24" x 17" Acquired by: Brian L. Mt Shasta, CA June 30th, 2026 I have completed many commissioned mosaic pieces over the years, but this one is especially meaningful because it incorporates materials that belong to the client. He collected obsidian stones and flakes from his own backyard, along with a beautiful collection of raw sapphire stones, and wanted them to become an integral part of the artwork. His backyard overlooks Mt. Shasta and a peaceful creek, so those became the inspiration and focal point of the design. The real challenge was finding a way to incorporate his treasured stone collection naturally into the landscape. I spent many hours thinking about the composition—so much so that it even found its way into my dreams! The solution finally came to me: I used all of the small obsidian stones and flakes to create the mountain, giving Mt. Shasta a rich texture and a personal connection to the place itself. The larger obsidian stones and raw sapphires were embedded among yellow and blue glass at the bottom of the piece to create shimmering reflections. To bring the landscape to life, I incorporated ceramic owls, butterflies, and tiger-eye frogs, blending them into the trees and surrounding foliage. These special elements add depth, texture, and a sense of discovery, inviting viewers to look a little closer each time they experience the artwork. COMMENTS FROM THE CLIENT: Over the years on my property in Mt. Shasta, I have found many pieces of volcanic obsidian glass. I found a few big chunks but mostly debitage, or the flakes and waste material left behind when the indigenous people of this land were creating tools. I have a deep connection with the land and the First Nations people and wanted to do something very special with the pieces I had collected. My vision was to create a mosaic of the mountain and our land utilizing the obsidian I had collected. I researched several mosaic artists and narrowed it down to three, with Xuan being my first choice. I reached out to her with my commission project idea; she responded both immediately and beautifully, and agreed to the work. She was very thorough with the explanation of the project and timeline. Once she began the meticulous work, she updated me every step of the way. It was really fun watching the progression of the work evolve and progress. She would even ask for my input, further personalizing the whole project. I just received the piece from Xuan (quite a bit earlier than expected!) and all I can say is "WOW!" It is unbelievably beautiful and incredible. The attention to detail is astounding. The intricacies are mind-boggling. I could stare at this for hours and still be mesmerized by her artwork. This piece will find a very prominent spot in our home, one with changing light throughout the day as all of the different and elaborate materials that have gone in to it will surely change along with the light. I cannot recommend Xuan and her talents enough. It was a real pleasure and a lot of fun to work with her, and the quality of her work is simply outstanding. I am impressed in all ways and hope to have the pleasure of working with her again on a future piece. Materials: Ceramics, stained glass, obsidian stones & flakes, raw sapphire stones, crushed white marble, citrines, ceramic owls, tiger-eye frog stone. Weight: 12 lbs #2663