i find that creating geometric patterns using various shapes and sizes is a soothing, and perhaps instinctual, activity. being able to cleanly cut these small pieces with a high degree of uniformity seems to satisfy my - dare i say compulsive? - need for order and "perfection." and, the sparkle of mirror tiles pairs quite nicely with the depth of the van gogh tiles, creating intricate, jewel-like designs.

one of the things that i enjoy about mosaic art is its ability to transform an object. i found this chest at a tuesday morning, marked way down. it was not the ugliest thing i had ever seen, but i immediately saw its potential for transformation. i love to use this technique for this purpose, especially recycling bottles that would otherwise be thrown away.

i was fortunate enough to have this piece selected to be included in the 2007 mosaic arts international exhibition. out of 397 submissions, by artists in 6 countries, 62 works were chosen.