face becomes part of a story once I start working,” says Gold.

“The eyes are usually painted and the entire piece has a coat-
“A simple sketch turns into an icon, or a statement about mor-
tality, or illustrate the lyrics of a favorite song…”
Gold, who lives in virginia, uses all upcycled paper in her mo-
saics; items that would normally go to waste, such as old
greeting cards, catalogs, postcards and calendars.
Additionally, Gold only uses water-based, acid-free non-
toxic paint, adhesives and coatings when creating art.
Early in her career, Gold worked as a muralist, a consumer
goods designer, and a special event designer. She also traveled
to Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Turkey to view and study mosaics.
“I was always painting custom portraits on the side,” she
says. “After studying tile/glass mosaics for while, I felt like I
needed to do something different; something no one else was
doing…”
Gold began experimenting on some of her own paintings,
adding paper “tiles” and embellishing everything in her house
with paper tiles, including her lamp shades. She calls her cur-
rent collection of portraits “a marriage of my two loves–paint-
ing and mosaic work.”
When Gold creates one of her stunning portraits, she
sketches first, sometimes paints, then glues each of the pieces,
cutting them at least eight times from raw material to the exact
shape to fit the space she’s placing it...
ing of some sort to protect the surface,” she explains.
If a client is interested in custom (commissioned) artwork,
Gold explains what the client needs to do.
“First, the client needs to send me some photos of the sub-
ject. Then I will create a painting for you to review and approve.
You would give me some input regarding style and colors; and
you can submit materials you’d like me to include,” she says.
“Once you approve the painting, the mosaic starts.”
Gold spends most nights in her personal studio, unless she
is traveling. This night owl explains, “I am most creative and
energetic at night. When I am in the mood to paint, nothing
stops me... I can go on for hours.”
Gold’s work is can be found in private, corporate and
museum collections all over the world.
“I’ve been so honored to have a few solo museum shows, I
have been approached to do custom portraits by several
people who love my work, and have had gallery shows,” she says.
Not only are adults inspired by her talent, but also Gold even
has young fans!
“I’ve had kids write me, a asking for advice on how to create
their own ‘Schimmel Art.’ When someone loves what you do,
that comes from your mind and is created by your hands—it’s
amazing.”

CliCK HErE To EnTEr GivEaWaY

a disTinCTivE sTYlE rEadErs...siGn UP For a CHanCE To Win a CollECTion oF GiFT Cards WiTH PiCTUrEs oF sCHiMMEl arT

SChimmel Art
TransForMinG JUnK Mail inTo siMPlE BEaUTY
BY raCHEl soKol www.SCHIMMELArT.COM/INDEx.HTM

Everyone has a pet peeve, and finding stacks of catalogs, glossy
brochures and other junk mail inside your mailbox is a common
one. Do we women really need any more in-your-face messages
about what society thinks makes a woman desirable? Err, no.
Artist Sandhi Schimmel Gold decided to take the media’s idea
of beauty into her own hands—literally. She put all that junk mail
to good use by using it to create stunning mosaics—called Pa-
pier collé—of women’s faces.
A mosaic is when pieces of various materials, of all different
colors, shapes and sizes, are assembled to create an image or
composition.
Basically, Gold transforms junk mail into art; a reminder that
one can find beauty in the little details.
“Every society or age has its own version of beauty. A hundred
years ago, a woman was considered attractive if she had wide
hips for childbirth,” explains Gold, adding that in some cultures,
the length of one’s neck, or shortness of her feet reflects
“beauty.”
“However, today, at least in America, our ideal is so unrealistic.
Women are held to an impossible standard,” says Gold. “That is
why I find it so amusing to destroy the images of beauty that ar-
rive in my mailbox and create a whole other image of simple
beauty from the advertisements aimed at our vulnerability.”
Gold’s inspiration stems from history to travel, to even pop-
culture. “I am mostly interested in women’s faces, as you can
tell, and when I create an image, I let the inspiration flow. A

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