Welcome to Flower Soup Mosaics! My name is Paula MacLeod and Flower Soup Mosaics is my business in Durham, NC. I create pieces for home and garden as well as delving into more imaginative projects for art shows. Pictures of some of my fine artwork are on this site and also some custom work I have done. I offer classes in mosaic techniques from beginning to advanced and for anyone ages 5 and older.
My interest in mosaics began after taking a stained glass stepping stone class in 1998. Since then, I have mosaiced everything from picture frames and bird baths to counters and table tops. No two projects are ever the same. I like taking the knowledge and skills I have learned about drawing, composition, and color, and combining those with the knowledge and skills I have acquired in mosaics.
The popularity of mosaics right now is a bit like the "craft of the day", but actually the mosaic art form is ancient. The great thing about making mosaics is that it can be a fun and relaxing hobby or an all out obsession. No matter if a person wants to try it for fun or even just buy mosaic pieces, the charm and durability of mosaics brighten up any home or garden.
I hope you will find many things of interest on this site. Should you have questions or comments, I'd love to hear from you.
Thanks,
Paula
Artist Statement
I use tesserae (pieces of glass or tile) the way a painter uses paint and brushes. My “paintings” have life—they shimmer, sparkle and move as light plays across the surface. I create dimension and depth in the artwork by mixing materials that broaden the visual experience.
Bio
Paula MacLeod is mostly a self-taught mosaic artist from Durham, NC. Paula has worked in mosaics since 1997, has taken numerous advanced workshops in the US, and teaches mosaic techniques for Jordan Hall Art Center (Cary), and ArtSpace (Raleigh). She has exhibited her fine art in juried shows all over the US and Ravenna, Italy. She is a recipient of the Durham Arts Council Emerging Artist Grant for 2000-2001, holds a degree from East Carolina University, has had work published in art books, and belongs to numerous art associations. Paula was featured on Home and Garden TV’s Crafter’s Coast to Coast in June, 2005 and as a guest on the PBS series “Paint Paper Craft” in 2007. Paula also takes commissions and teaches private classes.
Resume
Solo/Group/Invitational Exhibitions
“Meditations”, Jordan Hall Art Center, Cary, NC, June 27–July 31, 2008
“Art in the Work Place”, Raymond James Financial, Inc., June 25–October 30, 2007, Durham, NC
“The Emerging Artists Retrospective”, Durham Arts Council invitational, December 11–February 6, 2005, Durham Arts Council, Durham, NC
“Sight Unseen”, Durham Art Guild invitational, September 9–September 30 2004, Durham Art Guild, Durham, NC
“Bits and Pieces”, Women’s Health Information Center, UNC Hospital, January–February 2004, Chapel Hill, NC
“The Blue Lady at the Blue Sage”, August 5–October 10, 2004, The Blue Sage Restaurant, Durham, NC
“A Group Show”, Chapel Hill Town Hall, June 6–August 1, 2003, Chapel Hill, NC
Arts United for Davidson County's Winner's Invitational Show. July 2001 Lexington, NC.
Grants/Awards
Third place, mosaics, Art Buzz, The Collection 2008, Art Buzz Publications
Third place, assemblage, “The Best of NC Artists and Artisans”, Kennedy Publications, 2005
Honorable mention, Wayne County Arts Council’s 26th Annual Juried Fine Arts Exhibition, September 17–October 14, 2005, Goldsboro, NC
Honorable mention, Arts United for Davidson County's Spotlight Juried Exhibition, 2001
Durham Arts Council, Emerging Artist Grant, 2000-2001
Publications/TV appearances
Art Buzz, The 2008 Collection, artbuzz.org
Women’s Art for Women’s Wellness, 2008 calendar, UNC Hospital’s Women’s Health Information Center publication
“Paint Paper and Crafts”, Cutters Productions, episode 301, filmed August 2, 2007
Women’s Art for Women’s Wellness, 2007 calendar, UNC Hospital’s Women’s Health Information Center publication
The Best of NC Artists and Artisans 2005, Kennedy Promotions Best of Artists and Artisans series
Home and Garden TV, “Crafter’s Coast to Coast”, June 2005
“The Mosaic Artist’s Bible”, by Theresa Mills, 2005, Quarto Publishing
Juried Exhibitions
Contemporary Mosaic Art Exhibition, Ciel Gallery, Charlotte NC, September 2008
“Global Perspectives”, The Atelier Gallery, March –April 28, 2008, Miami, FL
Durham Art Guild 53nd Juried Art Show, October 25–November 28, 2007, Durham, NC
Society of American Mosiac Artists 6th annual juried show, Mesa Contemporary Arts, Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, AR, March 20 – April 29, 2007
Durham Art Guild 52nd Juried Art Show, November 10–December 17, 2006, Durham, NC
Society of American Mosiac Artists 5th annual juried show, High Risk Gallery, Chicago, IL, March 2 – March 31, 2006
“Mosaics-Fine Art and Architecture”, 2nd annual juried competition, Atelier Gallery, Miami, FL, December 2, 2005, – January 7, 2006
“Art of Music”, Smithtown Township Arts Council, NY, July 23–August 27, 2005, Mills Pond House, St. James, NY
“Through Women’s Eyes, by Women’s Hands”, The Women’s Center of Chapel Hill, NC, February 18–February 27, 2005 Sheraton Chapel Hill Hotel, Chapel Hill, NC
Fine Art and FUNctional International Mosaic Exhibit, Dec 5, 2004–Jan 11, 2005, Atlier Gallery, Miami, FL
3rd Annual Schwa Juried Show, May 7–June 4, 2004, Emerge Gallery, Greenville, NC
Society of American Mosaic Artists 3rd Annual Juried Exhibition, January 15-April 4, 2004, Museo Italo Americano, San Fransisco, CA
Raleigh Fine Arts Society 25th Annual Juried Exhibition, March 9-April 6, 2003, Meredith College, Raleigh, NC
Society of American Mosaic Artists 2nd annual juried show, January 20-February 24, 2003, Miami, FL
Stage Gallery, Massapequa, NY, “Collage, Montage, Assemblage”, December 5, 2002 – January 12, 2003.
Durham Art Guild 48th Juried Art Show, November 2–January 3, 2003, Durham, NC
“Celebrating the Legacy of Romare Bearden”, Mint Museum of Art, Charlotte, NC, September 27, 2002 – January 6, 2003
“Expressions of Womanhood”, St. Louis Art Guild, August 4–September 21 2002, St. Louis, MO
2nd Annual Young Mosaicists Competition, April 2002, Ravenna Italy
Arts Council of Wayne County’s 23rd Annual Juried Fine Arts Exhibition, March 2002, Goldsboro, NC
Society of American Mosaic Artists 1st annual juried show, January 2002, Orangeburg, SC
The Durham Art Guild 47th Annual Juried Art Show, November
17, 2001–January 3, 2002. Durham, NC
Arts United for Davidson County's Spotlight Juried Exhibition-- June 5 - June 27, 2001 Lexington, NC
Arts Council of Wayne County’s 22st Annual Juried Fine Arts Exhibition, March 2001, Goldsboro, NC
Arts Council of Wayne County’s 21st Annual Juried Fine Arts Exhibition, March 2000, Goldsboro, NC
Education
Self taught mosaicist
5-day advanced smalti class, Gina Hubler, Design Impact (Miami, FL) October 2006
5-day advanced fused glass and murini workshop, Dan Fenton (Oakland, CA), January 2004
5-day advanced mosaic workshop with Sonia King, Creative Arts Center of Dallas, July 2002
Stained glass mosaic class at Durham Arts Council, 1997
1988-1989 East Carolina University Greenville, NC
B. A., English, Concentration Writing
1985-1987 Wayne Community College Goldsboro, NC
A.A., College Transfer.
Experience
September 2007-present, instructor, Jordan Hall Arts Center, Cary, NC, mosaic and fused glass classes
June 2003-present, instructor, Art Space, Raleigh
August 2001-2007, instructor, Durham Arts Council, Durham NC, mosaic classes
June 2001-December 2003, instructor, Jordan Hall Arts Center, Cary, NC, mosaic classes
September 2000, 2001, 2002: supervising artist at the Durham CenterFest (arts festival) hands-on mosaic learning tent
Nortel Networks, Technical Writer, 1990-2000
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