As a native of the area who, myself, was invited to attend an arts & science magnet high school, I was happy to know that the concept is spreading to elementary schools.

Click on the article, at left, to read in a pop-up window.

Have you ever wondered how art intimately reflects the artist's life?

Find out by joining me for an inspiring evening.

Registration is now open for my Friday, September 24 Seeing the Light talk and slide presentation to be held at Maverick Mosaics Art School & Studio in Vienna, Virginia (right outside Washington, DC).

I will share the sometimes painful stories behind many of my pivotal artworks, and I will explain how the evolution of my work paralleled my personal and spiritual development. My story begins with my work as a fashion and textile designer in the 80s and 90s and continues through to my current body of glass and fresco cement art works.

By the end of the evening you will see art in a whole new light. The evening will begin with a 1-hour slide presentation followed by light refreshments and an informal Meet & Greet.

A limited number of books will also be available for signing. To ensure your own copies, order from Blurb.com at least 2 weeks in advance of the event and bring them along with you.

The dates for my workshop are September 25-26.

So put 17-19 September 2010 on your calendar!

Maverick is the teaching studio of Bonnie Fitzgerald, who currently sits on the board of the Society of American Mosaic Artists (SAMA). Bonnie is, herself, an accomplished artist, with many public projects to her name.

The school is located in Vienna, Virginia, which is just a hop, skip, and a jump outside Washington, DC. Having grown up nearby, I can tell you that it's a great area and is easily accessible for locals and out-of-towners alike. Hop on the Metro, fly in via one of the three airports (Dulles, National, or BWI), or take Amtrak into beautiful Union Station.

The lecture and meet & greet will be held on Friday night with the workshop to follow on Saturday & Sunday.

I'll announce further details in the coming days.

And I extend my congratulations to all artists whose work was included!

31 January 2010 - At long last, my greatly anticipated book, BREAKOUT! Your Pathway to Success, is finally finished and available!

I wanted my last book showcasing mosaic to be a great one, and I feel I achieved what I set out to do: create a gorgeous book full of inspiration, valuable information, and images of beautiful artworks. It's a book that belongs displayed on your coffee table, not hidden away on a book shelf.

In my mind, Chapter 9 is the most important chapter because it includes an important case study illustrating the teachings in the book: the story of artist Lin Schorr and the four collaborative murals. But waiting until all four murals was done meant delaying the release until now.

The printed book will be released on 10 February here.

But if you can't wait, the eBook is available NOW for just $9.99 here.

July 2009 New England Home

Not only is Mo one of my dear friends and a lovely woman, she is one of the pioneers of tempered glass mosaic. Her work is powerful and bold. And big. Something you might not expect from someone so petite. And because I dedicated an entire chapter to her work in my book Mosaic: Finding Your Own Voice, I felt qualified to write a full-length article about her.

(Special thanks to Nancie Mills Pipgras at Mosaic Art Now for putting together the PDF; click on image at left). The issue is out now.

I had a good chuckle because Nancie titled the post How NOT to be a starving artist, by Brit Hammer. That pretty much sums up the premise of the next book! You can read the post here and read their other entries here.

"Mosaic Art Now promotes the international understanding and appreciation of contemporary mosaics through quality publications and a lively online presence. [They] deliver provocative and inspirational content for artists, curators, architects, designers, collectors and educators." 

Their 2009 issue features some of the best international contemporary art. And I'm not just saying that because my work is in it! Bill and Nancie are really nice people who happen to love the medium, so it's worth supporting their efforts to promote the artform.

Mosaic Art Now is definitely worth checking out, and you can get your copy here.

If you're looking for some of the world's best mosaic fine art, you don't want to miss this show!

Cutting Edges: Contemporary Mosaic Art
(A Juried and Invitational Exhibit & Sale)
26-28 June 2009
Lakewood Center for the Arts
Lake Oswego, Oregon (USA)

"Cutting Edges: Contemporary Mosaic Art will be the largest mosaic fine art exhibit ever offered in the United States. This special cornerstone exhibit of the 2009 Festival of Arts will shatter your perceptions of mosaics. Modern mosaic art encompasses a vast range of exciting techniques, materials and styles. The world-renowned artists chosen for this show have transformed this ancient art with contemporary designs while embracing traditional methods. Invited artists will display works incorporating stone, metal, precious jewels, glass, recycled and found items with vibrant results."

"Featured Artists: The exhibit will feature the works of leading regional, national, and international mosaic artists such as: Yulia Hanansen, Kim Schonfeld, Jo Braun, Kim Emerson, Laurel Skye, Julie Richey, Lynne Chinn, Sophie Druin, Sonia King, Brit Hammer, Verdanio Marzi, Ora Avni, Marian Shapiro, Luci Lytle, Stephanie Jurs, Robert Stout, Terry Nicholls and Gary Drostle."

Find details about the show here.

Scroll over "notes" to get the name of the artist who created each piece.

Entries are now being accepted from international artists working in any media whose work is informed by mosaic and mosaic techniques. Please see the entry form for details here. The deadline for entries is 9 September 2009.