The year, 1996. Artist, Artisan, Designer, Illustrator, Painter, Printmaker, sometimes even a sculptor. My mind darts from one project to another, one medium to another like surfing through the channels on your television set. Taking every studio class my college has to offer, I search for my calling. There has to be one medium, one genre, one style that I want to devote my entire life to, immerse myself in. Live the tormented life of an abstract oil painter in a loft in the city, travel far and wide and paint gorgeous landscapes in watercolor, illustrate colorful children's books....the list went on and on

That was ten years ago. Although I have since narrowed down my fields of interest, I continue to move from one medium to another. I have, however, learned to do it much more gracefully. Being an artist means: rocks, bark, old shoes, broken dishes, paint or metal can be your medium. And the world is your canvas.

THE WORLD IS MY CANVAS.

Currently, my medium of choice is mosaics. I am fascinated with the versatility, freedom and the process. My work has evolved into a combination of intense color, texture and pattern, reminiscent of the abstract oil paintings I created while a student. Through the use of found objects, old pottery, vintage dinner plates and traditional mosaic material, I weave the past into a composition of new life.

For me mosaic art is an amazing medium which allows me to tell a story with each piece I create. My works are very much an expression of my emotions. They emerge from a feeling I get when I see a particular pattern, or color. I strive to portray that emotion by letting the material I am working with guide me. Paying attention to both the negative and positive space in a design helps me build harmony and a cohesive look which is cemented by the grout color I choose.

I am very interested in the history behind the materials I incorporate in my work. The traditional vitreous glass, tessarae and smalti used since ancient times by mosaic artists around the world are still available today. Produced using the same methods as they were many years ago, I love them for their rich colors, texture and the customary quality they add. Even more interesting to me, is the history behind the vintage china or plate that finds its way into my studio. Years of conversations over dinner can be heard through the patterns and colors. The thought that the saucer, although chipped, old and about to be broken, was once a sentimental keepsake to someone, on display in curio cabinet: It continues to intrigue me with every design. Thrown away and forgotten, it is a joy to take these things and bring them back to life as mosaic art.

BIOGRAPHY

Jeanine Molnar has been a professional artist since 2002 and works out of her home based studio in the beautiful hills of Litchfield County, Connecticut where she lives with her husband Matt and her two siamese cats Max & Sam.
Her work and successful art business endeavor has been featured in Home Business Journal Magazine’s August 2004 issue, and her mosaic pieces can be found in numerous private collections across the country.

In edition to her mosaics and mixed media art, Jeanine also works as a freelance illustrator, creating children's illustrations.

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