Art by Rachel Arntson

Exploring my Art! rj arts

A word from Rachel Arntson

I have loved my first career as a speech-language pathologist, but I have also had many hobbies over the years. Whether it be writing a song for my Talk It Rock It sets, drawing pictures for the Blast Off Board, making a mosaic, woodburning, or drawing, my true passion is creating things!

As I embrace retirement, I have had more time to explore my art, primarily focusing on mosaics, woodburning, and drawing.

Rachel's Goals in her Art

Drawings by RJ Arts

One night, while on a video chat with my granddaughter, she asked me to color with her. We frequently do “art time” on our video chats. During that visit I created a snowman picture that morphed into 9 additional snowman scenes. This drawing journey resulted in the Snowman Series Greeting Cards available on our Shopping page. Since that first greeting card set, I now have the Chicken Series as well. Who doesn’t love a cute snowman or chicken?

I have continued to explore drawing with ink, pencil, and colored pencil. I embrace whimsy, but also more thoughtful themes and scenes from my past trips around the world.

Mosaics by RJ Arts

I have been creating mosaics for many years now and have woodburned and painted for most of my life. I often combine these 3 art forms into my creations. One of my dreams is to create whimsical, child-loving mosaics for pediatric clinics, hospitals, schools, and children’s bedrooms. My mosaics focus on many themes including

Scenes from photos I have taken on my many journeys including my Windows of My Wandering.
Whimsical and child-like creations
Holiday mosaics, especially Christmas creations
Race medal hangers – These are created as fund raisers for Team in Training, an endurance race organization that raises funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Education, Awards, Shows, and Training –

I have had the honor of taking classes from the amazing mosaic artists, Mireille Swinnen, while in Venice, Italy and Solange Piffer on a trip to the Hacienda Mosaico in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. These classes have truly been life changing.

My work has received many awards at the Minnesota State Fair, Creative Activities Building, including numerous first place awards, several Glass Endeavors Awards, and a Sweepstakes Award. I have been accepted into the juried show in the Fine Arts Building at the Minnesota State Fair on two different occasions. At this show, I was thrilled to receive first place the first year and honorable mention the second year.

I am an active member of the Minnesota Mosaic Guild. We have several art shows per year where we sell our works. Currently, I am a member of the White Bear Center for the Arts and have numerous pieces of micro mosaic jewelry and Windows of My Wandering for sale there . I am also a member of the Maple Grove Art Center where I volunteer.

Purchasing Rachel’s Art, my Log Cabin Holiday Market, and Classes

If you live in the Minneapolis/Twin Cities area, come to my Log Cabin Holiday Market in November. You can get information about it by following my page, Mosaic Break, on Facebook or by contacting me at the email below.

Are you interested in learning the art of mosaic? Contact me directly to be placed on my email list for my Mosaic Break classes. These classes are for the purpose of raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and other organizations in need of support. You will create a mosaic of your choice to take home and enjoy creating with others for these 1-2 full day classes. I also teach micro-mosaic classes and Windows of My Wandering classes at different art centers in the Twin Cities.

My greeting cards, mosaics, and woodburned items are sold through direct contact with me at Rachel@TalkItRockIt.com or by phone at 612-834-9001. If you are interested to see what art pieces are currently available, please feel free to contact me. Also watch the postings on my Mosaic Break Facebook page for pieces that I have for sale.