Pete and I have an antique wood, coal stove “Our Glenwood”
Mosaic created from shells and glass
“Hot Seat” favorite spot to sit when you need to thaw
She is up to code and we use it to keep us warm. I had always wanted to create a mosaic on the required cement board behind the stove.The fall of 2020, I finished a project I had wanted to do for myself. I had a large studio at the time and a large collection of shells, glass, beach glass, sand dollars, porcelain and anything that is fire retardant. Ugly cement board transformed into something made with natural found objects truly beautiful now with my Van Gogh inspired Sprit rigged boating scene made of shells and glass.
My idea was a boating scene that Vincent Van Gogh painted. I was having a hard time finding the image that I had in my memory for reference. When I was in Holland we went to the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam and the extensive library on the 7th floor. Our friends Custa & Casey helped me with the dutch translations and research. We found the painting. It was one of only a few of that subject matter that Vincent had painted, but it was a horizontal not the vertical I needed. So I winged it and cropped it. I think In shells It still is as vibrant as he would like. I first laid out the cement boards on a table, then. I measured out and plastered down the border in tile we were using for a project at the house. I put pieces of cardboard down. I would place the shells where I liked them on the cardboard pieces. It took several months.
Then, I had a dream one night that my art mates came in and turned on the heat. The blower was in my room. I had visions of the dry fitted shells and treasures blowing everywhere. I decided it was time to plaster the pieces down. I used 3 colors of plaster. White, gray and dark gray. I would pick up one section of cardboard with the shells and glass arranged. Plaster the cement board and then push them down on to the plaster. In the order I had placed them on the cardboard section. Wipe with sponges to clean. Let dry. It took another month or so and I was able to show the 2 pieces, completed.
Pete and I were able to install it behind the stove before we needed the heat. I did have to repair and replace loose shells at the seam of the 2 sections. It has been intact since. For many years I have enjoyed sitting in the “hot seat” and watching the pieces seem to move with the light reflecting on all the shiny and fun things in the design. It took many hours but what a wonderful thing to admire everyday, a treat for me. No more ugly cement board to look at.
This is the mosaic before a stove is in front of it
Right view of Mosaic
Add Comment