Music inspires people in different ways, and it can be amazing to see how this inspiration manifests itself. After hearing a favorite piece or musician, some people sing, some people dance, some people even go out and learn to play an instrument, which is awesome. This is how many amateur and professional musicians start their careers.
And then there’s visual artist Gregory Sipp. He creates stained glass portraits of jazz icons.
I met Greg at the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival in Rockville, Maryland this past February (2019) while perusing the paintings and other offerings from various jazz-inspired artists. I found his art visually brilliant and Mr. Sipp himself is a fascinating man to speak with. I ended up buying a print of his mosaic of Winton Marsalis.
Mr. Sipp has been creating mosaics for approximately 20 years, having learned from two international mosaic artists, while also following his muse. Each mosaic he creates requires the right colors and design, plus intense focus to get just the right pieces cut and buffed to fit the shapes he wants. He works in such detail that each mosaic takes at least 35 hours to finish, if not more.
On his website, www.sippmosaicartistry.com, Mr. Sipp explains why he turned his years of stained glass experience to jazz subjects:
I have been a jazz enthusiast for over 50 years. I especially like the straight-ahead, bebop jazz from the ‘40s, ‘50s, and ‘60s. Many of my mosaics are of individuals from these periods, including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, and Thelonious Monk.
Jazz for me has been the rhythm of my life. The music invigorates me. The flow of the music, the creativity, the improvisation, and the various techniques that musicians use inspire me. There is a message that I feel jazz imparts: share what you’ve learned, embrace diversity and courage, and understand others so they, too, can speak.
The style and color choices I use in my mosaics reflect what I feel when I am listening to the music. My passion for mosaics has grown every year. I have found my artistic instrument.
His website shows the various prices, types of prints, and subjects he offers for sale. Whether you’re an amateur musician, a professional musician, or don’t play at all, I hope Greg’s story inspires you. Sipp Mosaic Artistry is based in southeast Michigan.
Thanks for reading!