I have always loved ancient art forms, especially jewelry. I entered the world of micro mosaics in 2019, after looking endlessly at antique micro mosaic jewelry from the Vatican.  While I poured over images of the lost art, it occurred to me that I didn’t know anyone doing this, and I wondered if I could learn it somewhere. I did a google search one morning while having my tea and found that it was still taught in Rome, at the Vatican, but also at a school in Ravenna, Italy, and in English. It was a short but intensive course, but I’m still learning with each piece and probably always will be. 

 I have been creating jewelry and exhibiting at art festivals for over 25 years, but micro mosaics are relatively new for me, and I’ve jumped headlong into this art form. 

I begin with glass from the oldest furnace in Murano, Italy, and combine colors to create my pallet. I melt and shape it with a torch and pull the glass into thin threads, called filati. I cut the filati into tiny pieces, or tesserae, smaller than a grain of rice, and place them into my finished setting with a slow curing handmade stucco made with marble dust and linseed oil, allowing me to take several days to finish each heirloom piece. I create the setting, the stucco adhesive, and the glass 

A little about my background:

I have a BFA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. I am originally from Minnesota, with a background in fine art, acting and film production. I worked on several feature films holding many positions, such as scenic painter, assistant editor, and casting. Some of the films were Mighty Ducks, Grumpy Old Men, and Fargo. I also studied linguistics at the University of Hawaii and worked as a Dolphin trainer and researcher. Somehow it all led to being a full time artist!