Crystal River Farm

created by sandra groeneveld

Back to Crystal River Home

Object: Fruits Theme Commission

Materials: Glass Tessarae with Medium Grey Grout on Framed Maple Plywood

Dimensions: 6.5 x 2 foot panel

Method: Direct and Indirect (using clear tile tape)

Design Notes: This design brings us full circle to a concept that started early in 2011. A representational design of a farm was deconstructed into an abstract version for the Lecanto Project. This year, a less abstract approach was requested. Using my original designs, I pulled out and recomposed the most popular elements for the new dimensions of the counter at this school. I was so thrilled to have the chance to make this design a reality. Nothing floats my boat more than working on animals.

Commission Notes: This commission entailed the design and execution of five themes to identify the various food stations at the Crystal River High School cafeteria in Florida. It was an impressive remodeling project with longevity in mind. While much planning went into "function", "form" was by no means forgotten. Providing an inviting place to eat was certainly a big part of the mix.

Instead of permanent traditional signage, there are themed decorative mosaic panels running the length of the counters. The look of each of the stations informs you of the type of food being served, leaving the exact menus flexible.

I congratulate the vision of the Citrus County School Board. All of the students and faculty of Crystal River High School will be able to benefit from this investment in their school for years to come. I was proud to be a part of this project.

Close Ups

01 The original design at the bottom, finished work on top. The barn, fields and animals were done first. After their completion, I felt a static horizontal sky would work better, thus abandoning the initial idea - a movement in the direction of the tiles as indicated in the sketch. Also the subtle gradation was reversed; the lighter blues being on top.

02 Detail.

03 Detail.

04 Detail.

05 Detail.

06 I had some fun with the silos. A variety of grey tiles were used. Besides smokey swirls, a nice iridescent tile was used on the edges to give it a little metallic bling.

07 The crops in the foreground have some exposed corn as a little surprise for those who look.

08 Detail.

Process

09 Evolution of a chicken. Eyes are my favorite part and have to be just right. I prefer to do them direct, when everything else is completed. It's like throwing the switch at the very end to add the life.

10 Evolution of the barn. The drawing (in reverse) is initially covered with tile tape, sticky side up. The tiles are applied, good side down. When completed I cut close to the edge of the tiles with an exacto blade to remove the now tiled tape from the drawing. The lower right photo shows the barn right side up.

11 The drawing is again covered with tile tape. The various elements already completed are added so the background can be worked to flow into them.

12 I saved my favorite subject for last. I finished the background fields before starting on the cow.

13 When drawing, sculpting or depicting living things, I try to somehow inhabit their form to be able to feel and express more than what the eye can merely see. A quote from Denzel Washington on acting applies here but is said in a far more effective way: "The universal comes from the specific."

14 Mosaic is so perfect for this. The black & white cow is such a wonderful bold graphic. But you add a little depth with some subtle shades within those 2 colors and describe shape with the andamento; flow of the tiles. Pure joy.

15 Bessie is ready. I researched a lot of cow pictures. One of my favorite things was the scruffy thick bed-head hair on their foreheads.

16 All the farm pieces lined up (on a board that is larger than the one meant for the farm theme).

17 Mortaring down the barn.

18 After the sections get mortared down, I remove the excess mortar around the edges. The surface needs to be clean so the background can lay flat. After 24 hours, the tile tape can be carefully pulled off.

19 Putting down the sky. The border was an experiment at this stage. I altered it a few times before being satisfied with the result.

20 Seaming the sky around the cow.

21 Time for the eyes! With the chicken, I used some translucent yellow tiles. Some careful grinding provided the circular pupil and highlight.

22 The cow's eyes are a little more freeform.

23 The magic of Photoshop ... the finished grouted Farm panel is composited on the ungrouted version. The grey grout emphasizes the placement of the tiles on the cow nicely, both on the black and the white.

Install

24 A hard hat construction zone greeted us on installation day. Not ideal. To the learned eye though, it is possible to see this room is close to completion.

25 One, two, three, hoist! Up they all went without issue. A french cleat hanging system holds up the panels. Tabs screwed in at the bottom are installed for extra security.

26 Undercounter LED lighting is installed. One would think in such bright rooms this detail would be overkill, but it really brightens the artwork very effectively. A wise touch.

27 The backlit images behind the counters as well as the stainless steel kickplates are still to come.

28 I love the rich blue color of the counters.

29 Again, the backlit images (where the fluorescent bulbs are on the right) as well as the kickplates are missing. This still gives you a good idea of the look of the room once it is all polished up.

30 Meanwhile, on the other side of the room.

31 Yes sir, this is a hard hat zone. Fear not, mine is firmly stationed on my head.

32 Detail.

33 Since I always look for the signature in other peoples work, I thought I would add something a little more direct to my standard windsurfer symbol.