Mosaic Artist Patricia A. Terpstra

Owned and operated "All Decked Out" a wearable art business for five years. Creating hand painted T-Shirts,sweatshirts, hats and a variety of items. Currently own & operate "Mosaic Expressions" specialzing in Mosaic items such as garden stone, framed mirrors, candle holders, gazing globes etc. I also offer classes in the art of Mosaics at Artworks in Big RapidsMy inspiration stems from the five elments, Earth, Water Wood, Metal & Fire. Within these I find my vision for my work. Because they are always evolving, my work tends to do the same. My style tends to lean towards Modernism, with a dash of Oriental influence, Impressionism, Art Nouvous and Art Deco eras. I study the shape and form of my object and then I shut my eyes and let my imagination explore the design, placement and colors. I think of Paul Gauguin's quote often when I start a project, "I shut my eyes in order to see".