New Pet Portrait

My latest mosaic made with stained glass is this teensy portrait of Buster, only 4x5".  It was tricky doing the eyes so small (most of it requiring tweezers), but once I got those just right, the rest fell quickly into place!

Hamish

My latest pet portrait, is of a beautiful cat named Hamish, who recently passed away. The mosaic, which is 8x10" and made with stained glass now resides with Isabelle in the U.K.

I always begin with the eyes on any animal or person.  Once I am happy with them, I know I will ultimately be happy with the whole mosaic.  The eyes can take me hours sometimes, especially if I have to cut tiny pieces such as the little white reflections, which in this mosaic are less than 1/8 of an inch in diameter.


I work with lots of visuals, including many photos of Hamish so I can get his markings and coloring just right; a black and white photo of the primary photo I'm working from to get the values correct; and a line drawing of the mosaic so I can work out the andamento of the glass (how I want to cut it and ultimately flow).

I received a lovely email from Isabelle after she received her mosaic: 

Hello Christine, I received the mosaic today in perfect condition. I love it and when the light shines on the eyes they twinkle and make me smile. You have captured Hamish and I will cherish it for ever. I feel him looking back at me and makes the loss easier. Thank you for the book and cards also but most of all bringing my Hamish back to life. Best wishes Isabelle

 

Thank you, Isabelle, for your trust and faith in me to create this portrait of Hamish for you!

Quincy

This adorable miniature Schnauzer is Quincy, commissioned by a friend who also commissioned me six years ago to create a mosaic of her daughters.  This mosaic is 8x10" and was made with stained glass and a little bit of millefiori.  The mosaic below entitled "Sisters" is what I created for her in 2007.  It is 24x36" and was installed in their garden.  They are such a lovely family and it has been wonderful working with them on both projects.  Thanks, Laura!!

New Work - Mystic

This is the first of five dog portraits I'm doing.  It is 5x7" and made with stained glass.

New Work - Roxy

I've recently been commissioned to create six pet portraits, five dogs and one cat. They will all be 5x7" and made with stained glass. Here is the first, a sweet kitty named Roxy. The long hair was challenging, but I am happy with how she turned out.


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Day of the Dead ATC mosaic swap

I swapped mosaic ATCs with my super talented friend, Rebecca Collins! Rebecca creates such fun and creative mosaics with the most incredible eye for color I've ever seen. And I love her choice of subjects from dogs to beetles to octopi to robots - so playful and unique! Rebecca started a mosaic ATC swap blog if you're interested in joining in. The next theme is hearts or the color red. Here is the dog I received from Rebecca and the skeleton face I made for her.

Not only does Rebecca create awesome mosaics, but runs a fabulous computerized pet portrait business of which I took advantage of directly after adopting our cat, Raymi! She so easily and beautifully captures the essence of the animal and her skills in composition and color, I'm telling you, are to DIE for! I admire her talent so much and am so lucky to own two works of art by Rebecca. And I do intend on my collection of her art growing in the future. :)

Here's Rebecca's portrait of Raymi. Beautiful, huh?!!