Custom Steel and Mosaic Creations

The more we put our forged steel and mosaic work together, the more new ideas occur to us and our clients for ways to collaborate. It’s such an exciting and satisfying journey!

We created this first table to show off the client’s collection of glaze sample ceramic tiles handmade by her mother.

Forged table base work in progress

Handmade ceramic tiles

Test fit for ceramic tile tabletop

The tiles came in a variety of colors and thicknesses. The fun challenge was to create a pleasing pattern of color AND as smooth a surface as possible. We were impressed in the end that Johannah was able to create a relatively even surface.

This client is local and was able to visit our studios to see examples of other tables Kyle has created. This helps a lot in visualizing the final product. Together, Kyle and the client designed a base that fit their taste as well as the space the client had in mind for the table.

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This next one is a collaborative piece we designed and made for ourselves!

We needed a single step from the gallery floor up to the door to the next room. Kyle forged a small railing with circular shapes for Johannah to fill in with mosaic. For the pure fun of it, she decided to go with dark pink and gold with a green flat marble at the center. Kyle also made the wooden step in hickory to coordinate with the flooring in the gallery.

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We created this last table for a couple celebrating an important wedding anniversary.

Kyle and the client designed the table to fit their entryway hall. The colors in the mosaic were inspired by other nearby artwork. Our friend Christina Boy made the walnut top.

Custom table base in progress

Mosaic inlay in progress

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"The Wholeness of Happiness,” an abstract portrait in mosaic

We’ve been so lucky to work with quite a few repeat clients. It’s an honor to be able create something special for each client in the first place. To be valued and trusted for further projects is truly a privilege.

Johannah created this piece for a couple she has worked with quite a few times. In this case, the request came from one half of the couple to create an abstract portrait of the other half as a special gift. The portrait is based on a photo of the subject wearing a red shirt and glowing with happiness to be in a place that is meaningful to them.

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Design sketch for “The Wholeness of Happiness” mosaic

The photo was taken at the seaside, and so the client requested a sense of movement to convey the motion of wind and water. Together, we decided a circle best represented the feeling of wholeness conveyed by the experience of deep joy.

The circle is red to represent the subject in their red shirt. The background is blue-green to represent the water and wind. Each field of color contains highlights of the other color to show the co-mingling of place and time and the subject’s joy.

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The Wholeness of Happiness

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Celestial Series

The moon has had an artistic pull on Johannah for a while now. Over the years she has created a variety of work featuring the full moon. The moon is the main character in some pieces or plays a supporting role in others. There’s even a series of tiny landscapes with full moons lighting the sky.

More recently, the work expanded to include other varieties of celestial bodies: the dark new moon, a radiant sun, and the lunar phases.

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Two Moons

“New Moon”

“Full Moon in Purple Sky”

“Full Moon in Black and Green”

“Sunny Day”

“Phases of the Moon”

The largest interpretation of the moon in the more recent Celestial series features a large full moon rising over a slate blue sky. Stars sparkle softly in the distance. You can see a short video of the mosaic under construction below.