Stained Glass Mosaics with a Story

"That darn Fly" Barbara Keith

"Late Afternoon in Winter" Barbara Keith

Barbara Keith has a way with stained glass in mosaics. The birches above are subtle and simple in feel, yet it draws you in and makes you feel like you can step right in. Like Alice in the looking glass. Which brings me to her other creations. She has illustrated several nursery rhymes and turned them into a book. "The Girls and Boys of Mother Goose" . The illustrations in mosaic are classic with a twist. A beautiful way to visit Little Bo Peep.

Mixing It Up

Table by Robin Herskowitz and Daughter

How cool is this table? I absolutely love it. Great mixed media mosaic and functional too! I always have a hard time combining a lot of different materials. I love the way it looks but I never do it. Looks like I have found myself a new challenge for me next open day in the studio. Is this a challenge you need to take?

Big Things Down Under

Telescopus – by Dominic Johns

I had the pleasure of meeting Dom at the 2008 SAMA conference held this past March in Miami. From Parramatta Park, Australia, Dominic is just a great guy and definitely passionate about everything he does, as you can tell by his loving embrace of his newest work.

Upon completion this is what Dom has to say: Telescopus is in and I’m feeling very happy now. This project has been approx 1000 hours to bring to fruition and now I’m ready for the next one. Moving the work was a tense experience, but we managed to do it without breaking anything. So get down to the Cairns Esplanard 'nard’ opposite 181 The Esplanade and check it out. The cut face glows in the dark!

Resurrection Complete

I did it! I finished the bird bath. Resurection complete! It is not the prettiest mosaic I have ever done but it is the most fun I have had in a while. I love it's folky quality. It reminds me of one you would have seen at an old cottage up north in the 40's. Have fun! Talk to Stones!

Outdoor Living with Mosaics

Mosaic Bar-b-que by Clara Nelson

Detail 2

Detail 2

This mosaic border recently completed by Clara Nelson of Palm Springs, CA is sure to be the focal point of the the newly finished bar-b-que. The project is located in Flagstaff, AZ. Clara used the local local flora as inspiration. The sunflowers and aspen leaves, pine cones, and the phases of the moon from left to right. She used Cinca Unglazed Porcelain, half marbles and dicroic glass for some bling.

I can smell steaks for years to come!

An Important Annoucement!

WARNING: Consult your physician before starting mosaics. If taking anti-depressants, you may need to reduce dosage or discontinue altogether.

SIDE EFFECTS: May cause sudden fits of elation, joy and unexpected surges of energy. MAY BE HABIT FORMING

Email: doublehuedoublehuedoublehue.mosaics.calm

Not sure who the author of this is but I think it rocks!

Mosaic Streets

Lisbon Streets - Scott Hansen

Streets of Taxco

I learn more about my own country by traveling to other places. I visited Taxco, MX and saw some amazing mosaics. Not art, not even building decoration, but the streets. Streets? Can you imagine this happening in your town. Sadly I think not unless you live at Disneyland. Why? Practically, yes that's part of it. We couldn't afford the time and labor it takes to create this. More importantly we cant expect any BMW Roadster or ladies in their $500.00 Jimmy Choo's to endure the bumps and cracks these beautiful streets create. The lawsuits from broken heels alone put them out of our financial reach.

These streets are not contracted public art. They are built out of necessity by craftsmen who took the time to create designs as they built them, not because the designs were necessary, but because it was necesary for them to create something of beauty, that creates landmarks, and give the viewer something to look forward to as the buzz about town. Here we are more concerned that our shoes look good than our public spaces. Taxpayers gasp when we hear the that 1% or less of public building project budgets are spent on art. That's $1000.00 dollars or less for every million that the building costs. That's 2 pairs of Jimmy Choo's! Maybe we should be more concerned that the contractor is the governor's brother-in-law and that the material supplier is charging 3x the normal standard for a 2 x 4.

Rant complete! At least for now................................................

The Big Clock

Big Clock detail

The Big Clock - Kim Wozniak

It is amazing how these tiny tile almost give the appearance of reptile skin. The Big Clock measures 36" accoss and is one of my favorite projects. It hangs proudly above the sofa. It is one of those compelling reclamation projects. I found it, got inspired and I wasn't happy until I finished it (2 days and very little sleep later). I purchased the clock for only $20.00. The plaster surface of the frame was damaged and couldn't be repaired (or so they thought). I filled in the large hole of missing plaster and covered it in tile, and waalaa.

I think it is a classic example of why I love mosaics and mosaic artists. We either use our broken treasures as tile or tile our broken treasures.

Micro tile from another's View.

Mosaic Vanity - LeeAnne Wooten

Mosaic Backspash - Jane Robinson

Even though I sell these beautiful tiny tiles, I've rarely used them myself. I love them but somehow they don't speak to me first when I make my material selection. Today cleaning out email I ran across a couple of projects created with these little gems that make me want to revisit that approach.

Micro Tile or Tiny tile are 3/8" square glazed high fire porcelain. You are probably most familiar with these tiles as the surface material used on coffee tables, ash trays and trivets of the 50's and 60's. Glazes ranging from subtle shades to bright and bold and even gold and silver metallic. (These are my favorites!) See the big Clock!

I Build......

A view of Sam Rodia's Towers

A piece of Emery Blagdon's Healing Machine

I never really considered myself an artist but rather a builder or a "maker of stuff". It has always been something I am compelled to do. I think that's why I am so fascinated by people like Sam Rodia, Fred Smith, and my newest favorite Emery Blagdon (even if he's not a mosaic artist). They all had their reason's for building. Fred wanted to create a destination, The Wisconsin Concrete park. Sam Rodia wanted this too, but his real reason was to fill his time after his wife left and he wanted to quit drinkin'. Lastly Emery Blagdon wanted to heal people, namely his parents and believed that the electrical currents collected by his healing machine could do this.

As a wannabe "crazy lady on the side of the road" I look at them in awe. Men of creative genius. I am not sure I will ever measure up, but I wonder if their real reason wasn't to live on past one life. To insure that they weren't forgotten in the environment of one life.

I recently purchased a new DVD called "I Build the Towers" a biography of Sam Rodia's journey and a history of the towers. Great works of art that were nearly lost because some people didn't understand why they were built or of what importance they are. Do we really need to understand? They are important because someone took the time to do it. This is the legacy, and I can't believe that any of those who wish to bulldoze the art of the crazies, those who have never built anything themselves, will die proud of the legacy of tearing such works down.

Make Art! Have Fun!

Circus Iron by KG Greenstein

As mosaic artists sometimes I think we take things a little to seriously. Our materials, our process, and our finished work. Today I received a message from KG Greenstein of KG Studios in Oakland CA. A visit to the website included in the note reminded me that serious art does not need to serious, Maybe we need to get out of our trained adult trousers and into our kindergarten smocks once in a while and just have fun. You never know what we might come up with.

Andamento

I just received my copy of the 2nd edition of Andamento and I must say it is a feast of mosaic material. Published by BAMM this issue includes detailed articles and in depth insights into :

• The lost mosaics of Kenneth Budd
• Gaetano Meo's Mosaics at Clayton Parish Church
• Fifty years of mosaic murals by Desmond Kinney
• In search of a Mosaic Colour Theory
• The Oppenheimer mosaics in Lille Cathedral

This is a must read for mosaic lovers. You can order your copy here.