Tesserae Tuesday

Hi everyone! I'm back!!
 

The last blog post I wrote was in October of 2018. A computer crash slowed the process but eventually I found a laptop did just fine for most things but was a challenge for blogging. I gave it up for a bit thinking maybe I should just move on. I missed it sometimes, the people's responses definitely. I had a small fan base, but I had one. So here we are ... a brand new year and it's time to share what's been happening in the attic I call home and studio.

I thought I'd share the Christmas gifts I made over the next few posts. A few have still not been gifted which means they'll wait to be shared through social media.

This first one, Malachi and Gypsy, was adapted into mosaic from a favorite photo of mine.

 

I'm normally leery of doing portraits because they are so precise. However, much to my delight, this particular photo was not as difficult to transfer into mosaic form. I can only assume the spirits that help me in the creative process knew it was time, and gave me permission to use my mosaic magic.

I started by printing out the photo and tracing it using carbon paper onto the substrate. By the way, these substrates are fantastic. If you're in the need for easy-to-use and lightweight boards that are good quality and affordable (and don't leave a mess like Wediboard does), I highly recommend using these. I'll share the link at the end of the post for those who are interested.*

After the tracing was finished, the fun part begins! Adding features in stained glass is not easy. Shading has become easier, which means I'm learning and reaching the next plateau. The hardest part was his smile. I couldn't add teeth, although I did attempt it. I had to change his lips a few times and lost his smile a little in the end. These two photos show the original set of lips which looked great. In hindsight I should have left them be. That's the only thing I'd try to change if I were to do it again.

Below, his smile is gone but I didn't really see it until it was completed. I used a few small pieces of a terra cotta pot for his eyebrows. I had dropped a pot and kept the fragments, knowing I'd use them in something. Viola!

The polka dot pieces are from a broken dish my daughter had. Since this was going to be her gift, I thought it would make her happy to see them used in this way.

After the tessera was all glued down, it was time to grout. Three colors were used, light brown, grey and black. Using painters tape to cover the mosaic I wasn't grouting as I added each color was essential. As you can see from the photo of the taped mosaic, it works well.

Once the mosaic was ready for framing (not yet glued together in the photo below), I added a peace sign (my signature in 2019) to the bottom right corner.

It's hanging in their hall where everyone can see it as they walk through.

*You can find the substrate I used, skeewbacker board, from https://www.skeew.biz

Note: This is not a paid endorsement, this is true love for a great product! ;-) Enjoy!!


Support Independent Artisans, Designers and Crafters for your gift-giving needs all throughout the year. Thank you!~Cindy, EarthMotherMosaics