I am a mosaic artist living in the Washington, DC area.  Art has been a powerful part of my life since childhood but it is only recently that I have embraced it as my primary vocation.  I feel fortunate to be able to spend time learning and creating in many media, but mosaics are my true passion.  I discovered mosaic art twenty years ago and have continued to find new and different ways to build on basic techniques.  The possibilities for the use of color, materials, and texture are endless.  For example, the rich and colorful palette of mosaics is enhanced by the luminous shading of stained glass, the vibrancy of Italian smalti, the softness of vitreous tiles, or the lustrous glazes of clay and ceramics.  Mosaics also provide the physical elements of texture, density, and surface variation.  In my work, I see to incorporate a range of materials, such as stone, metal, fossils, shells, costume jewelry or polymer clay, providing greater tactile and visual experiences.  I like to experiment with different materials and "mix it up" by employing classical techniques in modern designs.  And sometimes the magic of grout is what is needed to pull together disparate elements in a unified whole.