Taking Steps

'Steps' was my second smalti mosaic and in some ways much more challenging than 'Frogs'. Mosaicing people was a lot harder than I imagined and I definately learned at lot about my drawing skills or lack thereof...hahaha. I not only had the steps to worry about but the houses had to sit on each side of the steps and look correct perspective and scale were very important. I also learned how to take a hammer and chisel and tear up a house or two before I was happy with it. And changed the woman more than once. Your drawing is definately subserviant to the material...so there was a fairly big learning curve on this one.
There are so many things to think about...deciding colors and ordering the smalti to complete the mosaic as smalti is not cheap you don't have the luxury (well at least I don't) of ordering all the beautiful color choices out there and as the colors do vary from batch to batch ordering the correct amount is also a consideration. With 'Steps' I also used Mexican smalti for the first time and fell in love with the variations and marbleing in the glass. But for luminosity and reflective qualities the Venetian glass definately takes the prize. I was very happy when it was finished. I was particularily pleased with the faces of the mother with her son. Achieving the right emotions with bits of glass is not easy.

'Frogs' and 'Steps' I submitted to the opening of Pam Goode's lst juried show at Ciel Gallery in North Carolina...I was accepted and then the next important steps were to package the mosaics and send them....I opted to use a company to do this for me and it was quite painless and I was fortunate to sell both mosaics so it wasn't necessary to pay for the return shipping. It was hard to let them go...........................................

Doreen's Mosaic Adventures

Well I thought I should post 'Frogs' as this was my first ever smalti mosaic and this is my first official blog. Not sure where to start but here goes. Being a mosaic artist has given me a reason to get up every morning and embrace the day ahead. I recommend everyone find something which they feel passionate about. I found my passion late in life but 'better late than never'. The moment I took the lepps into my hands and cut my first piece of shiney green glass, I was hooked. Mosaics demand much more from me than anything else and I'm happy to succumb. My only complaint is I wish I had found mosaics earlier in my life. At my age I feel a certain urgency with every mosaic I start. When you are young you think you've got all the time in the world.

I was thrilled when 'Frogs was accepted to the Ceil Gallery the first show in North Carolina along with my second mosaic 'Steps'. Pam Goode was so gracious and made my first experience better than I could ever have imagined. And I am proud to say 'Frogs' and 'Steps' sold. I was full of so many emotions...I couldn't wait to start another mosaic!