Whimsy and Color
Mosaics and Fused Glass
Creating a mosaic can be a long process. I start with a vague idea and then plan for the engineering that might be necessary. Then I start assembling everything I could want to put into the artwork. I have to find just the right pieces to make it all come together the way I envision it, so this can be a long process. I enjoy combining glass and beads because they enhance the texture and rich colors that I love so much. I am open to using a great variety of found objects, including computer parts, in my artwork. I like to repurpose items, so thrift stores are some of my favorite places to go. Occasionally, if I can´t find what I want, I make it.
Sometimes, I find an object, a piece of glass, or a certain shape that will inspire me and lead me down a totally unexpected path. Then piece by piece, I put it all together until the artwork is just right. I relax and enjoy, letting my creativity spontaneously fill in the details. My art is just as much about the process as the product.
I also create fused glass pieces. I can never have enough interesting jewelry, so jewelry is of my favorite things to fuse, especially pendants and earrings with dichroic glass. The shimmer, shine, and reflectivity of dichroic glass is wonderful! I also enjoy making fused glass elements that I include in my mosaics. Additionally, I create unique fused glass plates and garden art. I am so fascinated with everything that can be created with glass.
I belong to the Society of American Mosaic Artists, Contemporary Mosaic Artists (CMA), and am the founding member of Full Spectrum Mosaic Artists of Silicon Valley. I have been featured on the television program, "Talk Art", and in the San Jose Mercury News.
I hope that the passion and happiness I put into my pieces can be felt by those that view my work. You can contact me via email at april@aprilarts.com.
Past Exhibits
-
Silicon Valley Open Studios, 2010 - 2024
-
Palo Alto JCC, juried show “Metaphors in Color and Form”
-
Contemporary Mosaic Artists: Winner of 3-Dimensional Multi-Media Contest
-
Filoli - juried show; “Handcrafted and Through the Lens: Nature Interpreted.” (Filoli is a historic country house) Redwood City, CA.
April Maiten
I love glass. I the love the play of light as it passes through and reflects off of glass. This love has led me to the art of mosaics.
The possibilities for mosaic art are limitless. I create indoor and outdoor, functional and non-functional, works of art. My artwork is constantly evolving. When I started creating mosaics, they were predominately two dimensional and now my mosaics are known for their three dimensional qualities.