This is Sue’s first mosaic. It is made of ceramic tile and mirror, mounted on oiled walnut.
I am happy to be in touch with you again and share what I am up to these days. Life was interrupted in several ways since you heard from me last— not the least being Covid and the end of my old livelihood. Now I am a mosaic artist, and happier than I can remember for years!
After having run my own PR business for 20 years, corporate life had lost its luster for me; I had wished for several years that I could just make art and write but couldn’t let go of the false sense of financial security I got from running the business. I landed in a Montrose apartment just as Covid emerged. Then I lost my last clients. This was certainly the proverbial lemon I would turn into lemonade: my big chance to explore art as a full time occupation. I had to be at peace living with less. Covid really was the kick I needed to let go and embrace my creative life. I had done some painting with pastels, which are also posted on this site. I had been thinking and dreaming about mosaic for a few years yet never had the chance to learn how to do it. My recent exposure to birding fueled many dreams of future mosaics, so I just got down to it, invested in the tools, and began learning on my own.
Every Sunday I spend the first hour or so contemplating which direction I will go today: East to the Black Canyon for a hike, or South to Ridgway for a hike, mail pickup, and stroll through my favorite town. What made this Sunday special was that I knew there was something for me in Ridgway. No need to weigh the pros and cons – canyon solo vs Riverwalk and town, more social. I knew that today, a warm and sunny day, had something in store for me personally – in Ridgway.
I got the mail pickup out of the way first and proceeded to the Riverwalk for a brisk hike. Just before the railroad bridge I heard the birds. Looking up, I saw both crow and hawk, two birds with special meaning for me, playing together on the thermals above. They would glide together and apart, in circles, occasionally touching for a slight tussle while making their unique calls. This went on for some time, and as I walked on I felt touched. The crow is my medicine animal, and also represents my father who passed years ago. The hawk, messenger from the “other side”, often represents my son who passed away at the age of 8. His favorite person was my dad. While contemplating this I walked on briskly, taking in the glorious scenery. As I arrived opposite Dennis Weaver park I was moved to quit my intended hike and scramble down to the water’s edge. Finding a nice dry spot on the rocks I laid down in the sun with my backpack as a pillow and allowed the lullaby of moving water to put me into a blissful near-sleep.
Then I heard it! The familiar call of a kingfisher sat me straight up just in time to see the male fly directly in front of me just three feet above the water and on down the river a bit to alight on a branch. I was mesmerized. The kingfisher is the subject of my very first mosaic, and one of my favorite birds. I had spent two months observing kingfishers on the St. Vrain river in Longmont before I landed back in Montrose.
The bliss I feel while immersed in nature is what moves me to make my mosaic art. Fortunately, many people deeply appreciate the natural world. Every individual sees and feels it differently. I hope to share the beauty of nature through my unique lens.
Here I am, thoroughly enjoying the beauty of the Uncompahgre Valley and San Juan Mountains, and sharing their magnificence through my art. I hope that when you see my work you can sense the joy I feel while creating it. If you know people who are art/bird/nature lovers, please share my website with them! https://www.suerosemosaic.com.