Mosaic Inspiration

When people view my work, they wonder...

how did you get from this [above] to this [below]?

How did I end up creating mosaic portraits 

out of junk mail?

Well... imagine two lines in space...on a course to intersect. 

My work represents those converging lines.

Line one - I've always painted portraits. Years ago, I started attempting to make my paintings resemble mosaics. Like, actually painting the "grout" or grid lines. Didn't look great. I am a pretty good painter, this just didn't do the trick.

Line two - I started doing traditional mosaic work, studying the ancients... in Italy, in Turkey, in Cyprus. I did a great job creating the obligatory planters with broken china. I created a celestial tile mosaic on my kitchen counter. I did my bathroom floor using 40 shades of blues, greens, metallic, white... glass tiles. And many other pieces. I am a pretty good mosaic artist.

THEN...I saw the mosaic stained glass portrait in Venice [Italy]... so I started to attempt to create portraits out of tile...out of glass...out of stone...out of buttons...and then paper. 

It started small, and it grew. Practice...time...it became more intricate...more challenging...and eureka! I found my groove. I've been creating a connected body of work in this style, using my own technique for many years now. 

I hope you like it! - Now, here's some inspiration and examples. Enjoy.

Part of the reason I created an "Angels & Icons" series came from my love of religious mosaics and Russian Icons.

glass mosaic

glass mosaic

My first attempt at paper mosaic, influence by religious glass mosaics

Russian Icon

glass mosaic

There are more - check on my site for Saints, Angels, & Icons.

Arabic tile work, Louis Comfort Tiffany and Antoni Gaudi are other inspirations:

a paper mosaic I created to match my bathroom floor

Samarkand

Tiffany glass mosaic portrait

Travel also inspired me - to locations in the Mediterranean, but I have yet to visit Barcelona [home of Antonio Gaudi] or Samarkand.

my bathroom floor

an early attempt at junk mosaic -I created this in 2005 from buttons, beads, toys, etc.

Antonio Gaudi mosaic in Barcelona

Tiffany glass mosaic

The Empress Theodora and her retinue. I still have this drawing in my studio for inspiration

Please feel free to view my site [click the link below] or email me to ask questions, inquire about purchasing original art or to represent me at your gallery!

 Sandhi Schimmel Gold

 

Klio

I love the Arts and Crafts Movement, I love the work of Gaudi, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Frank Lloyd Wright. And, one of my favorite artists is Gustav Klimt. I probably shouldn't group that bunch together, but it works in my mind.
Klio.
The title is a synthesis of Klimt and Cleopatra. I drew the face first. Deep dramatic shadows, and piercing blue eyes. I knew the background would be mostly black. I was thumbing through a book of Klimt's work and decided to use some of his geometric patterns in this piece [I created a companion piece, Sheherazade - also using some Klimt inspiration - she's in a private collection in Connecticut]. I built the piece from one corner - using, almost exclusively, Christmas cards. There is a lot of metallic and foil - gold, silver and many colors!
I didn't really think about Cleopatra until I was finished, the eyes... I knew others would see the connection.
Klio is one of my favorites. Those eyes, they speak to me. And, that little flourish of Klimt makes me happy.
The original is available for $4600.00. An 18x24x2" Giclee [reproduction on canvas] is available for $400.00, and this image is included in a packet of 8 greeting cards for $24.00. To purchase any of these, email me: artist@schimmelart.com.