Koi
created by sandra groeneveld
Object: Koi Bench Commission
Materials: Vitreous Glass Tesserae with Black Grout on a Concrete Bench
Dimensions: 4 Foot (48"x15.25")
Method: Indirect (applied to contact tape in reverse and then transferred to a concrete bench)
My client has created a wonderful garden. Paths wind through the trees guiding you to various quiet locations where one can to stop and contemplate. Nestled between the plantings are two connected Koi ponds teeming with fish. A new bench, a perfect spot from which to view one of the ponds, was on the wish list. One large Butterly Koi, the favorite, was to be the star.
A few examples of work that caught my client's eye were provided to me. Colorful koi and designs with plenty of contrast were aspects that he admired. It is difficult to pick subject matter that conjures up more movement and color than a pond filled with Koi. Mosaic is a perfect medium to express this.
Suggested Reading: While working on this mosaic,I listened to several books on Audible. Here are a couple of the ones I liked best; "John Adams" by David McCullough, "Shadow Divers" by Robert Kurson and "Coraline" by Neil Gaiman.
Close-ups & Process
01 Detail
02 Detail
03 Some of the tiles have a completely smooth surface, others are slightly pitted. The black grout remains in the imperfections, giving a nice random "wash" over the entire mosaic.
04 The simple red-black-white color scheme of this fish was made more lively by selecting multiple variances for each color. Each one color has at least 3 variances.
05 The black/white drawing was the composition selected by my client. In the final approved color version, I changed some aspects to make the beauty fish more prominent.
06 Colors pre & post grout; After selecting the tiles for my color scheme, they go through a grout test. Some of the initial selections may then be discarded because they don't work as expected when surrounded by such a dark color. I chose black grout for the dramatic contrast. Grey would have given the scene a much softer look.
07 I decided to create the subjects individually on small pieces of tile tape. Later they were placed on a larger sheet when the background was added.
08 With the approved design, reference photographs, grout/tile sample board and pre-cut tiles at hand, I can finally apply the artistry of the selection/placement of each piece.
09 The finished subjects seen here in reverse. The black paper helps to check the proper flow of the tiles, this being more difficult to see on white paper. The use of tile tape makes adjustments a snap.
10 Dry fitting elements together and working on the border strategy. With this design, I decided on a simple border, not wanting to detract from the colorful fish.
11 The taped tiles are cut into 3 sections prior to mortaring them to the substrate. Where the fish disturbed the water, lighter tiles were sprinkled in.
12 Initially I was going to place the border on directly with mortar. I later changed my mind, added more tile tape and adhered the border tiles to it. Working with tile tape makes this kind of flexibility possible.
13 After mortaring down the 3 cut sections, the tile tape can be peeled off. This is truely my favorite part, seeing all the colors clearly again.
14 Cleanup time:
1. removing some excess mortar that squished between the tiles
2. replacing a few tiles that popped loose while the tile tape was being pulled off.
15 Besides taping off the edges to create a clean grout line, I added a bit of paper to catch the blobs of grout as I worked. It is a much better idea to simply place the bench on a board. The paper is too flimsy, lesson learned.
16 After grouting, I cover the work to slowly cure for several days. A good soapy scrubbing gets rid of the last dust and residue.
17 The Koi Bench at home. A lovely spot in the garden with the perfect view of the Koi pond.