Why do I enjoy creating mosaics from stained glass?
First, I love the luminescence of the stained glass itself. It feels alive with light, and I get to both hold and capture that light when I place each piece. A little bit like lightning in a bottle.
Secondly, I love the process. For my graphic design work I describe myself as a big picture thinker who sweats the details. And this is exactly what I get to do when creating a mosaic. I get to plan the artwork, thinking about which images will best show off the texture and resonance of the glass. Then, as a puzzle-lover, I get to sweat the details as I carefully cut and place the many, many pieces.
Lastly, I like to explore the negative space — the grout lines — in order to add depth, dimensionality and motion to what is traditionally a *flat* form of art. I have several new pieces in progress and look forward to sharing them when they are finished. Perhaps it’s time to start posting on Instagram??
Hydrangea 2020
Completed mosaic before grouting
Grouting
Final grouted mosaic
Aunt Barbara’s House 2019
Original photo used as basis of the mosaic design
Getting started with contact paper over enhanced photo
Close up of the different shades of white used on the house
Adding the foreground bush
Creating perspective and light with the grass and the trees
Highlights in the trees
Covered in tape
Working on the mosaic “in situ”
Holding the taped trees and mountains
Transferring the grass section to be glued
Final assembled mosaic before grouting
Final mosaic with grout
Sitting above the fireplace in the house pictured
Blue Ridge Sunset 2021
Deciding which color glass to use for the bottom of the sunset
Grouting
Cleaning
Star Valley Wyoming 2016
Cutting foreground grasses
Pre-grout
Final
Striped Planter 2021
Tilly 2021
Grand Prismatic at Yellowstone 2016
Original marked-up photo taken at Grand Prismatic summer 2015
Cutting curves
Breaking glass at the score line
Paper template for sedimentation shapes
Working on the sedimentation
Playing around with how to best represent the water
Cutting trees
Tree-filled mountainside
Adding a domed sky to reflect the sedimentation patterns in the water
Final mosaic pre-grout
Grouting
Almost clean ...
