Town (or area) & State/Country you reside in: Ellicott City, MD
Business Name: Pieceful Designs Mosaics
How did you get started in mosaics?
How long have you been creating mosaic, art, etc?
My mosaic practice started with learning how to make traditional stained glass more than 25 years ago. Fast forward 20 years through a career as an attorney and professor and raising a family, when I took a mosaic class, I was hooked! I loved the freedom of not having to be perfect!
What about mosaics resonates with you?
Mosaics are beautiful because of their imperfections, not in spite of them. Learning to create mosaics has taught me the value of letting go and not trying to be perfect; a lesson I needed to help release some self-imposed pressure and anxiety in my life.
I love the texture of mosaics and that anything can be used as tesserae.
Do you have favorite materials you like to work with? What are they?
I use almost every kind of material as tesserae from smalti and stone to broken dishes, stained glass and found objects. I enjoy the variety and challenges of being able to let the inspiration image dictate what materials I use to make it come alive as a mosaic.
What is your favorite thing you have created and why?
Two of my favorite projects have been public art projects for a town and a county’s 250th anniversary. The public was invited to send in material and trinkets to be included in a mosaic. Along with the items, the contributor sent in a few lines about their connection to the county. I was able to incorporate more than 80 items into the mosaics that depicted scenes characterizing the area. It was such a meaningful project. You can see more about it on my website - Public Art Projects | Pieceful Designs Mosaics
What would you like to learn/add to your mosaics experience?
Everything! I am excited to take Sherri Warner Hunter’s Build a Chair workshop this summer. So many public art projects involve sculpture so I want to add that to my skills
What is your least favorite thing about mosaics and why?
How long they take and how heavy they are!
Tell us a little about your studio space:
I am a Resident Artist at the Howard County Center for the Arts in Ellicott City, MD. IN 2020 I applied for a one year Emerging Artist residency, and was invited to stay at the end of the year. We are located in a former elementary school in a residential neighborhood about 2 miles from the Historic Main Street area. I have ½ of a classroom. In the fall the entire Howard County Arts Council will be moving to the historic district into the former courthouse.
