We at Austin-Artists.com are now offering artists the opportunity to provide a guest blog post, along with photos/video of their work. Stefanie Distefano is our first!  She does some great work and also teaches.  Be sure to visit her website, www.flamingoranch.com, too.

There is nothing more fun than being knee deep in a mosaic project. Currently, I’m installing one at D&B Auto on Live Oak and S. First street.  The piece that I’m working on is a Dia de Los Muertos joy ride ~ SWEEEET! It’s coming together nicely…let the good times roll.

Suvi’s Walk was designed as “world music for mosaics”.

Her friends, who really are from everywhere, came to my studio and made the flowers that created the tile garden leading up to her sweet bungalow.

It’s a brilliant piece representing all her girlfriends as well as Suvi’s amazing spirit.

My favorite piece at this very moment is the fish bridge. it’s simple and powerful. One thing I know to be true of my work is that there is so much meaning in every piece and whether or not you know about it or even notice the words or details, you can feel it.

Another of my favorites is the huge floor piece on my porch. These are all recycled floor tiles glazed and fired in the kiln. My friend Maime and I drew her the day Farrah Fawcett died, so her name is Farrah. She’s probably 15 ft long and her wings stretch 10 feet out. There are flowers all around her. She’s pretty awesome…

What makes my mosaics special:

The collaborative effort that goes into each one. So many fingerprints in the project give them something we can all relate to. You sense the spirit of many hands. The fact that there are handcrafted tiles in there — perfect little amazing pieces of art within the larger piece.

Recycled tiles — I use floor tiles, bathroom tiles, anything I can get my hands on. This adds it’s own element for completing the circle.

Pieces of mirror! Reflections of yourself; your own interpretation. You become a part of this art …. not to mention the disco effect dazzling us in the sun.

You can see more of Stefanie’s work at her website.