Louise Herdman

I started studying towards my Diploma in Art and Creativity at The Learning Connexion in 2004. Through distance delivery I was able to experiment with new ideas and become more confident in expressing the beauty around me for others to enjoy.

I opened my first mosaic studio, in Wanganui, in 2008. The studio was designed to be both a place to run mosaic workshops from and to promote and sell my mosaics. I am thoroughly enjoying every day teaching workshops and making smaller, fun pieces to sell as gifts as well as meeting people and talking mosaics!

The numbers attending classes and workshops are steadily increasing and I love sharing the knowledge and encouraging people to find their own style in mosaics. People are coming from as far away as Wellington, Tokoroa, New Plymouth and returning with their friends for more.

I have had a number of mosaic commissions, with the mosaic sales being an added dimension. Commission work is a wonderful challenge which allows me to extend myself to work to another person’s design ideas as well as having my own artistic input.

Visually, mosaics still enthrall me – the clever use of materials mean they are constantly changing as the sun travels and the light changes, throughout the day.

When I started I was not sure how my mosaic art business would grow. Now, working full-time as an artist, looking back I think it was about being ready for opportunities and saying ‘yes’ to your passion. Then let it happen, one step at a time.

Check out Louises' work online at: http://www.mosaicpictures.co.nz/