Colorado artist Emily Tholberg has been producing her unique tile work and cut stone mosaics for clients in Pagosa Springs / Durango, Colorado, expanding throughout the country since 1996. She has an intuitive understanding of her clients' needs, and a playful artist's sense of design. She often utilizes found objects in her mosaics, and finds unusual ways to incorporate the colors of a room into her creations.

Her works are custom art creations reflecting the dreams of the homeowner.

About the Artist

Mosaic artist Emily Tholberg started her artistic career as a computer graphics professional, traveling around the world teaching graphics professionals in the broadcast industry. Her travels took her to over 40 countries on nearly every continent. Along the way, Emily was inspired by the arts and cultures of many diverse peoples, and she now uses that inspiration to create unique mosaic pieces, large and small.

She makes her home in southern Colorado, in the rustic town of Pagosa Springs amidst the San Juan Mountains, an area filled with wildlife and natural beauty which also serves as a potent inspiration for her mosaic arts.

Techniques and Materials

This work is murals These are custom made artrt piefce

My technique strays a bit from the traditional. Often I use larger pieces of natural stone for my palette choosing each piece for it's unique qualities and colors. I like to use different types of slate and travertine, glass and ceramic tile together so that the result is a rich blending of textures and shapes that the eye take in and the hand can touch time and again.

I create murals in different ways depending on the needs of the customer. Through our conversation we come to an understanding of what you'd like and I'll assess if I can cut the stone into that design. A lot of detail can be daunting, taking time and is priced accordingly.

I do a mock up sketch and will send it if you want. Some homeowners are happy to let the creative juices flow and look forward to the surprise of the finished piece. Some want to see what I'm starting with. I spend enough time with you so that we both are clear about what I will do.

I like to use different colored slates. Great for earth, grassy fields, tree trunks, elk antlers, etc. Glassy rich marbles are great for mountains, and travertines with strong orange, yellows and red for autumn leaves. In 'Shiny River' (see home page) I used a slate with mica in the river - quite reflective. I like to use all sorts of wild rock I get from a third generation rock hound with drawers full of jasper, petrified wood and gads of stuff with crazy names out of my geology book. There's a white rock that has a cauliflower appearance I've used for clouds. I just love it.

When I start the mural I study hundreds of stone tile pieces I've amassed through the years, lining the walls of my basement studio. I pick out pieces after carefully weighing textures and colors against each other, convincing them to work together. I've used stained glass along side granite, semi-precious stone next to pebbles, both matte and glossy finishes and more together!

Once I cut the pieces they are adhered to 1/4" cement board. At that point it is crated and shipped fully insured. Grouting takes place after the installation.