Floral Garden Mosaic
Like collaborating with friends and colleagues, connecting with repeat clients is one of our favorite ways to create work. The relationship is established and comfortable, and everything seems to flow a bit more easily.
We created this exterior mosaic in exactly those conditions. The client is a great enthusiast and collector of craft and art, and owns several of our mosaic wall pieces. When it came time to replace the lion’s head fountain in their backyard garden, they reached out to Johannah to create a custom mosaic for the space.
The first step in this project was to remove the lion’s head fountain and create a template of the space for the shape of the mosaic.
The client requested abstract flowers in warm tones for the design of the mosaic. Green stems and leaves add visual variety and contrast. The tulip-like shape of the overall mosaic inspired the background design.
Like any exterior art, it’s important to consider how weather will affect the finished piece. The substrate on which the mosaic is made, the materials it’s created from, and the adhesive should all be able to withstand changes in moisture and temperature. Freeze-thaw cycles are especially important in some areas. In Virginia we’re lucky they’re not too dramatic but should still be kept in mind.
For this mosaic, the roof overhanging the wall will provide some additional protection over the years.
Below you can see Kyle and Johannah installing the finished mosaic. Johannah left openings in the mosaic to allow the piece to be screwed into the support structure behind it. Once it was installed, pre-cut mosaic tesserae were set in place to cover the screw heads.
Such a lovely outdoor room! This mosaic was a dream to create from start to finish, and we’re honored to be a part of this space.
