALL artistic in some way but our society tries to put us in boxes, we are this and not that.  I always liked to create things.  My father was an artist, he had a degree in architecture and designed exhibits.  One of my strongest memories from childhood was him telling me stories and illustrating them as he went along.  But my sister went to Philadelphia College of Art and was the identified "artist" in the family so I went the route of environmental science since I love nature.  It was not a great fit, it earned me money but I was never happy with it.  My sister meanwhile went the technical route and never pursued her art.  So here we both were, neither being very creative.  Sure, I took classes and dabbled with pottery and watercolor.  Then one day I thought, I want to take a mosaic class.

That was about 6 years ago.  My first mosaic was a portable counter top.  The design came from a doodle I did one day during a meeting at work  :-)!  I proceeded to leave it outdoors in the summertime.  I found out the hard way that was not a good idea - the underside was particle board which soaked up the humidity like a sponge.  It warped and many of the side and corner tiles fell off.  Now it is part of my worktable.

Well, that's it for now.  Story to be continued...
Maybe I'll see you this wekend at Good Samaritan or Maysies Farm.  See last blog for details.

Upcoming Events with Piece Of Mind Mosiacs

Craft fairs:
Good Samaritan Fair in Paoli, Saturday June 11.  Church of the Good samaritan http://www.good-samaritan.org/.  Will be there with metal craftsman Gene Reed, with pieces for sale and photos of completed consignment work.  I'll be there working on a current piece.  Lots of new and different work.  Come on out!

Maysies Farm Fest in Ludwigs Corner, Sunday, June 12.  Lots of music, local food and it supports a great cause:  http://www.maysiesfarmfest.org/index.htm.  20% of proceeds will be donated to Maysies Farm Conservation Center.

Classes:
Starting June13, I will be taching a 4 session class through Downingtown Area Recreation Consortium (DARC).  It will be 4 Monday evenings from 6-9, no calss July 4 - last class will be July11.  http://www.darcinfo.com/ - see the Summer 2011 Brochure.

I am teaching vitreous glass mosaics at The Gallery School of Pottstown / Gallery On High.  The July classes are listed in the Summer Course Catalog under Glass Classes:  http://www.galleryonhigh.com/.