Dragonfly
created by sandra groeneveld
Object: Dragonfly Bench Commission
Materials: Vitreous Glass Tesserae with Black Grout on a Concrete Bench
Dimensions: 3 Foot (37"x14")
Method: Indirect (glued to paper and then transfered to the bench after pregrouting)
Pat, my client wanted a dragonfly theme. I went over several art books with her to determine her preferences for style and colors. She is generally drawn to simple graphic representations as found in wood cuts and quilts.
Doing research on dragonflies soon showed me there is a wealth of shapes and colors that they come in. As with much of nature, no matter what color combination you come up with, it already exists somewhere on earth.
Close-ups & Process
01 The background tiles "halo" the dragonfly. This is a traditional method that dates back centuries.
02 The large wings on the left side not only balanced the design but gave an opportunity to explore the distinct "veins" of the wings in further detail.
03 The start of the project.
Since the color of the border and background were the most crucial, I left the final color decision of the bug's body till last. Somewhat backwards, but it gave me more freedom for experimentation.
04 I wanted to introduce a hint of dimension to the bug's body. I made my drawing detailed enough to reflect the angle so I would not lose sight of subtleties while cutting the tiles.
05 Testing the fit.
06 Using an exacto blade, I cut the paper into more manageable pieces. They get heavy and cumbersome when pre-grouted. Prior to chopping it up, marking the back of the paper as well as the concrete ensures the puzzle gets put back together properly.
07 Grouting and applying thinset a section at a time ... you have to work fast. One piece left to do in this picture.
08 Pulling off the paper is the most nerve wracking and exciting part of the process. Its the first glimpse of all the colors together.
09 All the paper is off, the surface is cleaned up. A final grouting, which includes making a nice edge between the tiles and the concrete will be the final step.