Colorful Mosaics Transforming the Ordinary
I combine classical and contemporary mosaic techniques and infuse them with my own sense of humor, style and love of the medium. Whether I am interpreting iconic imagery, such as the Palmetto Moon with hidden Lowcountry icons, recreating a much revered painting in hand-cut glass pieces, or overhauling a household object with an injection of colorful glass, I love creating mosaics.
When I traded in my Passat wagon for a Honda Accord I needed something to help distinguish my dark 4-door sedan from the many others in large parking lots. And those dealer frames really irritate me. So I turned around in my head the idea of making my own license plate frame, in glass mosaic. I made my first frame in red, orange, yellow and green vitreous glass. I remember waiting anxiously the first time I took it through the car wash. To my delight, the frame emerged in tact!
I have since stepped up my production to include specially made steel bases, updated grouting technique and of course design innovations in that 1” x 12” key space. I have made hundreds of frames, all completely by hand. I have shipped to enthusiastic clients from New York to Hawaii, Washington to Florida.
My husband dug that very first frame out of the garage, and to my delight put it on his new car. It’s so great to see that colorful frame everyday in our driveway and realize it still has the structural integrity I intended and still makes me smile!
I accept orders for ready-to-ship designs and your wild idea custom license frames at the Riviera Arts etsy shop. They are priced $58 & up and fit most all US cars.
Custom made stained glass mosaic house numbers to brighten to your entry and welcome guests! Available in a variety of sizes for hanging or free standing.
See what is on my work table today!
In my relatively short mosaic career, I have been incredibly fortunate to work with some amazing artists/teachers, mosaic groups and non-profits. Here are some groups and individuals close to my heart and influential to my artistic development that you might find interesting.
Tami is my mosaic mentor. We met when I discovered her school, Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art, and mosaic art when I needed a creative outlet in my stressful life. I have been cutting glass ever since and regularly take workshops with some of the most influential teachers in American mosaics at Tami’s school. Tami has a second business, Mosaic Arts Online providing video workshops, does private commissions, AND is the current president of our national mosaic society- SAMA.
The Grace Fisher Foundation is a non-profit arts organization run by an amazing young woman. Despite her own severe disabilities, Grace Fisher continues to produce art and music. Her Allies For Arts programs are dedicated to promoting the arts with special needs children. It was a pleasure to work with the kids and their parents on a sea life themed bench for an event in 2017.
Working with the formerly homeless in downtown Los Angeles, Leigh and Dawn at Piece by Piece lead the way! The group and individual mosaic projects produced here offer participants not only new skills and a means of artistic expression, but also self-reliance and even an opportunity to produce an income.
The Society of American Mosaic Artists is an amazing gathering of talent and generous sharing. Check out their website to discover more about contemporary mosaic art and artists. These members in particular inspire me:
Carol Shelkin, Jolino Beserra, Laurel True, Mireille Swinnen, Anne Marie Price, Erin Prankratz.
Working with Stephen Dunier, aka the Yarn Bomber, and his numerous international fiber artist collaborators, Ruth Rassler and I were the only mosaic artist contributors on the Dreamers project wrapping the Tucson Children's Hospital. This temporary installation coincided with Stephen's 2017 TED Talk Tucson.
This Edmonton, Canada based mosaic artist is the queen of color! I had the pleasure of taking a color course with her at SBSMA.
I have been privileged to take workshops with this incredible artist and teacher. Carol Shelkin truly “paints with glass”.
“Art is not about passing a blummin’ exam!”
I love this woman and her incredible art. Based in the UK, Caroline is not only an incredibly prolific artist doing large scale installations for schools, pubs, gardens and more, she is also very generous about sharing her process with her multitude of followers through her social media posts.
