Town (or area) & State/Country you reside in: Winter Springs, FL
Business Name: Palette Art Studio
Tell us a little about yourself:
One of my first memories as a young child was dumping out boxes of crayons and lining them up all around the room in rainbow color order. I’ve always loved color and creating.
In high school I took all the advanced art classes. I was very intimidated by realism, so mixed-media projects really resonated with me. When I was 22 I took a mosaic class where we learned how to break tiles and create a large planter. I loved the physicality of creating mosaics. I went home and immediately starting creating mosaics regularly.
Over the last 25 years, my artistic career has taken many twists and turns!
At the beginning of my career, in addition to teaching elementary art, I spent a few years in the local art show circuit, and created many mosaics in both the residential and commercial industry.
I wrote and published two instructional mosaic books for Northlight Publishing, and also worked with a licensing agent. My work was used to create greeting card lines, home décor, and giftware.
After spending six years teaching art a middle school, my dream of opening up my own art studio became a reality!
I opened up Palette Art Studio in 2022 in Winter Springs. We teach both children and adults. Classes include Drawing and Painting, Hand-Building and Wheel-Throwing Pottery, and Mosaics. We offer after-school and evening classes, weekend workshops, camps, parties, and private events.
Do you have any professional art training?
In 2004 I graduated with my Bachelors Degree in Art Education, and in 2020 graduated with my Masters Degree in Art Education.
What is one of your favorite quotes or sayings?
Creating mosaics has always been a form of therapy for me. The whole concept of taking broken pieces to create a new piece of artwork symbolizes new beginnings to me.
I heard this quote many years ago that always stuck with me:
Mosaics are made from broken pieces, but they’re still a work of art. And so are you.
Where do you find inspiration for subject matter?
I am usually inspired by nature, and I also am drawn to expressing emotions. I love quotes and words, and most of my pieces are very colorful.
Do you have favorite materials you like to work with? What are they?
I like to work with tile and pique assiette. I love recycling broken mugs and plates, and I really enjoying creating my own tiles out of clay and glazing and firing them in the kiln.
What is your least favorite thing about mosaics and why?
Grouting. Lol. I’ve never loved to grout, and I know for most people it is very satisfying to grout and finish the work.
Do you listen to music while creating (what type/bands)or do you prefer the TV(what shows/genera/channel)? Silence? Pod cast? Etc.?
All of the above! One of my favorite things in the world is to spend time cutting and gluing mosaic pieces, while listening to old music that I can sing along with.
If you could give readers one single piece of advice, what would it be?
Don’t be afraid to try!!!
Most of the really important things I learned over the years I learned by trial and error. Of course, it is helpful to learn basics from instructors who know what they are doing, but in my opinion sometimes the best pieces are a result of a “mistake”.
