I have always been fond of art. From paintings and sketches to music and poetry, I adore all forms of artistic expression. However, I will never forget my first and favorite art-related memory. It had an indelible impact on me as a person and as an artist.

 

I was an inquisitive five-year-old who was so excited to meet her adopted great-grandmother. Her husband of 50 years had just passed away, and so my father decided it was time for us to finally meet her. I was excited because any time we left the house became an adventure to my overactive imagination. My mother, father, and I piled into our gold Chevelle and drove for what seemed like hours. Finally, we arrived, and stepping inside great-grandmother's home, I was immediately greeted by the heavenly aroma of the meal she had spent hours preparing for us. Plates were heaped to the ceiling with Italian sausages, handmade meatballs, and the best spaghetti I would ever have. We ate, and ate, and ate some more, until we could hardly breathe.

 

After our incredible feast, we took a tour of the home she had shared with her husband for so many years. It was a tiny home, but one that was filled with many memories. I listened raptly to her favorite stories and enjoyed every moment.

 

At last, we arrived at her bedroom where I was instantly awe-struck. There on the wall was the most amazing thing I had ever seen: an enormous mosaic. It spanned the bedroom, washing the walls in miniature tiles of blue and cream. I stood staring at it, and still to this day, remember how badly I wanted to touch it and make a mosaic myself. It was the first time I had ever come in contact with a piece of art, and it would remain one of the most impactful moments I have experienced in my life.

 

It is out of this memory that I developed a fascination with mosaics. I love incorporating a modern mosaic feel to my patterns, designs, and paintings. For me there is nothing more exciting than creating art that recasts reality into shapes and colors that are fun, bold, funky, and reminiscent of the mosaic that left such a strong impression on me.