Rooster Mosaic Backsplash

I have wanted to make rooster mosaics for a while. I was recently contacted by a gentleman, for whom I had made a mosaic fireplace surround 5 years ago, to create a new piece to go behind his stove. He was redesigning his kitchen in a black-and-white motif, sort of a "bistro" theme. His floor is black & white and the cupboards and walls are bright white. Well, when I Googled "bistro" a lot of rooster art came up! So I designed this piece: a simple white tile background with 6 tiles with a grey-metallic finish and 4 solid black tiles. The centerpiece is a glass mosaic rooster. I really like how this came out. 

Here are photos of the process:

First the design. I laid out the tiles on a mockup of the space. 

 Then I cut the rooster out of Wedi board. I don't like the "strings" that stick out of the sides of the Wedi but I do like how easily it cuts. 

Here it is finished in my studio and ready to be packed up to go to the job site:

  Next step, the installation! Here is the space "before".

Here is the space "after". 

You can see the substrate nailed to the wall by the contractor. I tape all around and put tarps on the floor to protect all the new white paint. 

The install begins. 

I held up the tiles with blue tape to keep them from sagging. I didnt want to use quick-setting adherent because I wanted to be able to measure and level each row and shift the tiles if necessary. 

And here it is at the end of the first day. 

 Second day - grouting!

 Again, taping everything around the piece is essential.

 Almost clean!!

I went back to seal this a few days later and the stove was in place. Here she is finished! 

I think I am going to keep making rooster mosaics. I really like the image and "feel" of roosters and chickens. 

 

Rooster Mosaic Backsplash

34" x 36"

2013