We’ve been so lucky to work with quite a few repeat clients. It’s an honor to be able create something special for each client in the first place. To be valued and trusted for further projects is truly a privilege.

Johannah created this piece for a couple she has worked with quite a few times. In this case, the request came from one half of the couple to create an abstract portrait of the other half as a special gift. The portrait is based on a photo of the subject wearing a red shirt and glowing with happiness to be in a place that is meaningful to them.

Red and blue colored pencil sketch for a mosaic project — Design sketch for “The Wholeness of Happiness” mosaic

The photo was taken at the seaside, and so the client requested a sense of movement to convey the motion of wind and water. Together, we decided a circle best represented the feeling of wholeness conveyed by the experience of deep joy.

The circle is red to represent the subject in their red shirt. The background is blue-green to represent the water and wind. Each field of color contains highlights of the other color to show the co-mingling of place and time and the subject’s joy.