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Tucson Wildlife Mosaic Installed

The new and Only wildlife rescue hospital at Tucson Wildlife Center opened earlier this month and the mosaic I did of their logo hangs in the reception entry area. This photo was taken before the grand opening with lots of people.
Mosaic - Tucson Wildlife Center 30" x 30"
The mosaic piece took much longer to complete than anticipated. After a family illness other things seemed to always come up. Then it was damaged during fabrication leading to more time in repairs.

So glad to finally see Wilber the Bobcat mascot logo hanging! It glitters with light and color in the office. Check out Tucson Wildlife's Facebook page for all the latest rescue news. Donate on their TWC website - every donation counts for this non-profit wildlife rescue that runs Entirely on donations.


Below are most of the work in progress steps for those interested in making mosaics. Due to to high detail and many tiny pieces, the Double Reverse Mosaic technique was used to make this mosaic mural. 

• After tracing the logo onto cement board, I cut the hardi backer cement board with an angle grinder.
• The traced logo was hand painted with acrylics like a portrait color study guide to match the glass colors.
• Clear contact paper is cut to the size of the painted board, sticky side up so cut glass mosaic pieces will stick to it and not move or shift. The contact paper is taped to the board edge in 8 places.
• The stained glass is hand selected to match the color references not only to the logo but also to Wilber the bobcat mascot at Tucson Wildlife Center.
• Stained glass is selected and laid out to match the fur growth direction, pattern and color. Then the glass is cut in shapes that match fur texture and color for movement. The grout will be black to help outline the movement and texture of the fur.
• Each piece of glass is hand traced with a sharpie pen, then cut and fitted into place with a glass wheel cutter (favorite tool). Tweezers are used to fit each glass into place.
• The eye is often the most important focal point of an animal portrait and the glass was carefully selected for color and fit based on several reference nature photos.
• Once the mosaic was finished, clear special mosaic tape was applied to the front making sure every tiny piece stuck to the tape. 
• Then the piece was flipped over, the contact paper was peeled off the back and the piece was pre-grouted and wiped so the black grout filled the spaces in the glass. Pre-grouting from the back helps keep the white cement from squeezing up through the front.
• The painted front of the cement board was skimmed with cement mortar and the pre-grouted back of the mosaic was also thinly buttered with the mortar.
• The two pieces were quickly, carefully sandwiched together with the backer board on the bottom, cement adhesive layer, then taped glass mosaic on top.
• Mosaic glass taped surface was carefully tamped with a large float so all layers adhered then left a few days for the cement to cure completely. Then the clear mosaic tape was carefully removed at a flat angle and grout touched up where needed.

Materials & Links: 
Iron frame donation Applby's Ornamental Iron local independent.
Mosaic Tape  Mosaic Supply
Stained glass Expressions Art Glass local independent.
Cement hardi-backer 1/4" board  local Home Depot 
Grout, sanded, black  Custom Grout
Acrylic paints for underpainting FolkArt or Liquitex Basics from local Michaels
Wheeled glass cutters (I had a pair)
Pistol glass cutter (had mine)
Tweezers (have several)
Sharpie permanent fine marker to mark glass
Carbon paper for tracing onto board
Projector (I have an Old one)
Clear contact paper roll
Paper to trace design on from projection if project is too big/heavy to hang on wall.
Angle head grinder for cutting shapes on cement board (messy but WAY less than Wedi board)

This mosaic method is called the double reverse method and is ideal for public art. It provides a super smooth finish and allows the placing of Many tiny detail glass pieces without them shifting and the option of changing pieces. The direct method of gluing down glass as you go is a one shot deal. If pieces don't fit right, it's very difficult to pry up glued tiny glass or fragile pieces.


Original logo

Tracing the logo for the mosaic onto cut hardi-backer board. A projector was used, then any distortion was adjusted.

Stained glass mosaic selections for color match. The logo, other bobcat photos were used for Wilber's face colors.
Cutting mosaic glass and layout matching the underpainting and logo. 

Hand cutting glass mosaic piece by piece

Hand cutting and fitting glass mosaic pieces using a sharpie, wheeled glass cutters and tweezers. The sticky contact paper keeps small pieces from shifting and allows for custom fitting.

Custom fitting glass pieces for glass mosaic and placing on the contact paper.

Custom color match and cut the eye - the "window to the soul" using hand traced paper templates that were then traced onto the selected glass for the eye, nose areas and fitted with tweezers. 







Glass Mosaic about 2/3 finished. 

Mosaic mural for Tucson Wildlife Center ready for grouting.
Last fitting with the iron frame generously donated by Appleby's Ornamental Iron to mark the grout border edges. Appleby's kind owner Ed Hocheder has been running the family owned BBB A+ Appleby since 1980 and is a pleasure to work with.




Aussie Tess Memorial Pet Mosaic

A sweet mosaic pet memorial to Australian Shepherd girl Tess. Reverse glass painting with silvery stars, moon and a singing bird add a bit of magic realism along with elements of the beach and sea such as crabs, starfish, shells and flotsam. Tess loved to play on the beach and the white stone with the tiny shell is from her cremation site. Her owner was in the coast guard and loves lighthouses, hence the tiny light house.


Though pet companions come in and out of our lives, there is always one or two who are extra special. Tess was such an individual.













Chinese New Year 2014 rings in Year of the Horse | Human World | EarthSky

Chinese New Year 2014 rings in Year of the Horse | Human World | EarthSky Happy New Year Of the Horse! As noted in this interesting article on the Chinese new year, it falls on different days each year. Find out why and which of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals your birth year is associated with in the links. Which animal are you?

Happy December solstice, everyone | Tonight | EarthSky

Happy December solstice, everyone | Tonight | EarthSky Today is the winter solstice - basically the shortest day and longest night of the year. This explains the details and has links for even More information . There are religious celebrations and customs for the summer and winter solstice.
On the longest night of the year I like to bake, filling the house with the delicious smells of baking pasta dishes and sweet rolls!

Tiny Gems


African Bee Eaters - Sold.  Allen's Hummingbird - Sold.
The first, a small, sweet gouache of a species of birds that (some) makes it's nests by burrowing in sides of river banks in large colonies.
The second, Allen's Hummingbird below it is small but fierce in guarding it's territory.
Thank you to Denis and Noreen for facilitating these sales XO!!

Last year I did a small series of a favorite subject - hummingbirds.  I like a contemporary feel to them because they are so energetic, fearless and gem like.
Originally they started out like many - studies for a new direction of work. I never know how they will turn out since I just play with backgrounds until it feels right.  An intuitive process of experiments in (new term I just learned and Love) "Imaginary Realism".

Reading facts/information on each new subject is a part of the job that I enjoy as much as the painting.

All have sold, so I know it is a good direction. Now it's a matter of choosing and inventing subjects based on reality, animals & nature to satisfy my inner visions. Constantly works in progress with some touching on fantasy like unicorns, mermaids, sphinx, elementals and more.
African Bee Eaters - Gouache








Keepsake Boxes

Most of us have mementos of certain times, places people in our lives. Scrapbooks, drawers full of "stuff", closets full of sentimental tees and clothing we can't part with even though it doesn't fit or would not be worn.
Keepsake boxes, treasure boxes, memory boxes - all meant to hold items of sentimental value. Past, present, future boxes of memories.
The boxes currently being created are inspired by our human need to hang onto sentimental mind/heart value that is represented by the items they can contain.
I know for me it has been the gift of companionship of my pet companions in the chapters of my life. Each dog, cat, bird a beautiful, bright part of the big ongoing visual novella I call my life.
I have kept the tags from my dogs and cats and will use the little box to house their loving memories.

What about the fantasy? It's an itch I have wanted to scratch for a while. Fantasy, folktales, sci-fi, paranormal mystery, magical fiction are a big part of my reading - always have been.
Reasons why some of my favorite authors are Nora Roberts fantasy series, Charles De Lint, Pierrs Anthony, Tolkien (Way before all the movies), Star Trek, Star Wars, Kat Richardson,
And that's just a few!

Oh, two new terms I have just learned that are perfect for all of my contemporary animal and nature pieces: "Imaginary Realism" and "Magic Realism". These words are much richer in meaning than 'contemporary art' (boo - boring). So those are my new words that I will be using 2014 :)

Keepsake StarGazer Box




The first in a new series of little boxes done in a style I used to call fantasy art, but now have a new, richer term: Imaginary Realism.

Subjects of imagination, myth, folktale and more will be featured as this direction is explored. Some playful, some fey and wild, others completely new. My new StarGazer style isn't really so new since it has been used for all of the glass paintings.

Next year it is being expanded to include the boxes and other functional 3D art.

Now for getting quality boxes made of harder wood in the sizes I want at the right price.




Sunset Nebula Mosaic - Sold

Tucson sunset are some of the finest - they can take your breath away in the seconds before twilight (my favorite time :) )
Last year I did a series of small mosaics created from tempered glass and inspired by - you guessed it - StarGazing and nature.
They ranged from small squares to small rectangles. This one was part of two mosaic pieces submitted for the Small Works exhibit at Tohono. I am happy to say it has found a new home - SOLD

The rest can be seen in an Earlier Post. All have the fantasy elements of glitter, jewel colors, gem stones and are signed by the artist (me!).

Sold

Magic Realism

I thank each and every one who has supported me through the purchase of my work, comments and just staying in touch via this wonderful and magical keyboard. 
Studio work can be isolating due to the nature of the work (an issue with many artists), and it makes my day when I get communication from individuals that I feel I know though we have never met in person.  

That's the magic part - being able to make friends with those I would otherwise never have the opportunity to meet!  This is one of the Many reasons I love my job and am Grateful Every Day. 

So here's to magic and love in the coming holidays and new year.
Keepsake Box inside with rich red faux stone finish




Seth's Blog: The sound of confidence

Seth's Blog: The sound of confidence Nicely put. There are polite ways to express a No and do your best not to offend. Of course, there are those that are going to get offended anyway just because of the refusal :) but trying to please everyone will only end up in not pleasing anyone.