This internal frustration caused a level of despondency that would take years before I found my truly creative expression. As I grew up there were seasons of joy, satisfaction and fulfilment often found in my faith, horse riding, my community work involvement, nature and the company of family and friends. And while these moments added colour and light to the narrative, moments of depression, anxiety and insecurity depleted my soul.
Then in a formal time of therapy, I rediscovered the ‘creative child’, who had lost her way on the journey of life in a wonderful way. Art therapy was recommended and one of the options was mosaic. I tried my hand at it, and once again something stirred in my soul. I came alive!
I found a medium that used small pieces of colour, light and texture to tell a bigger story. My story. Suddenly every piece was significant, and it was important. As each piece of glass was glued to the board, I felt the energy of my creative spirit begin to rise. At first, my art was tentative, but as I saw the cut or broken pieces of glass form a beautiful image, my confidence grew. I continued doing mosaic and as the demand for my pieces and the affirmation of those around me grew, I eventually took the leap to pursue mosaic as a full-time career.
The artist child became a woman. A woman who was ‘a part ‘of a bigger creative community. A woman who found peace in finding time ’apart’ from the busyness of life to reflect nature and restore her soul. This was the birth of APart Mosaic Studio – A place set apart for exploring creativity.