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Featured Artist Stephanie Gentry |
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Stephanie Gentry attributes her passion for mosaics to the work of Antonio Gaudi. |
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It was about 12 years ago, after being inspired by some photos of Gaudi's sculptural chimney mosaics, that she decided to give it a try. She gathered some ceramic plates and tiles, and the most basic tools, not even those designed for making mosaics, and began cracking away.
Immediately, she was hooked! |
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"A few years later, while enrolled in a stained glass class at Rogue Community College,
I was referred to LightGarden Glass Art for needed supplies. That's where I met Jessy, was introduced to the art of fused glass, and had rekindled an interest in lampwork glass bead making. The tools I discovered there for cutting and shaping glass, and ceramic, would help me to create more sophisticated mosaics. From there I started also creating mosaics with stained glass, and incorporating bits of fused glass, and cast-off or broken lampwork beads." |
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| "I just love how almost anything can be incorporated into a mosaic, and how the varying materials add so much interest and dimension to the art. With so many tools and materials, the possibilities are endless!" |
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Stephanie advises to start small until you get a feel for it, but jump right in.
"With a cutting tool, adhesive, grout, scrap glass (or ceramic), and good "how to" instructions you can get started for an approximately $50-$100. You can mosaic just about any firm surface." |
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"Better yet, ditch the hassle of searching for tools, supplies and instruction, and sign up for a class. The expert advice is invaluable, and everything you need is available for you in one place. Keep going with it and experiment.
One word of caution, though: It can be addictive!" |
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Stephanie's home life must certainly help cultivate her artistic tendencies.
"We are an outdoorsy bunch, the three of us. My beloved, Tommy, our German Chocolate dog (my name for his mix of Chocolate Lab and German Shorthair Pointer), Aubee, and I love to hike, and camp, and relax at the river. But, there hasn't been much of that lately since our precious pup has become uncomfortably geriatric. Fortunately, we are able to enjoy a bit of all that at home. We get in some of hiking while maintaining the yard and gardens at our charming, old hillside home. We are able to "camp out" on the porch and enjoy the view with various wildlife frequenting the grounds." |
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"And now, as we sit in the lower yard near the irrigation canal and observe our newest attraction, the honey bees in their hives, it's almost like sitting at a river's edge - 'cept, our bees are much more enjoyable than those pesky yellow jackets at the river. We call it 'our little bird and bee haven on the hill'.
The birds that have made this their home have been great inspiration for my mosaic works - no doubt there'll be some bee mosaics in the future too!" |
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LightGarden Glass Art 1086 Washburn Lane Medford, Oregon 97501 1-541-779-0272 jessy@lightgarden.net |
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