Sometimes Nazario has work. And when he doesn’t, he finds his way to the Wednesday Beginning Mosaic Workshop at Piece by Piece, quietly, steadily building his skills in mosaic art. Nazario first heard about Piece by Piece many years ago. At the time, he was already interested in mosaic art, drawn to its beauty and the way small fragments come together to make something whole. But work commitments kept him from attending workshops. It wasn’t until recently that the timing aligned—and now, Nazario is here, fully present at the worktable, sorting through the glass pieces that shaped his first four completed projects.
He has no formal experience in mosaic before joining Piece by Piece, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at his work. Laid out on the table are four pieces: a thoughtful self-portrait made earlier this month with Teaching Artist Carol, a vibrant picture frame decorated with multicolored diamonds, and two flat works, one a bird that emerged from an exercise based on a single shard of glass, and another featuring a rose and heart, both suited for hanging or as surface tile art.
None of the pieces have been grouted yet, but Nazario looks forward to learning that next step in the coming weeks. Out of all his pieces, he already has a favorite, though he shyly keeps that to himself for now.
Nazario is a quiet presence in the studio. He is interested in pursuing artist certification through Piece by Piece. He’s proud of what he’s made and of the skills he's gaining, even if he isn’t always the first to speak about it.
More than anything, Nazario wants people to know he is a good person. He comes from Mexico, and he values his family deeply. As he sorts through the colorful remnants of his recent creations, there’s a sense that his work is not just about the glass and grout, but about building something lasting and meaningful, piece by piece.
