Miniature Mosaic Landscapes

This series of landscape mosaics grew out of Johannah’s initial exploration of tiny mosaics and of course, her continued interest in the full moon.

The first set featured the full moon as well as a few sunrises over a series of her favorite landscapes like forests, mountains, and open water. She created these mosaics from stained glass set in black-tinted mortar.

For the next group she created, Johannah added unglazed porcelain to the stained glass. The flat, saturated color of the ceramic contrasts in such a lovely way with the opaque shine of the glass. She expanded the types of landscapes as well, looking to open fields, rolling hills, train tracks, and waterfalls.

This latest group hearkens back to the forests and sunrises of the original set, while offering a new take on mountain views.

You can find the current mountain landscapes in our shop, available with free shipping.

Four miniature mountain landscapes

Four mini mountain landscapes

Miniature mountain mosaic in hand

Miniature mountain landscape set on table

Blue Ridge Mountains Mosaics

As nature-lovers in Virginia, it’s no surprise we’re drawn to the iconic imagery of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Over the years Johannah has created a variety of mosaics featuring the mountains.

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Though we don’t hike these beautiful mountains as often as we’d like, we do try to get there a few times a year. Every single visit is such an inspiring and mind-clearing experience. Returning to the studio after one hike, Johannah developed the idea for a larger landscape of the mountains. This mosaic would include three panels and feature the rocky outcroppings so common to the Blue Ridge.

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Humpback Rocks, photo by NPS

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Blackrock Summit, photo by NPS

The basic composition Johannah had in mind included an outcropping and a pine tree, with the mountains in the distance beyond. While some ideas come to mind fully-formed, this one took a few twists and turns as it came into being. First it took a few tries to land on a way to illustrate the pine tree she found satisfying. Later, once the mosaic seemed complete, something still felt missing. She decided a mosaic frame around the three panels would pull it all together.

Pine tree attempt #1

Pine tree attempt #2

Pine tree attempt #3, success at last!

Almost done but something's missing...

A border pulls it all together.

The resulting mosaic landscape was included in our exhibit as guest artists of the month at Crozet Artisan Depot a few years ago. What better place to display this piece than a little town nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge!

Plan A (There is no Plan B)

Johannah’s most recent mosaic series celebrates the beauty of the natural world, continuing a theme from the earlier Nature and Endangered Flowers series.

We are thrilled to be showing these three mosaics among  a selection of Johannah’s work at Gallery at 23 for the month of April. Located across the street from the Maggie Walker statue on Broad St. in Richmond, this gallery features artwork exhibitions by new and established Virginia artists.  “Take Care” features Johannah’s mosaic artwork about environmental and social justice .

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The mosaics in this series are inspired by the sense of awe I feel looking out at the waters, mountains, and forests on this beautiful and singular planet we call home. And that’s just it, it’s the only one on which we know we can survive and thrive. If we continue to mess it up as we have been, there is no plan B. (Or as I’ve seen on signs at environmental demonstrations, “No Planet B.”) These works are a celebration of our world, and a call to reawaken our connection to our home.

"River Journey" mosaic art

"River Journey" mosaic art detail

The first piece in this series is “River Journey.” This piece is comprised of several lengths of blue and green mosaic laid out side by side. “River Journey” is inspired by the James River, the river we love running through the center of the city we live in.

Drinkable water represents a tiny portion of water on earth, yet human activity has poisoned much of that water. The panels in this mosaic represent the legs of the human journey in our relationship with water. As we travel this journey, the health and quantity of the water and the landscape around us may change, and different periods of crisis or improvement may last for different lengths. We don’t know in advance how many different legs this legs journey will encounter, but like a river, history carries us ever onward.

"In the Mountain's Shadow" mosaic art

"In the Mountain's Shadow" mosaic art detail

“In the Mountain’s Shadow” was the second piece in this series celebrating the beauty of the natural world. This artwork consists of a rugged mountain silhouette in white with black shadows below and a tiny moon and stars above. “Mountain’s Shadow” was inspired by rocky mountain ranges like the Himalayas of south Asia and the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, so different from our own ancient and softly rolling Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.

This mosaic represents those dark periods of life that feel inescapable in the moment. Right now, the health of our world is in a very dark place that often feels hopeless. The moon and stars represent the hope of light and a different future.

"Such a Perfect Day" mosasic art

"Such a Perfect Day" mosaic art detail

The last piece in this series is “Such a Perfect Day.” This piece consists of a horizontal triptych, a series of three pieces meant to work together to create a whole image. Puffy white clouds float against a blue sky over a line of evergreen trees and a golden field. “Perfect Day” is inspired by early summer days, golden days when the sun feels warm and perfect and a soft breeze stirs the trees.

The title for this mosaic comes from the Lou Reed song of the same name, a song used frequently in soundtracks to add a touch of foreboding to those similar golden days. With climate change already wreaking havoc in our world, those beautiful perfect days now come with a sense of foreboding in real life. How much longer can we expect to experience such perfect weather? Let’s savor those days while we can, and work towards the hope of more in the future.