I love this moment…hours and hours of cutting, placing and sticking are over…
Then I spread it all over. With my hands (I love the feel of it, the spreading tools just aren’t for me). Many mosaic artists don’t like grouting. I love it. I love the unifying effect, the emergence of art from under a blanket of goo. Its just like life. You have to trust that even when beauty is covered up, it still there, waiting to emerge.
Then gently, slowly (straight away, I just can’t wait!) I begin to wipe the excess grout off with kitchen roll. Another tip, fold the kitchen paper again and again so that you are using a clean bit every time. It stops you re-wiping grout that you are trying to remove! Its a loving process, tenderly stroking and bringing it to life – shining up each small piece that makes up the whole.
Just love it. I finished Mr Cheeky Rooster yesterday (he is a commission for a couple’s 40th wedding anniversary) and a friend of mine looked at him and said “ooh, he is alive!”. I couldn’t want for a nicer compliment to a piece of my mosaic art.
well, that does all sound like fun, maybe I should try it!
Lovely present for the couple!
Amelia.x
he IS quite alive. I have a thing for roosters and that one is like no other I have seen. Thanks for the glimpse into your process. I have always loved the idea of mosaic but have never really given it an honest try. I would love to dip my hands into the creamy grout.
So beautiful! I love to read about your process, it really makes your piece come alive even more! Gorgeous! 🙂
Love the whimsy of this rooster! They are such fun to paint with all of their amazing colors. Found you on Amelia's course blogroll.
Thanks for your lovely comments – he went down a treat with the new owners!
Thats a great tip-vaseline I recently made a large piece for a wedding present and used shells and pebbles as well as glass tiles -I mixed a gorgeous “purple” grout-inspired by the colour of some of the shells but sadlllly it stained some of the shells and pebbles-will try vaseline next time -Thankyou
I am in love with your pieces and site! Thank you so much for sharing with the one of us that do not have inspirations naturally.
I would like to know if the top of the rooster head are pieces that you fused?
Thank you for your kind words Vera. They are fused pieces…but not fused by me but by Martin Cheek 😉