Written on September 23, 2023
Somewhere along the way, I stumbled on the art form of mosaic, I can’t remember how. Since I am constantly breaking things, it was easy to collect chipped china, broken dishes, cracked tiles, and other bits of colorful, sparkly, or characterful items. I held the desire and intention to create a mosaic piece of art for years.
An image came to me, inspired by my partner, Randy, who sings, plays the guitar, and writes songs. It was of the body of a guitar, a hint of the neck, with sparkling and golden energy emerging from the sound hole. It wouldn’t go away. It depicted the way I often felt when I heard him play and sing – touched by a beautiful and expressive sound that was moving through him and his guitar. Like I could feel his soul, and the Creative Force of the Universe.
When I finally decided, “ok, I’m gonna do it!”, I went to Home Depot for materials. As I was poking around the tile section, an employee asked if I needed some help. As it turns out, she had recently begun to make mosaics also and knew exactly what I would need! The Spirit was already guiding and supporting my process!
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I hauled my supplies to my sister, Suzanne’s, whose house had a spacious patio. I wanted her, the family artist, to draw a sketch of the guitar that I could transcribe to the 18 inch by 3 foot piece of wood that was to be my canvas. My mom, who has a hard time trusting her creative abilities, even though she is a wonderful seamstress, exclaimed, “you’re really going to spend all this time doing THAT?”
There was a little voice in my head telling me the same thing, doubting that I could pull it off. Some of my parts who can easily be swayed and give up quickly, caused me some hesitation. Determined, though, as I was to try, I replied vehemently, “yes, that’s what I’m going to do!”
I wish I had a picture to show you, but that was 13 years ago now, and I don’t know where they are! The piece was cool! I was so surprised that the image reflected so accurately what my mind had imagined!
Two mosaics later, and a trip to the Philadelphia Magic Gardens (3 stories and 2 lots of completely mosaicked space – A-Ma-Zing!), I still didn’t call myself an artist. It took my trusted friend and Spiritual Director, Janet Davis, to believe in me before I could really begin to claim that aspect of my Being.
Having seen my work and heard my process, she thought I might be able to complete the project she had started but had no passion for. Would I finish tiling the terracotta birdbath with some precious pottery and china from her life and family? And could she commission me to do a piece for each of her three children, using these treasures to create with? (Oh, the colors of turquoise that she had to work with!! So divine!)
Commission?!?! That’s a request for an artist! She totally believed in me and appreciated the art form that was manifesting through me.
It was in the working on those three mosaics that I came to see myself the way Janet was seeing me. As a talented artist. I learned how detailed I could be with small pieces of tile and china, working them into a tedious spiral, a straight line, or a circle. I learned how I love to work with color, using lots of different pieces reflecting varying aspects of a particular palette. I could put together as many beautiful and interesting pieces as possible that compliment and blend with each other. I learned how much I could focus. And how fast time can pass when I get into that creative flow.
I learned that one of the reasons Janet probably didn’t enjoy her mosaic-ing like I did is that she tried to CUT her pieces to fit in tiny spots. I just broke them under a towel with a hammer. If I need a smaller piece, I pull out that hammer and smash some more!
Meet my friend, Melinda Rothouse - she is an expert in the creative process. She is an author, a teacher, a retreat leader, a coach, and also a host of the Syncreate podcast. I recently heard this episode, (#7), with her business partner and co-author, Charlotte Gullick, in which they identify their next project – Creativity and Community.
Listening, I recognized how my creativity emerged and grew within the context of my community. Randy. Suzanne. Mom. Janet. Inspiration, support, space, help, challenge, DNA, encouragement, trust, acknowledgement, appreciation. All elements of my creative process - gifts offered from people in my life who I love and who love me. Others would contribute their energy to my creativity over the next years.
In the meantime, what creative projects do you have in the works? What desire for creativity are you holding in your heart? Remember – being creative isn’t only about producing art, music, or writing – it is also about designing space, allowing unique possibilities to emerge, taking innovative approaches to relationships, business or challenges that arise. It is a part of being alive and whole! Let’s create together!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read about my creative experience and expression, and to meet the people I have and do create with! I'm excited to continue sharing what emerges!