I contacted Charlen and she has been generous enough to share her techniques. I love her Etsy store and wanted to show you all what a talented lady she is. It would appear that besides mosaics, abstract art is also one of her loves and she's doing fabulously at that as well!
Here is her very inspirational story ...
I have been doing mosaic for many years, but not so much these days, although I still do love it. I am a full time Registered Nurse by trade, but found myself needing a hobby for some stress relief.
I love stained glass, tile, and vintage china. I self taught myself the art of mosaics, different mediums, lots of trial and error. I covered EVERYTHING with mosaic! Garden shovels, PVC pipes, old drawers, furniture of every shape and size, picture frames, vases.....nothing was off limits! I became a bit of a hoarder with vintage china...like I never had enough. Scoured antique stores and flea markets until I had stacks and stacks. I also love to work with stained glass, all the colors and textures, I could make some great combinations with my mirrors.
That actually changed though when I had knee surgery and was on crutches and had a prolonged and difficult recovery. I couldn't get around. I decided to try painting acrylic on canvas, much lighter work. The heavy lifting of the mirror bases and physical work of the mosaics was too much. I actually do both now, although I've stuck with mostly painting.
I do love mosaics, and have great admiration of other artists work, it will always be my first art love, and do find myself occasionally going back and doing a few pieces here and there along with some custom orders from regular customers which I appreciate very much.
Charlen has also had her mosaic tables published in the November 2004 issue of Country Comfort Magazine, a mosaic flamingo published in the December 2004 issue of Garden Decor Magazine, a supplement to Home Accents Today, and was the featured artist in the February/March 2005 issue of Garden Decor Magazine. As well as that, she had a mosaic cast iron birdbath featured in the September 2005 issue of Country Victorian Magazine, a mosaic vintage child's sand shovel published in the 2006 March/April issue of Backyard Living and mosaic pieces in the January 2007 issue of Country Decorating Ideas ... fantastic !!!
Find all Charlen's mosaic work for sale here
Find all Charlen's paintings here
~ inspirational women ~
