Forest Chapel Restroom
In August 2023, I was beginning to develop a design concept for a small restroom not yet built for a park in Olympia, WA. It was to be the most…
In August 2023, I was beginning to develop a design concept for a small restroom not yet built for a park in Olympia, WA. It was to be the most…
Join me and Tami and the Mosaic Arts Online community this Sunday, August 25, at 4pm Pacific Time for a live-streamed interview offering insights into my installation process. If all…
We spent half of June and the first week of July exploring Vietnam and it was fantastic! It’s impossible to convey the beauty of this small, narrow country without experiencing…
I’ve posted about my osteoarthritis over the past couple of years on my social media platforms, but in case it didn’t reach you, here’s an update. In 2018, I began…
I’m very excited to share that I am featured in, count ’em; TWO magazines for their June/July issues! 1889 Magazine is a Washington State style magazine, and issues will soon…
Why Join JK Mosaic’s Patreon? Joining is free if you are curious and wish to be part of this online community. How to Get Involved: I’ve set up my Patreon…
I’ve been working on a new class that will cover two approaches to working with fiberglass mesh for mosaic. I’ll be teaching this in Detroit in September for the Society…
I’ve posted now and then about my Osteoarthritis woes, and it is heartwarming how much response I’ve received; well-wishes and recommendations are all very much appreciated. In many cases, the…
Last week, I sent out a newsletter with information about my Patreon account. I posted this with some trepidation because it felt murky and strange…I really didn’t expect much response…
I’ve been very overwhelmed by the tasks I need to accomplish, which include the clearing of my studio and the completion of this current commission. One thing that would be…
CMA2 refers to Contemporary Mosaic Art, an online platform that was started by Pam Givens many years ago to create a community space for mosaic artists. The reason for the…
About 25 years ago, I was working mainly in paint and collage, with some printmaking, ceramics and other mediums tossed in. I put my work on display at cafes, in…
When I first moved to Olympia, WA in 1988, it was right on the verge of becoming a vortex for the music scene. Being an introvert, I was only on…
Embarking on a journey from childhood dreams of artistic endeavors to the reality of a thriving mosaic business, my path has been as diverse as the mediums I’ve explored. Initially…
ACCESS = Artists Creating Community Engagement in the South Sound seeks support Welcome to ACCESS: Artists Creating Community Engagement in the South Sound! At ACCESS, we believe in the transformative…
Each year, beginning around Thanksgiving (which usually falls within a few days of my birthday), I begin reflecting on the year. I find it is very affirming to acknowledge everything…
This fall, I decided to add mosaic tools and supplies to my shop in order to make it easier for students of my online classes to purchase everything in one…
A couple of years ago, I created this papercut design inspired by Baltic style folk art: In 2020, we welcomed some spectacular new friends to our menagerie: So, as I…
Those who attended the #MetamorphosisOly mural dedication in October will probably remember Austin Davis, the young artist who gave a spontaneous, inspirational speech about the significance of the mural, the…
Mosaic Arts Online has been working on launching a Black Friday sale this year for the first time. All individual courses will be 15% off beginning 3pm PDT on Thursday…
I’m pleased to announce that I will be in the esteemed company of Rachel Davies, Arianna Gallo, Kelley Knickerbocker, Rachel Sager, and Anabella Wewer for a live MOA online event…
A community mosaic mural in Olympia, WA completed in 2023 In January 2023, I concocted a plan to facilitate a large-scale, exterior, public art mural incorporating mosaic butterflies from as…
For most attendees, this weekend will be just another fun Fall Arts Walk in downtown Olympia. For me, this is a significant and meaningful moment that I’ve been looking forward…
Metamorphosis Mural Dedication Saturday, October 7 at noon! Watch a 3-minute video interview by Steve Bloom of The Olympian HERE. October 3, 2023: I’ve been away to teach at conferences…
LoveOly Summerfest took place during the weekend of June 23-25 in downtown Olympia, WA. I was there with a community project that was made through participation by festival attendees over…
On July 1 and 2, the public was invited to create mosaic butterflies for the Metamorphosis community mosaic mural at the Olympia Armory. This event was one of the first…
Nearly a year ago, I was selected as one of two artists to create art for a new low-income housing complex being built by OlyCAP (Olympic Community Action Programs) in…
Are you part of a group of mosaic artists or another organization that would like to create a participatory mosaic project together, but you aren’t sure how to fabricate and…
I was all set to teach at the Glass Craft and Bead Expo in 2020 for the first time, but, well, things didn’t go as planned. I learned to use…
My newest course involves an exploration of methods of directing the flow and energy of your stained glass mosaic. My approach to stained glass is a blending of ancient traditional…
It’s the middle of February already and I wanted to post a project update. The year started off with the launch of a new, exciting project with a big community-engagement…
After more than three years of only teaching mosaic virtually, I have agreed to teach at the Glass Craft & Bead Expo in Las Vegas this spring. For years, I’ve…
Here’s a quick run-down of my work in 2022. The year started out so busy, it hurt – literally. My winter project had a steep deadline that forced me to…
Cascadia Mosaic Collective is a group of mosaic artists in Oregon and Washington who met through conferences and events over many years, united by our shared interest in mosaic, as…
In October, I flew to Santa Barbara to film new courses for Mosaic Arts Online. Tami and Jerry have been working to edit everything together and it is finally ready…
I’m very excited to finally have some in-person classes on my schedule! I was lined up to teach at the Glass Craft and Bead Expo in Las Vegas for the…
I’ve been planning to hold an open studio event for many years, but I never feel like my space is ready for a public event, so I’ve kept putting it…
I grew up in Michigan, but visited Olympia, WA on a road trip as a teen because my aunt Safiya lives there. I fell in love with the Pacific NW…
On Monday, August 15, members of the Edmonds community gathered on the corner of 6th and Bell streets near the heart of downtown to celebrate a new sculptural mosaic project…
I have a few dates on my calendar for public events that I’d like to share with anyone interested in attending: Monday, September 12: This isn’t really a public event…
I will be driving to Bainbridge tomorrow to de-install my mosaic, Fertility, which has been on display for the past year in a prominent location downtown as part of their…
Over the past 9 months, I’ve been working with the Edmonds Floretum Garden Club to develop a design, have it approved by multiple committees, and finally to fabricate this set…
Art is a doorway.We step through these portals we create in order to share our histories, investigate the present and our presence, and imagine a multitude of possible—and impossible—futures. They…
I am so honored and excited that Fertility is the People’s Choice winner in the Something New IV outdoor sculpture exhibit on Bainbridge Island! Voting took place online and I…
The Bird of Zhar is a Ukrainian folktale involving a bird with magical fire-feathers that give the protagonist the ability to accomplish impossible tasks. I created this design as an…
This group show will be on display in May and June 2022 with a reception on May 14, 5-7pm. The Washington Center for Performing Arts is at 512 Washington St.…
It has been so devastating to witness the tragic events of this past month as Ukraine has become the target of such horrific attacks. I’m sure you all feel as…
On March 15, I completed work on the mosaic I’ve been working on steadily for the past 3.5 months. This commission is located on the 3rd floor of a corporate…
On February 22 at 7:00pm Eastern / 4:00pm Pacific time, I’ll be giving an online presentation about my experience facilitating community mosaic projects through CMA2. Ceramic and Mosaic Art 2…
Last summer, I installed my sculpture “Fertility” in Bainbridge as part of their “Something New IV” outdoor sculpture exhibition. The piece will remain on display until June 2022, and is…
Thanks Delphi Glass for featuring my work in the 2022 Spring Catalog!
Wow, for me personally, 2021 was a year of milestones, meaningful experiences, and fulfilling work. Here are the highlights: January 2021: I was working on my studio foyer, which had…
If you have been waiting for an incentive to enroll in a course on Mosaic Arts Online, now is a great time to take the plunge! The Holiday Cyber Sale…
I feel like I’m in a moment and I want to share with you all of the amazing things that are lining up. I’m sitting down to write this the…
As my commission schedule has become consistently jam-packed, you may have noticed I’m offering fewer in-person mosaic workshops. For everyone who has been waiting and wondering when the next class…
I started work on this mosaic mural for a private home in late July, 2021. The client had a cinderblock wall on one side of the courtyard of a home…
This summer, I filmed a new course at the Mosaic Arts Online HQ in Santa Barbara. This online class is a more thorough version of my in-person garden ornament workshops,…
I want to share installation progress on a commission I’ve been busy working on since mid-July. There’s still a small section left to fabricate, but I felt compelled to take…
October 1st – 31st, 2021, I”m showing non-mosaic work as part of a 4-person group exhibit at 222 Market in Downtown Olympia. The space is a lobby area, so it’s…
The Society of American Mosaic Artists (SAMA) is hosting a Fall 2021 Virtual Artist Gathering the weekend of Sept. 25/26. There will be artist talks and workshops, including my class…
Opening Friday, Sept. 3rd, 2021: September is an exhibition marking the seasonal shift from Summer to Autumn. The grouping includes a variety of work interpreting many interpretations of the PNW during…
On Friday, August 6th, there will be a celebration of the Something New IV exhibition in downtown Bainbridge. My sculpture has a space between the egg and the plinth that…
The most recent issue of 425 Magazine, a lifestyle magazine for the Eastern area of Seattle, features an article about the location of my most recent mosaic installation, “Rivulations.” You…
I’m honored to announce that I was invited to participate in an international showcase of mosaic art for CMA2 (Ceramic and Mosaic Art). Our reception will be a zoom panel…
I’ve been away from the studio and home for about a month, and I’m just getting back into the swing of things. For those who didn’t catch it, we took…
Back in December, I announced that I had been selected to receive a grant from the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. Sixty regional artists were chosen to create new work…
I’m off to an exciting week so far, so I wanted to share my good news. First, I learned yesterday that my “Fertility” sculpture will be part of the Bainbridge…
This mosaic inlay is located on the back patio of a private home in western Washington State, overlooking the Puget Sound. To me, the artwork is part of the landscape:…
This week I had the pleasure of installing a fireplace surround in an 8th floor condo overlooking Tacoma. I had fabricated the mosaic in my studio ahead of time and…
It started with my decision to create recorded instructional videos, in part because I’m finding it very difficult to make time for teaching, whether on zoom or in-person, and partly…
My daughter began expressing her creativity before she could speak, and it has been so fun watch her grow over the past 18 years. She makes a lot of different…
I hadn’t worked in glass-on-glass in a while, mainly because I’ve been busy with other types of projects. But I really love the effect of glass-on-glass. Many people mistake this…
Friends, I have a draft of a New Year post that I never published because, as I was working on it the Georgia elections were taking place, quickly followed by…
Back in 2019, I had the opportunity to participate in a Home & Garden Expo in Portland. My main goal was to connect with designers, builders and home owners, but…
If you follow my social media, you will have seen progress pics of a large commission I’ve been working on since September. This is for a private client and will…
Update: The mosaic is finished and featured in a newer post. I’m so honored and humbled to be one of 20 artists selected to create new work for an exhibition…
In 2016, my small family had the privilege of traveling to the mountains of Michoacan, MX to visit the site of the Monarch migration. We rode horseback up ruddy trails…
On October 17, 2020, we celebrated the completed mural in Westport, WA! To recap: This project launched in December 2019 during the Santa by the Sea event, with visitors to…
Join moderator JENNA D’ANNA, PtSA Program Manager, with LYNN ADAMO, TODD CAMPBELL, RICHARD DAVIS, KELLEY KNICKERBOCKER, and JENNIFER KUHNS, for a lively discussion of the joys and challenges of creative…
In August 2020, I masked up and flew from Seattle to Santa Barbara to film an online version of my Professional Mosaic Installations workshop. This course was carefully planned and…
On Saturday, September 26 (2020), Tami Macala of Mosaic Arts Online hosted me in a live streamed interview to launch our newest course, Professional Mosaic Installations. In the interview, I…
Print-on-demand sites offer a range of items that you can purchase featuring my original artwork, including mosaic and other designs. Some of these sites even print images onto canvas, wood…
A few years ago, I met with a small business advisor, and he immediately pointed out that I did not include myself in any of my marketing materials. In fact,…
Last fall, Carrie Ziegler and I had a brainstorming session to discuss submitting to public art opportunities as a team. The challenge is that juries and committees are reluctant to…
I started planning this mosaic at least a year ago when immigration was still making headlines. I began work on the mosaic itself in early June, and just completed it…
Throughout this spring and summer, I’ve managed to create a few projects for my own home and garden. I’ve wanted to add another Hex Sign to the house for a…
UPDATE: This mosaic now belongs to Tamika Palmer, Breonna’s mom. I hope it brings her some small solace. As the mother of a daughter, I cannot imagine the pain of…
In 2020, I installed seven basalt boulders, inlaid with glass mosaic, onto three locations along a new walking-biking path in Tigard, OR. Watch a video about the project here: https://youtu.be/AQmyaWB4b3Q…
In the face of so much negative news and incredible uncertainty in the world, I’ve been coping by making colorful, fun mosaic projects for the garden. With each of these,…
If you are looking for supplies to make your own mosaic at home, or you are taking one of my workshops and want to supplement the supply kit, here is…
In December of 2019, a new mural for the coastal community of Westport, Washington was launched. During Santa by the Sea, Stitches Quilt and Craft shop hosted the first participatory…
*I could not be more proud to be the recipient of a CID award from Coverings 2021 in Orlando for this project!! I was in Mexico when the awards were…
Embrace your materials. When the mosaic bug bites, you often start with a particular material because you took a class or had access to a source for tile, glass, porcelain,…
If you read my first two blog posts on this subject, you will hopefully be thinking about ways to practice “looking,” and identifying and collecting the things you are most…
In my first blog on this topic, I wrote about learning to look at things more deliberately as a first step in developing artistic skill. Over the past few days,…
I’ve had numerous requests for a workshop about designing for mosaic. Often, students in my classes mention that they hope to get some insight about how to work in my…
See my last post showing how the mosaic designs were created with kids in an after-school program at Auburn’s Teen Center. Now all three of the bench tops have been…
Last week, I finished the 3′ x 5′ center section of the Westport mural, then took it out into the sun to snap a photo. About half of the 12″…
Oh my goodness, you guys! I just happened on this old post, which I forgot I wrote in 2020. Since then, there has been a growing question around this topic,…
On February 25, I headed to Auburn, WA to lead a mosaic project with kids in the after school program at the Parks and Rec Department. What a great program!…
The community mural project in Westport, WA is slowly developing. Through feedback from local businesses and sponsors, the design keeps changing a little bit at a time and a couple…
On December 7th, we held our first hands-on activity to get the community mural started. Visitors at Stitches made 3″ squares that will be the border for the center panel…
Santa by the Sea is a holiday festival at the Westport Marina on the Washington coast. I’ll be at Stitches: 2601 Westhaven Dr. leading a mosaic project where we’ll make…
Back in 2002, I was working at The Evergreen State College half time, making arts and crafts as a hobby the other half. I had been selling my work here…
Well, the mosaic panels are all installed, anyway. I will need to caulk where the grout meets wood trim and paint the wood sections when weather permits this spring, but…
I dedicated the month of September to a big change; moving out of my lovely little garden studio, which I handed over to my 16-year-old as her new bedroom, and…
On Friday evening of the recent Olympia Fall Arts Walk, visitors to Arbutus Folk School were welcomed to engage in several participatory arts/crafts activities. I had prepared a small-scale project…
As you may know, engaging community through mosaic has been an important component of my work. Through the Society of American Mosaic Artists, I’ve met many colleagues who are offering…
During summer of 2019, Arbutus Folk School and I facilitated a participatory mosaic project at the new Plum Street Village, a small complex of tiny homes in Olympia. Participants included…
Just completed: a 12″ x 14″ mosaic portrait of Alice Paul. She was imprisoned and force-fed as a suffragist activist, and she co-authored the Equal Rights Amendment, and re-wrote it…
The 2019 Society of American Mosaic conference was held in Nashville this year at the end of April, and I taught two day-long versions of my Precision Cutting Stained Glass…
I am often asked how I come up with my stylized designs. Honestly, there’s nothing original about this work! I have a passion for folk art and traditional crafts, and…
The other night, I received a message from a friend in India passing on a screen shot from someone in Olympia with a section of the Best of Olympia list…
In November 2018, I created and installed this fireplace surround in a home with a subtle color palette. The client had a lot of off-cuts from their pale grey ceramic…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] The dedication for the Diversity Mural in Orlando took place on Sept. 21, 2018. There is a second version of the Diversity Mural in progress for Orlando, FL. For…
My newest mosaic was a very difficult project for me in many ways. When my sister-in-law passed away suddenly, earlier this year, I was attending a mosaic conference with the…
Af year-long project for the City of Bellingham, located along Maplewood Ave. in the Birchwood neighborhood.
On May 21, I had the pleasure of attending the opening ceremonies for Mud Bay’s annual “MudStock” event, which is a day that all 45 of their branches throughout the…
Diversity Mural dedication at Choice High School on June 14, 2018 The Diversity Mural at Choice High School in Shelton, WA was dedicated in June 2018, though it wasn’t quite…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] In 2012, I approached Choice High School hoping to work with students to create a large mural on a blank exterior wall on the school, located in downtown Shelton,…
I’m very excited that one of my papercut designs has been fabricated as a metal banner for the South Capital Neighborhood in Olympia, WA. The banner is now mounted right…
After the shooting at Pulse Nightclub, I had this idea to create a mural made of hearts that form a rainbow – with the hearts being made by anyone wanting…
I installed this mosaic panel on May 31, 2017 at the South Kitsap Skatepark in Port Orchard. I love this project because it is in a public space used by people from all walks of life, yet it is deeply personal.
2018 Schedule 3/3: Opening of Chiaroscuro; Creating Shadows in Mosaic at Wallow Gallery, Carlton, OR. The exhibit will be on display through May. 4/27-28: Olympia Arts Walk: Wycinanki-style papercut designs…
This 15.9 x 5.6 foot mosaic was installed in Walnut Creek, CA in November 2015. It is made of stained glass, and was fabricated from a design provided by the…
Choice Mosaic Program , a weekly drop-in class at Choice High School in Shelton, WA. This began as an outreach program for homeless teens and my position was funded by a grant from the McKinney-Vento Act. The program has been very successful, so the school has found funding to continue for yet another year, and we are no longer under pressure to serve only homeless youth.
I have created commissioned fine art panels, public art, and installations for homes and businesses since 2001. Some clients requested a custom backsplash or fireplace surround for a private home,…
I have mosaic pendants available at Off the Walls Gallery in Shelton, WA and at Hot Toddy in Downtown Olympia, WA. My work moves around to various exhibits and galleries.…