JK Mosaic: Looking back at 2015

2016 is well under way, but I'm finally getting around to a 2015 Year in Review.

Last year started with a major surgery, so I took January and February off, which gave me an opportunity to simply sketch and play with mosaic at my own pace and to my own delight.  I set myself up in the family room, propped up on pillows, surrounded by art supplies, the tv remote, and painkillers.  I've always been interested in my Polish heritage, as I was particularly close to my Polish grandpa.  But I've found a lot less information about the Lithuanian traditions from my grandma's homeland.  During my convalescence, I happened to watch a Booze Traveler episode about Lithuania, and I was completely enchanted!  As my narcotic intake lessened, I was able to take up some research from some keywords I learned in the episode, finally finding a little bit of information about the religion and mythology of the country, taking copious notes in my sketchbook.

An early sketch I had made the previous year was developed further, and when I was able, I began work on a mosaic.  First, I created a small piece playing with the design style, colors and materials I had in mind:

"Fine Feathered" sold at the MAI salon in Philadelphia.

Later, when I was able to be upright for longer periods, I spent 10 weeks completing a mosaic in a style that is rooted in folk art, yet very much my own.

32.5" x 23.5", Available for sale!

As soon as I was recovered, I was commissioned to fabricate a stone floormat for a L'Occitane in Banff, Alberta.

This is the floor, tile taped on mesh, ready to install.

In April, I attended the annual Society of American Mosaic Artists conference in Philadelphia.  It was a great trip, full of workshops and presentations that inspired me, and allowed me to immerse myself in total mosaic geekery with hundreds of others from the U.S. and beyond.  Unfortunately, I became very ill during the trip, but it didn't stop me from finally visiting the amazing Magic Gardens created by the legendary artist Isaiah Zagar.

This is just one little view of a complex of rooms and a huge courtyard, not to mention many of the areas buildings.

My next project was another lavender farm mural for a L'occitane shop in the international terminal of the Dallas Fort Worth airport.

I was not able to get a shot of the installed mural, but this is how it looked assembled on my floor.  It was about 15' x 4.5'.

In August, I completed a smaller project, embelleshing stair risers into and out of the courtyard of a private home.

The same home has a much larger set of stair risers down to their waterfront, completed in 2011.

Finally, I was commissioned to fabricate my largest mosaic to date for a shopping plaza in Walnut Creek, CA.  Michael Kruzich, an accomplished mosaic artist from San Francisco, graciously helped me with the challenging installation in November 2015.

That wraps up my 2015.  I am currently taking commissions for March 2016 and beyond.  Happy New Year to all of you!