Stained Glass Mosaics
Aloha!
I create glass mosaic artwork using hand cut stained glass.
My inspiration, and the focus of my work is to honor the beauty, culture and traditions that are found here, in the magic that is Hawaii.
Wahine & Kane
Ohana Series
WINNER!
Size: 12'W X 18" L (each)
Medium: Hand cut stained glass,
grouted with 6 different custom
color blends.
Completed: 2024
Status: SOLD
First in the Ohana Series, the Wahine & Kane mosaics were inspired by the beautiful adornments worn by Hawaiian hula dancers.
Each mosaic is framed in Japanese sugi wood and are intended to be displayed together as a pair.
The flowers in the wahine's lei po'o include hibiscus, plumeria and Ohi'a Lehua, and she is adorned with a lei made from fragrant puakenikeni blossoms.
Kane is adorned with a crown of lush greenery, a kukui nut and bone lei as well as a shark tooth arm tattoo - a symbol for protection, strength, guidance and ferocity.
Next in my Ohana Series and currently being crafted is "Kupuna - 'Ike & Mana'o (Wisdom & Knowledge)" that will include similar images as of Wahine and Kane, but of their elders. Part three of the Ohana Series will include "Keiki - Pa'ani & Kolohe (Playful & Mischievous)" which will be the half faces of the children of Wahine & Kane.
La Volpaia Logo
Size: 12" Diameter
Medium: Hand cut stained glass, on hardi backer board for exterior application, grouted with 4 different custom color blends.
Completed: 2024
Status: Not Available
La Volpaia, Italian for "foxes den", is the 500 year old Tuscan agritourism villa owned by the international award winning fine artist, mosaic master and my mentor, Mia Tavonatti. www.miatavonatti.com, www.lavolpaia1521.com.
This beautiful, 20 acre property is in the Chianti region of Tuscany, with lavendar fields and olive groves.
I recently returned from an 8 day mosaic retreat and workshop intensive at La Volpaia to better hone my own mosaic skills.
In appreciation for her mentorship, inspiration, encouragement and guidance, I created a mosaic of her villa logo which I gifted to her during my visit.
She loved it!
Actual logo
Sunset from La Volpaia
Hawaiian Pueo
Local Hawaiians believe that when you see the pueo, or short eared owl, flying nearby, it is their aumakua, or ancestors, bringing good luck and protection. Considered endangered on the island of Oahu, the pueo can be found throughout the Hawaiian islands. Their habitat is unique in that they can be found in grasslands and are active during the day, unlike other owls who are active only at night.
This pueo flies above kalo fields with an intense gaze upon the viewer.
Size: 16'W X 20" L
Medium: Hand cut stained glass, grouted with 4 different custom color blends.
Completed: 2023
Status: Available
Yellow Hibiscus
The beautiful hibiscus is available in a vast range of colors, and parts of the plant can be used medicinally. The yellow hibiscus represents fortune, good luck and happiness.
This is a dimensional, floating hibiscus flower
Size: Approximately24" Dia. x 3/4"
Medium: Hand cut stained glass, grouted with 3 different custom color blends.
Completed: 2023
Status: Available
Melia (Plumeria)
Plumerias in the Hawaiian culture represent a new beginning and symbolize beauty and grace.
This fragrant beauty is available in an endless variety of flower colors, from white, pink, coral and magenta, to the deepest red. The flowers are often strung into lei.
This whimsical mosaic was created using a miniature surfboard shape as the 3-dimensional sub-straight.
The cool tones of the background areas were cut entirely from one sheet of stained glass.
Size: 39 1/2" L x 9 1/2" W x 3/4" D
Medium: Hand cut stained glass, grouted with
3 different custom color blends.
Completed: 2023
Status: SOLD
Monstera Deliciosa
Adored for its large, lush leaves,
the Monstera plant can be found throughout the American tropics and the world. When grown indoors as a house plant, it is said to help purify the air by absorbing toxins.
This whimsical mosaic was created using a miniature surfboard shape as the 3-dimensional sub-straight.
The cool tones of the background areas were cut entirely from one sheet of stained glass.
I've included a short video that shows the entire piece.
Size: 39 1/2" L x 9 1/2" W x 3/4" D
Medium: Hand cut stained glass, grouted with
4 different custom color blends.
Completed: 2023
Status: SOLD
Creator of the Hawaiian Islands, Tutu Pele, as she is affectionately known, is the goddess of volcanoes and fire. Known to reside in Halema'uma'u crater of Kilauea on the Big Island of Hawaii, she controls volcanic lava flows.
In this mosaic, a hula dancer honors Tutu Pele from ancient lava rock at the edge of the ocean. In the lower left of this piece is Pele's flower, the Ohia Lehua, seen sprouting life through the barren lava rock landscape that Pele has been creating since the birth of the Hawaiian Islands.
Size: 16" x 20"
Medium: Hand cut stained glass with unsanded
grout in 9 different custom color blends.
Completed: 2023
Status: SOLD
Hula Pele
Hawaiian Ti (Ki)
Brought to the Hawaiian Islands from Polynesia, every part of the Ti plant can be utilized - from its leaves to its roots, for medicine, food, hula adornment, lei and sacred rituals. Ti represents positive blessings and protection from the Creator, and planting it around your home will bring good luck and protection from evil spirits.
This mosaic showcases some of the many beautiful colors available from a Hawaiian Ti Plant, aka Cordyline.
Size: 9" x 12"
Medium: Hand cut stained glass with unsanded
grout in 3 different custom color blends.
Completed: 2023
Status: SOLD
Hawaiian Hau Blossom
Hibiscus Flower
With an abundance of beautiful flowers available in Hawaii, lei makers are able to create different styles of lei, including the style shown. "Po'o means head, so "Lei Po'o" means head lei.
This lei po'o flower mosaic includes plumeria, hibiscus, pink ginger, fern and other greenery.
Size: 24" x 24"
Medium: Hand cut stained glass
Completed: 2022
Status: SOLD
This hibiscus mosaic was created in an intensive, 5 1/2 day workshop taught by the amazing, award-winning international fine artist and mosaic master, Mia Tavonatti.
This piece was my first introduction to Mia's "Painting with Glass" mosaic method, and Mia also provided the hibiscus reference image as well.
This mosaic reflects the translucence of a white hibiscus flower
Size: 9" x 12"
Medium: Hand cut stained glass with unsanded
grout in 5 different custom color blends.
Completed: 2022
Status: Not Available
Wahine Lei Po'o
Also known as a Sea Hibiscus, the Hau plant can be found in Hawaii and other tropical locations worldwide. The beautiful blossoms begin yellow with a red center, and transition darker throughout the day; through hues of salmon, coral and finally dark burgundy before they fall from the plant, creating a lush carpet of fallen blooms.
This mosaic reflects the deep color changes in the life of a Hau blossom.
Size: 9" x 12"
Medium: Hand cut stained glass with unsanded
grout in 3 different custom color blends.
Completed: 2023
Status: SOLD
Hope
I created this mosaic during the historic presidential election season in 2008.
The reference image used was created by artist and activist Shepard Fairey
President Barack Obama
Size: 11" x 17"
Medium: Hand cut stained glass.
Completed: 2008
Status: Not Available
Hawaiian Kananaka
Meaning "mermaid" in the Hawaiian language, this kananaka is swimming through a kelp grove under the sea as a Honu (sea turtle) looks on.
Size: 24" x 48"
Medium: Hand cut stained glass with unsanded grout in
5 different custom grout color blends.
Completed: 2022
Status: Available
Rasta Lion
With a love for reggae music, I created this mosaic after returning from one of my 15 trips to Jamaica. The birthplace of the Rastafari culture, the lion in Jamaica represents the "King of Kings", and is the symbol of strength and vigor, which Rastafari strive to embody.
Size: 25" x 25"
Medium: Hand cut stained glass, flat glass gems, glass beads
Completed: 2009
Status: Available
Custom Bathroom Backsplash
Created for a total bathroom remodel at my home in Hawaii.
Size: 12" x 48"
Medium: Hand cut stained glass, flat glass gems, glass beads
Completed: 2022
Status: Not Available