Mosaic Mural - small side

Mosaic mural - small side

Image size 27" x 40"

I did the pattern for the smaller side of the mosaic mural this week.  I just noticed that I didn't add any circles for the glass beads, so I need to do that.

Here is a picture of how they will look in my yard.  I took this before I designed the smaller side.

I know this looks pretty rough, but you get the idea.  Once it is installed, I will do plantings that overhang the edges so that it will look more like a pond.

I also spent a lot of time cutting out pattern pieces from the larger side this week.  There are over 400 pieces on that side, not counting the circles.  I have cut about 300 of them.  

I'm keeping track of the time I spend on this project just for fun.  So far, I've spent more that 40 hours on it and I haven't even touched a piece of clay!

It's a slow process, but very meditative.

mosaic mural pattern

Mosaic mural pattern

Image size 4' x 8' approx.

This isn't a finished painting, but it is a finished pattern for a very large project I'm working on and I'm thrilled to be able to finally start on the fun part.

Each of these pieces will be formed from clay, then textured and glazed with colors to create a "Koi Pond" for my backyard.  The background (which isn't colored on this pattern) will be various blues and the circles will be glass beads.  I just colored the fish and lily pads so that I wouldn't get too confused as I'm working on it.  

My next step will be to number all of the pieces and cut patterns for each piece.  This is my master pattern and if this gets destroyed, I will be in a bad place.  

I purchased my glazes and 75 pounds of clay to start.  I am guessing that it will take about 100 pounds or more to finish it.  There is also a small area that will be on the other side of the sidewalk so it (hopefully) looks like the stream flows under the walkway.  I haven't designed that yet.  It is much smaller than this side.  It's probably about 3' x 3.5'.  That will be for another day.

Encaustic Eucalyptus

"Encaustic Eucalyptus"

Image size 18" x 24"

Encaustic

I painted this from a reference photo that I took on an early morning walk close to where I live.  The sun was just peeking over the hill and I love how the sun is hitting the trees in this picture.

Restful Lilypads

"Restful Lilypads"

Image size 12" x 16"

Encaustic

I'm still working with encaustic this week.  I've been working on this one for a while.  Now that I'm seeing it in a photo, I think I will add some reflections to the edges of the lilies.

On The Horizon

"On The Horizon"

Image size 7" x 5"

Encaustic

What is that on the horizon?  Who knows?  It's whatever your imagination thinks it is.