Loro
2025
6″ x 6″
stained glass, crystals, millefiori, glass beads, ceramic, filati, black Apoxie Sculpt, acrylics
$650
The materials I used to recreate the parrot mosaic are all leftovers supplies from other mosaic projects. The materials are still valuable to me and after looking at the “debris”, I knew a parrot was in there somewhere. The purpose of my mosaic work is to bring emotion, to build my personal recreation of the parrot in a way I feel is representative of my joy and experiment with using what is available and even open up to a different style. As a painter, I use an underpainting to give me the idea of how I’d like to use mosaic materials. As a mosaicist, I use only what is gathered. To me, parrots represent intelligence, and adaptability. They mimic human speech like no other – similar to a miracle! They learn, they solve problems and ultimately, they have the most vibrant plumage that makes me ecstatic to my core and even feel dizzy. I can diagnose myself with Stendhal Syndrome whenever I see this bird on paper, in a painting, in my mosaic making or if I’m lucky – in person.
Carol Shelkin