Sophie Drouin is a second-generation mosaic artist, having studied first with her father, who was trained in Italy. After travelling to Europe herself to study in Italy and France, she now produces art mosaics and installations, and teaches workshops on technique and design with particular attention to natural materials. She particularly enjoys making mosaics that stretch the possibilities of the medium as well as exploring new and unusual materials. Sophie is a member of the Society of American Mosaic Artists (SAMA), as well as the British Association for Modern Mosaic (BAMM). She has exhibited in the International Mosaic Art juried show every year since she joined SAMA, and is the 2009 recipient of the Association’s Member’s Choice award. She has taught mosaic workshops at the International mosaic summits in Miami and San Diego, at the Chicago Mosaic School, the Institute of Mosaic Art in Oakland, California, as well as at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia. She is featured with Sonia King in June 2009 as a guest artist at the 46th edition of the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts near Portland, Oregon. Sophie’s work has been featured in books and publications such as the BAMM’s “Grout” magazine (2008), Author Brit Hammer’s “Mosaics: finding your own voice” (2008), as well as Mosaic Art Now’s issues for 2008 and 2009. She has been featured in “The Grand” magazine (January-February 2008), and is herself the co-author of the book “Listening to the Rocks” with fellow mosaicist and rock-hound Bill Buckingham. Sophie pursues a dual career as a mosaic artist and teacher, as well as a violinist in the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.