La Siren III, 2017 Vitreous glass, bottle caps, stone, copper, 15.65 carat emerald, glass eyes, plywood and Hardiebacker substrate 60″ H x 36″ W x 1.5″ D Commissioned by the American Museum of Natural History La Siren III was commissioned by the American Museum of Natural History for the...
Old Glory is an American flag created from over 20,000 Budweiser bottle caps and was commissioned by Golden Voice and Budweiser for the 2015 Stagecoach Music Festival. Measuring ten feet tall by sixteen feet wide, for a total of 160 square feet, Old Glory is...
Old Glory was a huge hit at the festival! Here's a little video of just some of the Instagram selfies taken with the flag. People lined up day and night to take their picture with Old Glory. One thing I really liked was how, as each...
My step-son Don drove the flag out to Indio, CA and helped me assemble it when we got there. I'd been very worried that the flag might be damaged by the vibration of a long road trip but it arrived fully intact. If you look...
The trailer is here and it's install day! My studio assistant Jamie and I carry out the first of the big sections. Laying all the panels out and hoping that they fit easily into the framework as planned. My plan was for the flag panels to mount...
The four main panels are finally finished! I'll add a few fill caps to the seams once it is installed at the festival, but for now, it's ready to travel. Now onward to make the bottom two stripes. To minimize the seams, the bottom stripes are...
The stars are finished on panel two! A close up shot of the caps. I love the way this thing looks when you get up close and look across it at a low angle. Note that even though the copper coated nail heads are tiny, they...
Beginning the fourth panel. The first step is lining up the rows so that they match the edge of the last panel. This is slightly difficult because they're both 4 feet wide by 8 feet tall so it's quite a reach to get the caps...
Week Three. The first panel is done and the stripes are finished on panel two. I moved on to the third panel partly to give my hand a rest from bending the stars and partly so I could get video footage of the second panel...
Marcie videotaped the first cap being nailed to the flag. Only 19,999 or so to go! The first couple rows of caps have been applied. Usually, I partially crimp all the caps so that they overlap and have no space at all between them. Because this...
This is how 28,000 bottle caps arrived. The three boxes weighed 131.62 pounds altogether. I had no idea quite what to expect but rather thought the boxes might be a lot larger. It was fortunate that Budweiser donated the caps because there's no way I...
Every few weeks I get an email asking me about how my Bottle Cap Mosaics are created… people want to know what they're made of, how the caps are attached, where I get the caps for the mosaics and so on. I've created the video...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish at Vale Craft Gallery Bottle Caps, plywood, printed tin, copper or bronze, rakes, dustpans, nail, etc. 126" H x 90" W Bottle caps have long had a place in the folk art tradition as a decorative element. Usually, they are deployed more as a texture,...
Christy MacLear commissioned this piece for her gallery, Fleur Fine Art, because people kept asking her to sell the mermaid from her private collection and she couldn't bring herself to part with it. She gave me "total artistic freedom" to create any bottle cap...
La Siren With her Italian glass top and bottle cap tail, LaSiren reflects not just light but a sense of humor and playfulness. Private collection.
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What I love most about this piece is the variety of interpretations I've heard— from holding up the weight of the worlds garbage, to being crushed by alcoholism, to a desire to drink in the entire world....
The city of Lincoln City, OR commissioned this Fish and a 41 inch Waves O' Fire Sculptural Firebowl as public art. I was a Featured Artist at the Art Sea Festival and gave a live demonstration of creating a Bottle Cap Mosaic....
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 54, 2007 plywood, primer, bottle caps, recycled bronze sheet, copper nails 26" x 55.5" x 1.5" This bottle cap mosaic fish was a commission to recreate as closely as possible Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 4 and No. 42. A combination of caps, Sierra...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 53, 2011 plywood, primer, bottle caps, recycled copper roofing, copper nails 20" x 50" x 1.5" This bottle cap mosaic fish is made from Corona and Corona Light bottle caps. The fins and tale are cut from recycled roofing copper. The eye is a...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 52, 2011 plywood, primer, bottle caps, recycled car body, copper nails 20" x 50" x 1.5" This fish is made from Blue Moon, Maine Root and Michelob Ultra bottle caps. The fins and tale are cut from vintage car metal from the 60's...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 51, 2010 plywood, primer, bottle caps, recycled car body, copper nails 20" x 50" x 1.5" This bottle cap fish mosaic was a recent commission based on Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 47. I love the fins, which were cut from an old...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 50, 2011 plywood, primer, bottle caps, spatula, dust pan, antique rake, copper nails 20" x 55.5" x 1.5" Commission loosely based on Fish numbers 4 and 5. This bottle cap mosaic fish is made from Heineken and Oberon bottle caps. The fins are cut...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 49, 2009 plywood, primer, bottle caps, recycled copper roofing, copper nails 20" x 50" x 1.5" This Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish is made with Budweiser and Budweiser Select caps. This was commissioned for a 50th birthday gift, and the client specifically requested BudWeiser caps....
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 48, 2008 plywood, primer, bottle caps, recycled copper roofing, copper nails 12" x 40" x 1.5" This bottle cap mosaic fish is made from a mix of blue bottle caps with a white face made of Becks caps. The fins and tale are...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 47, 2008 plywood, primer, bottle caps, recycled car body, copper nails 20" x 50" x 1.5" This fish is made from Heineken, Bud Light and Becks bottle caps. The fins and tale are cut from vintage car metal from the 60's or 70's....
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 26, 2006 plywood, primer, bottle caps, recycled vintage car steel, copper nails 12" x 40" x 1.5" This bottle cap mosaic fish is made from two different styles of Bud Light bottle caps. The fins and tale are cut from vintage car metal from...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 45, 2008 plywood, primer, bottle caps, recycled copper roofing, copper nails 20" x 50" x 1.5" This bottle cap mosaic fish is made from Michelob and Labatts bottle caps. The fins and tale are cut from recycled roofing copper. The eye is a jar...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 44, 2009 plywood, primer, bottle caps, vintage car steel, copper nails 12" x 40" x 1.5" This bottle cap mosaic fish is made from Coke, Becks and Harpoon bottle caps. The fins and tale are cut from vintage car metal from the 60's or...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 43, 2008 plywood, primer, bottle caps, recycled copper roofing, copper nails 20" x 50" x 1.5" This bottle cap mosaic fish is made from a wide mix of bottle caps. The fins and tale are cut from recycled roofing copper. The eye is...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 42, 2007 plywood, primer, bottle caps, recycled roofing copper, copper nails 26" x 55.5" x 1.5" This bottle cap mosaic fish was a commission to recreate as closely as possible Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 4. A combination of caps, Sierra Nevada, Stewarts Ginger Beer,...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 40, 2006 plywood, primer, bottle caps, recycled car steel, brass nails 20" H x 27" W x 1.5" D This fish is made from Reed soda and Harp beer bottle caps. The fins and tail are cut from vintage car metal from the 60's...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 39, 2006 plywood, primer, bottle caps, vintage car steel, copper nails 20" x 55.5" x 1.5" This bottle cap mosaic fish is made from Two different styles of Bud Light bottle caps. The fins and tail are cut from vintage car metal from...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 38, 2006 plywood, primer, bottle caps, vintage car steel, copper nails 20" x 55.5" x 1.5" This bottle cap mosaic fish is made from Labatts and Newcastle Brown Ale bottle caps. The fins and tail are cut from vintage car metal from the 60's...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 36, 2006 plywood, primer, bottle caps, recycled copper roofing, copper nails 20" x 50" x 1.5" This bottle cap mosaic fish is made from Amstel Light, Peroni and Bass Ale bottle caps. I love the way that the coloration of the caps mirror...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 35, 2006 plywood, primer, bottle caps, vintage car steel, antique rake, brass nails 20" x 55.5" x 1.5" This bottle cap mosaic fish is made from Labatts and Molson bottle caps. I wish I had a better photo of the way the light...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 34, 2006 plywood, primer, bottle caps, tin can, brass plated nails 20" x 50" x 1.5" This fish is made from Corona, Corona Light and S. Pelligrino bottle caps. The fins and tale are cut from vintage car metal from the 60's or...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 32, 2006 plywood, primer, bottle caps, bronze sheet, copper nails 20" x 50" x 1.5" This bottle cap mosaic fish is made from Heineken, Pacifico and one Topo Chico bottle caps. The fins and tale are cut from bronze sheet recycled from a door...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 30, 2006 plywood, primer, bottle caps, vintage car steel, brass gear, copper nails 20" x 50" x 1.5" This bottle cap mosaic fish is made from Coke and Beck's bottle caps. I love the way that the coloration of the caps mirror each...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 28, 2006 plywood, primer, bottle caps, recycled copper roofing, copper nails 20" x 50" x 1.5" This bottle cap mosaic fish is made from Coke and Beck's bottle caps. I love the way that the coloration of the caps mirror each other— Coke...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 26, 2006 plywood, primer, bottle caps, recycled copper roofing, copper nails 12" x 40" x 1.5" This bottle cap mosaic fish is made from Heineken and Becks bottle caps. The fins and tale are cut from recycled roofing copper. All the caps are partially...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 24, 2006 plywood, primer, bottle caps, recycled copper roofing, copper nails 20" x 50" x 1.5" This bottle cap mosaic fish is made from all different kinds of bottle caps— every brand that was mostly white or mostly black but uncommon enough that...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 22, 2006 bottle caps, recycled roofing copper, plywood, primer, 20" H x 27" W x 2.5" D This fish is made from Sam Adams, Reed, and Export Special bottle caps. The fins and tale are cut from recycled roofing copper. The eye...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 21, 2006 plywood, primer, bottle caps, recycled roofing copper 20" H x 27" W x 2.5" D This fish is made from Bud Light and Izze bottle caps. The fins and tale are cut from recycled roofing copper. The eye is a jar lid....
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 17, 2006 plywood, primer, bottle caps, recycled tin cans, brass nails 20" H x 27" W x 1.5" D This fish is made from Rolling Rock, Red Stripe and Pacifico bottle caps. The fins and tale are cut from recycled tin cans. The...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 15, 2006 plywood, primer, bottle caps, printed signage, brass nails 18" x 48" x 1.5" This Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish is made with Budweiser and Budweiser Select caps. The fins and tale are cut from an old enamel beer sign. The eye is a...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 12, 2005 plywood, primer, bottle caps, bronze sheet, rake, brass nails 18" x 55.5" x 1.5" This fish is made from Red Stripe and Becks bottle caps. The fins and tale are cut from an antique gasoline can. The eye is recycled roofing...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 10, 2005 plywood, primer, bottle caps, bronze sheet, rake, brass nails 18" x 55.5" x 1.5" This fish is made from Amstel Light and Bass Ale bottle caps. The fins are cut from bronze plate and the tail is a rake. All the caps...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 8, 2005 plywood, primer, bottle caps, tin can, stainless steel nails 12" x 35.5" x 1.5" This Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish is made with two different styles of Bud Light caps. The fins are cut from tin cans and the tail comes from...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 7, 2005 plywood, primer, bottle caps, tin can, dust pan, bronze nails 18" x 55.5" x 1.5" This fish is made from Heineken, Budweiser Select and unidentified bottle caps. The plywood is primed with two layers of Kilz primer. I love the copper...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 5, 2005 plywood, primer, bottle caps, tin can, antique rake, bronze shipwright's nails and brass plated nails 26" x 55.5" x 1.5" This fish is made from Heinekin, S. Pelligrino, and Newcastle bottle caps. The fins and tale are cut from recycled tin cans....
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 4, 2005 plywood, primer, bottle caps, tin can, antique rake, bronze shipwright's nails and copper rose head nails 26" x 55.5" x 1.5" A combination of caps, Sierra Nevada, Stewarts Ginger Beer, Dos Equis and Becks went into this attempt to capture the...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 3, 2005 plywood, primer, bottle caps, tin can, brass plated nails 12" x 35.5" x 1.5" This fish is made from Corona and Corona Light bottle caps. The fins and tale are cut from recycled tin cans. The eye is a jar lid. All...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 2, 2005 plywood, primer, bottle caps, tin can, stainless steel nails 12" x 35.5" x 1.5" This Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish is made with Budweiser and Bud Light caps. The fins and tale are cut from tin cans. The eye is a jar...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 1, 2004 plywood, primer, bottle caps, tin can, earring, gear, copper nails 12" x 35.5" x 1.5" My favorite Jim Harrison poem begins: I want to die in the saddle. An enemy of civilization I want to walk around in the woods, fish and drink. Every...