02 June 2010

Sheba Mosaic Progress

I haven't posted about the mosaic in a while. Earlier this week I finished the face and the hair, trimmed off the excess mesh and glued the work onto a Wedi board.

I've been testing colors for the clothing and the background.

When I test colors I lay out the tesserae in a roughed-in manner. I try out combinations and andamento (flow of the tesserae) in a very loose way which helps me visualize how it might look. This was my final test for the garment colors for the Sheba mosaic:
 

You can see a roughed-in arrangement of color and andamento. Once I find an arrangement that seems to work for me I let it sit for a few days - checking it now and then to see if it still appeals to me. If it does, I start working with the colors and layout and then see what I think (I have been known to pull out large sections of a mosaic if I'm not perfectly satisfied with it...)

Tonight I started on the garment section of the mosaic. Didn't get too far - tonight was Skype night with the Las Vegas contingent of the family. Promised Aluna that I'd post a photo of tonight's progress on the mosaic after we disconnected, so here it is:


Only the blue/green tesserae along the right shoulder (left side of the mosaic as you are looking at it) are glued down so far. Hopefully I'll get more done tomorrow night. I don't think I have any mosaic students coming to the open studio so I'll be able to work on this instead of teaching.


3 comments:

Barbara Benson (Bebe) Keith said...

She's looking great, Monta!

TileMosaicGirl said...

Monta: I love this; amazing work! So intricate and well designed!

Unknown said...

Thanks Barbara. I appreciate hearing your critique of my work - especially since I think your work is excellent.

Krystie - I am a bit obsessive about both the design and the precision in my work. It means that it takes me a bit longer to complete a piece. But for me it is worth it.

I have almost finished this mosaic. One more evening and it will be done - would have been done tonight but I got to capture a bee swarm. That was a lot of fun.

Hopefully tomorrow I will have photographs of the finished work. I'm baking gluten-free brownies to celebrate.