The Parrot

Well, this isn't the best picture I've ever taken, but on the left is my parrot mosaic at the Cabrillo Arts Pavilion. It's the Goleta Valley Art Association's April show. It won a Juror's Choice award. Such a surprise! I wasn't exactly thrilled with the parrot, but since it was the only mosaic I had available to enter, I submitted it. On the right is the picture I used to create the mosaic. And, of course, the ubiquitous sun is in the mosaic!

Now that I recognize that I put a sun and a cat in all my mosaics, I'll make a concerted effort to branch out. Maybe a dog!

Mosaic Parrot Round 2

OK, so the first parrot above I made for my friend Eva wasn't exactly a success. He looked good until the grouting and then I broke off his foot! Learned a good lesson there about Wedi board. It can be fragile. Don't make any tight cuts!

So I decided to go a different way and began Parrot 2 on Hardibacker. Then she can hang it outdoors if she chooses. He looks much better. Yesterday I finished gluing him. I plan to grout in charcoal which I think will really help make him stand out. The difference in the two bottom pictures is that the one on the left was taken in the house with a flash and the one on the right was taken this morning on a very overcast day here in Santa Barbara.

More Mosaic Lessons Learned

The lesson I learned with the parrot is that you can't make tricky, thin cuts when using Wedi board. As I was grouting him, I broke the bottom piece that is his feet and the branch he's sitting on. The piece didn't fall off because of the stained glass pieces attached, but I can no longer give it as a gift. So now he's watching the yard from the Sequoia in my front yard. Not a bad home.

Next time I'll cut him out of Hardibacker. I have until the middle of August before I see my friend, so I think I'll be able to get it done. Maybe I'll make him a little bigger this time.

And since I love cat adventures also, here is Prancer just taking off to chase some creature on the roof. He's out of focus because he's a very fast cat but look at those whiskers!!!

Time to Grout

Yesterday was grouting day. Several people have asked about metal house numbers so I made up a sample - the "7" with mirror glass. I found a supply of numbers at a local "random" store where they buy everything under the sun from who knows where. The parrot is for a friend of mine who likes parrots. The house number plaque is a commission and the heart and flowers are just because I like hearts and flowers. The heart is cut from Wedi board so it can be hung outside as is the parrot.  The more I mosaic, the more I find that I just like the soothing quality of gluing. Now if only I found the initial design soothing...

Hawkeye the Blue Headed Pionus

I have sad news to report. My sister-in-law's Blue Headed Pionus (little parrot) died today. I knew Hawkeye was reaching the end of his life around November last year, so I made this mosaic of him as a Christmas gift.