27 Oct Bluegill Glass Mosaic No. 2, 2006

Bluegill Mosaic No. 2, 2006
Sicis Iridium glass tile, glass taxidermy eye, copper.
11 x 17.5 x 1.5 in

My daughter Mya did so well last summer  helping me with mosaic that this year I had her create a whole line of fish. She got to do the fun parts—laying the tile and working out the gradients and shading— I did the mortar, grout, copper banding and provided some small amount of editorial assistance. The work sells at the normal studio rate because it’s totally worth it. Her skills are far beyond what you’d expect from a teenager, or even most professional artists.

Most of the tile used on this mosaic is from the Iridium line of glass from Sicis. As the light or viewing angle changes, the iridescent surface of the tile closely resembles the  scales of a live fish. The   photo above shows the iridescent sheen. The second pic shows the copper banding that finishes and protects the mosaic.

Mosaic is set with mortar on a Hardibacker substrate over plywood and finished around the edges with copper banding. Indoors or out, this mosaic will last lifetimes.