2025 - Dawn Ivy Mosaic
My art celebrates the beauty of nature and the magic of second chances. Inspired by the landscapes of Idyllwild, a mountain town that fuels my creativity, I transform forgotten objects into vibrant, one-of-a-kind mosaics. Using repurposed materials like stained glass, beach glass, vintage finds, and semi-precious stones, I create pieces that tell stories and bring new life to discarded treasures. In addition to mosaics, I explore mixed media art, which is experimental and full of color, texture, and curiosity. These works often lay the foundation for future mosaic projects, and reflect my love for creative exploration. At the heart of my work is a passion for nature, renewal, and the beauty of imperfection.
Process Description: My process is a labor of love. Every project begins with an inspiration (usually a photo taken in nature), a substrate is built, frame selected, color palette chosen and then each tiny piece of tessera (a small block of stone, tile, glass, or other material used in the construction of a mosaic) is hand selected and nipped to form a pleasing shape. I begin with a rough sketch and then work intuitively to piece all the pieces together. It’s like a puzzle with infinite solutions and the design may change as I proceed. I envision using the path of the pieces (Andamento) and the grout lines to form the final design. The finished piece will be grouted, polished and sometimes painted to bring it all together.