Follow Jacki LMA: Tell us a little about your artistic background: Jacki: I have always been creative, drawing, painting and designing. I had no formal education outside of school art classes. LMA: How did you get started in mosaics? Jacki: I had read that mosaics were meditative and I was looking for something that could quiet my brain so I signed up for an adult ed class at the high school. I thought I would be making small projects like trivets or picture frames. The teacher came in with her hammer, hardie, clay, smalti and rabbit glue and taught us double reverse method! Wow…I was so lucky to have that be my introduction to mosaics. By Jacki Gran LMA: How long have you been creating mosaic? Jacki: I began mosaics18 years ago LMA: Did you start with mosaic or did you work in other mediums before working in mosaic?Jacki: I volunteered at Metro Zoo and Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation coordinating and decorating large scale fundraising events. That experience led me to eventually open my own business. I co-owned a party decoration company, creating centerpieces, props and stage sets. Jacki Gran Mosaic Family Equation By Jacki Gran LMA: What is your favorite part of the mosaic process? Jacki: I love all of it….sketching ideas, selecting materials, thinking about andamento and figuring out the challenges that come up as I lay the tesserae LMA: Do you have a favorite subject matter? What is it? Jacki: I have always drawn girls since I was a kid. I have boxes of sketches of girls waiting to come to life when I mosaic them. Marisol by Jacki Gran Imogen by Jacki Gran LMA:Do you have favorite materials you like to work with? What are they? Jacki: Mexican Smalti and Gold LMA: What is your favorite thing you have created and why? Jacki: My favorite piece so far is “Fire Within” I love the dramatic look, but more importantly that I can feel the emotion I wanting to convey. Fire Within by Jacki Gran LMA: What would you like to learn/add to your mosaics experience? Jacki: Better hammer/hardie skills LMA: What is your least favorite thing about mosaics and why? Jacki: Spending hours working then not being satisfied with the work and removing it. Cari by Jacki Gran JADIS, THE WHITE WITCH by Jacki Gran LMA: Tell us a little about your studio and attach a photo or 2 of your studio space Jacki: I have an enormous amount of smalti colors, gold colors, stained glass, vitreous, ceramics, beads, geodes, and assorted odds and ends. Basically, I’m a hoarder! LMA: Do you listen to music while creating (what type/bands)or do you prefer the TV(what shows/genera/channel)? Silence? Pod cast? Etc.? Jacki: TV…movies I’ve seen a million times so I don’t have to look at the screen by Jacki Gran LMA: If you could give readers one single piece of advice, what would it be? Jacki: Being part of the mosaic community has been the best, most rewarding growth I’ve had personally and as an artist. I joined the Society of American Mosaic Artists (SAMA) as a beginner and developed the skills, confidence and friendships I have because of of SAMA. LMA: Tell us about your single greatest mosaic moment: Jacki: Having ‘White Light’ accepted into the SAMA Mosaic Arts International at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, WA. It was unreal. (and going to Spilimbergo was a close second) White Light by Jacki Gran LMA: Who are your top 3 favorite artists or top 3 most influential artists in your work? Jacki: Modigliani since I was in 4th grade….currently Dino Maccini and Beatrice Serre LMA: What made you want to participate in the Diversity Mural?Jacki: Being able to participate in the mural, even in a small way, was an amazing opportunity to join the community in putting love over hate