Finding inspiration

Ever been asked what might have inspired you to engage in mosaic arts? Me too. 

I’ve always been an artist - worked mostly in pen & ink, marker, then digital art, and a few sad stabs at water color, and oils. Never even gave a thought to mosaics. Dogs, animals, and nature have always been my muse. We’ve had pups all of our lives and as anyone knows, it’s “I can’t even explain how bad it hurts” when you lose them. 

Five years ago, we lost our 2 labs to old age and a call back to Heaven.  They were 13 years old.  Hoonah & Nitro - a yellow and a black; both great pups we loved to pieces. We’ve always had labradors, and I thought that, well, I’ve always wanted a GSD, so let’s look into it. So I set out to find us a German Shepherd puppy. To research I turned. We’d need to know about temperament, breed characteristics, etc. 

Well, that’s when I came across the Monks of New Skete. A Monastery in upstate New York (Cambridge) that has been breeding, raising, training and writing about German Shepherd’s for the past 60 some years. A small group of Monks & Nuns that have woven their lives around their faith and their dogs.

What else is there about this Monastery & German Shepherd puppies anyways?

I present to you, Br. Stavros.
  

…and that is New Skete. 

I could hardly wait. I went to their website and filled out all of the paperwork. I knew I would be at the back of the line (there is a waiting list), but that would be ok. I sent in the application. And waited. Then one day I opened my email; and went crazy.  We were asked to come to the Monastery and pick up our German Shepherd puppy.  

Enter: Inspiration.  I need to create something for this most amazing group of Monks and Nuns. I want to give them a gift for making us feel so happy! We get a puppy!!!!

St. Francis. Maybe the monastery would like some art; but what medium? A drawing…no not enough — painting? No…..no digital….What? How about a mosaic? Um…I don’t know how…even though it would be so perfect if I could…but, nah….I don’t know how.  But I want so much to do something!
OK…mosaic it is. I can’t let my inspiration leave…… I’ll try …but if it doesn’t come out …I just won’t send it.   

Off to Seattle Mosaic Arts. I learned how to mosaic. I made for the Monks, St. Francis & the Wolf of Gubbio. It now hangs in their Monastery. I was so inspired, first by the Monks and then by mosaics. In fact, for the past 5 years, I’ve moved all of my ‘art energy’ into the art of mosaics. 

Inspiration is everywhere. Find yours.