A Collector by nature, the discovery of the Pique Assiette style of mosaics was a perfect fit for my creative expression. (Pique Assiette loosely translates as “to steal from plates”)
Accumulating stacks of old dishes to use as a palette comes easily for me. Hunting for materials, scouring the Thrift stores for that perfect cup, plate or dish to be broken and re-purposed, flowers become eyes for fish or leaves turn into scales or fins.
Exclusivly using broken crockery, hours can be spent in one area,to find just the right blend of texture, shape and colour.
Often other’s cast-offs and broken china end up on my door step-the timing of these offerings add significance to a particular piece.
The versatility of this medium is adaptable to most surfaces- my first large scale project was a Kitchen backsplash done entirely in beer stiens. Other works include a variety of themes from the “Fishes from Dishes” series to marine wall murals, florals and portraits are part of my on going exploration.
"E330" Food Colouring $4,400.00 CAD
 "Candlelite" In Bread Delight $4,400.00 CAD I’m from a small place called Berson near Bordeaux in west south France. My childhood was infused with the culture of a traditional French village, gossip and old stones, accordion “flonflon” and Strauss waltzes without forgetting August carnival.
My parents ran a small trade business and when I was 5 they also took over my grandfather’s vineyard. So, all together, from farming to trading, I developed the skills of perseverance, resourcefulness, quality craftmanship, and communication. At age 9 a woman painter client of my father gave me the most beautiful book I had ever seen, an illustrated Chinese story-book. I think it was the main inspiration of my childhood, an encouragement to believe in the power of expressing my heart.
A classical French education in boarding school introduced me to rebellion, rock’n roll, cinema and classical dance. In 1982 I found myself in the “big” city of Bordeaux. I started to go to the mime school of Philippe Bizot. For the next 5 years I worked with different theater companies and I took jazz and African dance classes. There I also opened up to Arabic culture and all together to a multicultural life. I added travel to my insatiable curiosity to meet more and more people. In 1987 I was working in Switzerland, saving to go live in the Caribbean for a while. With a last minute turn of thought, after meeting some Quebecquois, I bought a ticket for Montréal. When I arrived in December, I questioned my sanity. But I know now, it was meant to be. In retrospect, I feel that moving to Canada has been one of the best thing that has happened to me. From there I kept travelling back and forth to France via Caribbean. After a first trip in 1988 in the Okanagan, I swore that I would come back to western Canada. In 1990, I did and a new part of my life started.
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For a couple of years I traveled more still between the Gulf islands and the Yukon. In 1992 I stopped in Nanaimo and I went to Malaspina College. I took some courses in their fine art program with Ian Garriock and Iris Church, I also attended an E.S.L program to improve my English. From then on I kept taking courses with different artists, including, Tony Onley in watercolour, Heather Spears in life drawing, Carole Ray in lino cut, and ceramic with Ian Nattras and Deb Taylor. I also kept going to life drawing classes which is my favorite way of learning.
Delphine, my baby girl, was born in 1995. From 1996 to 97 I participated in many group exhibitions on the island. In 1998, I had a solo show called “peephole” at the Parksville Art Council. At that time I also decided to give a try at craft, mostly to justify my craving for doing art. So for the next 5 or 6 years I tried to sell art in craft shows and markets. The good thing about this it is that I met with many good people. Finally, in 2003, I won the first prize award at the Sooke Fine Art Show and, around this time, I also became very ill and my family fell apart. These combined events made me determined to pursue my dream.
Today the focus of my art work is in ceramic, but I also work in acrylic paint, ink, collage, etc. My approach to everything I create artistically is through dance: when I draw I dance with line; when I paint I dance in colour; and when I work the clay, I dance with its mass. Movement fascinates me because it becomes an expression. And I plan to keep on dancing.
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My mosaic art can inspire, expand perspectives, or perhaps remind us of our spirit and truth we already know. By creating art subjects rich with feeling, memories, humor, and meaningful messages along with combining and weaving layer upon layer under and above the glass results in a powerful medium full of clarity and depth. I whole-heartedly believe we all have a purpose on this earth, something of value and significance we can share with others. We are led through our life time by our inner learning creature, the playful spiritual being that is our real self. I want to share a part of myself and my ability and give back to the world; one art piece at a time…
. This award-winning artwork reflects and highlights the beauty in the world around us, and has been featured throughout Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, Canada; and the United States of America.
