Great Bowl O' Fire
$598 to $998
Waves O' Fire
$598 to $874

Font O' Fire

$499 to $849

Big Bowl O' Zen

$598 to $874
Great Flaming Lotus
$598 to $874
King Isosceles
$598 to $874
Beach Burner
$548 to $748
Isosceles Modern
$395
Blaze O' Glory
$325
Waves O' Glory
$325
Goblet O' Fire
$179

Pot-de-Feu Grill

$80
Click thumbnail image to visit product page for more info or to purchase. Click here to see all available firebowl sizes & designs.

 

Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish

bottle cap mosaics at Vale Craft Gallery
Bottle Cap Fish Mosaics at Vale Craft Gallery
Bottle Caps, plywood, printed tin, copper or bronze, rakes, dustpans, nail, etc.

126" H x 90" W
Check my ArtBuzz Blog for Availability

Bottle caps have long had a place in the folk art tradition as a decorative element. Usually, they are deployed more as a texture, willy nilly without sorting for color. My own bottle cap mosaics were initially inspired by  Haitian ritual flags, in which detailed images are realized entirely through the use of sequins. The first bottle cap pieces I did combined  bottle caps with vitreous glass tile.

Each cap is sorted by brand or color, washed, dried, punched, partially crimped and finally nailed in overlapping scales to create a feeling of depth, light and shadow. Decorative nail heads emulate the texture of seed beads often used to reinforce the sequins on flags. Even the smaller fish require hundreds of caps to complete.

The most amazing thing about these fish is the way they interact with light. When you look at one or two caps from any brand, they're generally not all that impressive. But when you group hundreds of them together and let them catch the sunlight,  they truly glow.  The combination of the background color with the logo can create color tones that are vibrant and lively and wholly unexpected.

What I like most about making the Bottle Cap fish mosaics is that the overlapping texture of the caps does such a good job of representing scales.These fish have been one of my big sellers… They typically sell out almost as soon as they appear. I can do custom fish in this style, by brand, color, shape, or whatever floats your boat. If you'd like to commission a fish just drop me an email from the contact page and let me know what you're thinking.

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La Siren II: A Mosaic Mermaid Sculpture in Bottle Caps and Glass

La Siren bottlecap mermaid mosaic
La Siren, 2000
Vitreous glass, bottle caps, stone, copper, glass eyes, Hardibacker substrate

60" H x 36" W x 1.5" D
Private Collection

Christy MacLear commissioned this piece for her gallery, Fleur Fine Art, because people kept asking her to sell the mermaid from her private collection and she couldn't bring herself to part with it. She gave me "total artistic freedom" to create any bottle cap mermaid I wanted to and I took that ball and ran with it. You gotta love the bottle cap dreads!

Unfortunately, these are  the best photos I have at present. I chose the detail image as the primary photo because the full photo is at a weird angle.

I was inspired to do bottle cap mosaics by Haitian ritual flags, in which detailed images are realized entirely through the use of sequins. Each cap is sorted by brand or color, washed, dried, punched, partially crimped and finally nailed in overlapping scales to create a feeling of depth, light and shadow. Decorative nail heads emulate the texture of seed beads often used to reinforce the sequins.

My bottle cap mosaics revisit the playful, funky spirit of my early found object collages. Combining the caps with Italian glass mosaic carries elements of folk art and recycling into a modern fine art context.

I also did a cut metal collage this year working from the same mermaid image used for this piece. Take a look at it here.

click thumbnail to view larger image. enlarge

La Siren mermaid sculpture

 

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Mermaid Mosaic Sculpture in Bottle Caps and Italian Glass

Mermaid sculpture in bottle caps and glass
La Siren, 2000
bottle caps, vitreous glass, carved wood, enamel paint, copper, glass eyes

46" H x 46" W x 2" D
Private Collection

With her Italian glass top and bottle cap tail, LaSiren reflects not just light but a sense of humor and playfulness. The image is based on the La Siren card from the Mexican Loteria game.

This was my first mosaic with bottle caps— I was inspired by Haitian ritual flags, in which detailed images are realized entirely through the use of sequins. Each cap is sorted by brand or color, washed, dried, punched, partially crimped and finally nailed in overlapping scales to create a feeling of depth, light and shadow. Decorative nail heads emulate the texture of seed beads often used to reinforce the sequins.

My bottle cap mosaics revisit the playful, funky spirit of my early found object collages. Combining the caps with Italian glass mosaic carries elements of folk art and recycling into a modern fine art context.

click thumbnail to view larger image. enlarge

Mermaid mosaic in bottlecaps and glass

 

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Elvis Is Love Mosaic Mirror

elvis is love mosaic
Elvis is Love Mosaic Mirror, 2003
vitreous glass tile, copper, Hardi-backer substrate over plywood.
36" x 36" x 1.5" (approximate)
May be Available

This piece and the What Would Elvis Do? mirror were created for a show of all-Elvis art at Fleur Fine Art in Chicago. Other artists contributing work included folk artists C.M. & Grace Kelly Laster and photographer Patty Carrol.

 

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What Would Elvis Do? Mosaic Mirror

What Would Elvis Do Mosaic
What Would Elvis Do?, Mosaic Mirror, 2003
vitreous glass tile, copper, Hardi-backer substrate over plywood.
30" H x 15" W x 1.5" D (approximate)
May be Available

I really wanted to make this piece into the door of a medicine cabinet…I wasn't allowed to cut big holes in the wall of the gallery, but if you would like it installed as the door to your medicine cabinet, lets talk!

This piece and the  Elvis Is Love mirror were created for a show of all-Elvis art at Fleur Fine Art in Chicago. Other artists contributing work included folk artists C.M. & Grace Kelly Laster and photographer Patty Carrol.

 

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Erzuli VeVe Mosaic Table

Erzuli Mosaic Table
Vévé for Erzuli Mosaic Table, 2003
vitreous glass, glass gems, steel table.

30" Tall x 42" x 42"
Commission

Laurie Beasley of Ridge Art commissioned this table, featuring a version of the Vévé for Erzulie, the Haitian goddess (Lwa) of love.

Erzuli Mosaic Table

 

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El Corazon Mosaic Table

El corazon mosaic Table
Corazon Mosaic Table, 2002
ceramic tile mosaic, steel table.
30" x 48" x 17" high
Commission

This table was commissioned by Angelo at Casa Loca in Chicago. The original design is from the Mexican Loteria deck, a traditional game similar to Bingo.  I had long wanted to do a mosaic based on the Mexican Loteria deck, and this image in particular. I wish I had better pictures of this piece… it's much cooler than you can tell from these images.

Teresa Villegas did a very cool updated version of the loteria game which has now been published in in a handsome book. I highly recommend checking out her site devoted to the project, which provides a good deal of background on the game and images. You can also learn more by visiting this website from Boston University on the History of the Mexican Loteria Card Game.

El corazon mosaic Table loteria mosaic Table heart mosaic Table
click thumbnails to view larger image. enlarge

 

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After the Matador, Folk Art Mosaic Table

mosaic Bull
After the Matador, 1998
ceramic tile, glass, steel on wood.

26" x 46" x 1.5" high
Buy this mosaic at ArtBuzz

This is the very first mosaic I ever did.

I made it shortly after moving to Chicago, as a kitchen table for my first real studio. Shortly after I finished it, I participated in my first Pilsen East Artists’ Open House, an annual event in the neighborhood. I had a ton of great art filling the studio but the two questions I heard most were, "Wow. What's the rent here?" and "How much is the table?" Heh. By the end of the first day, I was sooooo tired of explaining that the table wasn't for sale, it was what we ate on. But by day two of the three day show, I was thinking "Hmmmm, maybe I should do more of these mosaics thingies."

Some years back I removed the legs and made it a wall hanging piece, but it would be very simple to put legs on it again if you wanted a table. I think it works really nicely as a mural. The frame is made from antique yardsticks that happened to be the same orange and yellow as the tile. The bull's eye is a Xerox copier lense behind which is a photo of an eye. Actually, it's a photo of a television showing a big eye, but you can't really see the TV. The bull's horn is made from old roofing steel set into the tile.

 

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Mosaic Headstones for pets

Muds Marker
Mud's Marker, 2001
Concrete, Ceramic tile

12.5" H x 12" W x 4" D
Commission

I made the headstone above for Mud, a friend's cat who had sadly used up it's allotment of nine lives. The marker has been through five long winters in Michigan with no sign of wear.

click thumbnail to view larger image. enlarge

pet headstone in mosaic
If you would like to commission a custom mosaic head stone with a portrait of your departed pet, contact me by email or phone. If you can provide a photo I should be able to produce a reasonable likeness. Prices start at $350 and increase depending on size, materials and complexity.

 


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Vodou Libation Bottles in Tile Mosaic

Mosaic Libation Bottles 01
Libation Bottle for Danthor, 2001
Ceramic tile, glass

10" H x 10.5" W x 10.5" D
Private Collection

The bottle above is based on a portion of a temple mural I found in the book Sacred Arts of Haitian Vodou. Danthor is one of the two faces of Erzulie, Vodou goddess of love.

All the bottles on this page were inspired by the sequined libation bottles of Haitian Vodou, a standard feature of Vodou altars traditionally used in ceremony to serve rum to the spirits. Libation bottles are often much more plain than the ceremonial flags which have become one of Haiti's most celebrated cutural exports… but the best examples feature stylized iconography representing the various spirits.

click thumbnails to view larger image. enlarge

Mosaic Libation Bottles 02

Libation Bottle for St. Expedit, 2001
Ceramic mosaic, glass, paper
14" H x 4.5" W x 4.5"
Private Collection

Mosaic Libation Bottles 03
Libation Bottle for Legba, 2002
Ceramic mosaic, glass, paper
14" H x 4.5" W x 4.5"
Private Collection
Mosaic Libation Bottles 04

Libation Bottle for Marinette, 2002
Ceramic mosaic, glass, paper
14" H x 6" W x 6"
Private Collection

Mosaic Libation Bottles 05

Libation Bottle for Erzuli, 2002
Mirror mosaic, glass, beads, paper
16" H x 5" W x 5"
Private Collection

Mosaic Libation Bottles 06

Libation Bottle for Petwo Spirits, 1999
Ceramic mosaic, findings, glass,
14" H x 6" W x 6"
Private Collection

Because the Petwo spirits are known for
their fiery disposition, a Pyrex bottle is fitting.

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Libation Bottle for Petwo Spirits, 1999
Ceramic mosaic, findings, glass,
14" H x 6" W x 6"
Private Collection

Because the Petwo spirits are known for
their fiery disposition, a Pyrex bottle is fitting

Mosaic Libation Bottles 08
Libation Bottle for La Siren, 1999
Ceramic mosaic, glass
14" H x 4.5" W x 4.5"
Private Collection
Mosaic Libation Bottles 09
Libation Bottle for Ghede, 1999
Ceramic mosaic, glass
14" H x 4.5" W x 4.5"
Private Collection

 

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Recycled Metal Critters made from Cars

dogzilla
Fire-Breathing Dogzilla, 2006
Recycled steelfrom antique cars, rivets, bottle cap.
26" H x 33" W
Custom Order Item

I've always been a sucker for fire breathing acts, and somehow, it just seemed like Dogzilla needed get in on some of that action. But then, I'm also the guy who makes his cat stand and walk on two legs to get her treats and, yeah, the guy that taught his daughter fire breathing last summer. More circus flavored art is in the works, I think. I really like the way this one came out.

The work below are various examples of small wall hanging sculpture in recycled steel. I photographed them with pennies to give a sense of scale.

click thumbnail to view larger image. enlarge

Little Mermaid
20" H x 24" W
Custom Order Item

Cut Metal Sculpture 001-1

Blue Striped Bee
13.5" H x 17" W
Custom Order Item

Cut Metal Sculpture 002-1

Dogs Chase Tails
9.5" H x 11" W
Custom Order Item

Cut Metal Sculpture 003-1

Funky Alien
15.5" H x 10" W
Custom Order Item

Cut Metal Sculpture 004-1

One Big Eye
15" H x 9" W
Custom Order Item

Cut Metal Sculpture 005-1

Big Fish
9" H x 30.5" W
Custom Order Item

Cut Metal Sculpture 006-1

Big Fish
24" H x 27" W
Custom Order Item

Cut Metal Sculpture 007-1

Little Fish
10" H x 16" W
Custom Order Item

Cut Metal Sculpture 008-1

Dogzilla
24" H x 28" W
Custom Order Item

Cut Metal Sculpture 009-1

Alarmist Hedgehog
6.5" H x 13" W
Custom Order Item

Cut Metal Sculpture 010-1

Happy Little Creature
7" H x 16" W
Custom Order Item

Cut Metal Sculpture 011-2

Happy, Funky Bird
12.5" H x 9" W
Custom Order Item

Cut Metal Sculpture 012-1

Seahorse
dimensions unknown
Custom Order Item

Cut Metal Sculpture 013

Mad Cat
dimensions unknown
Custom Order Item

Cut Metal Sculpture 014

 

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Big Metal Fish Sign

Big metal fish sign
Aluminum + Copper Fish Sign, 2005
Recycled Aluminum, copper and plywood.
51" H x 96" W x 1" D
Purchase Aluminum + Copper Fish Sign for $850
($750 plus $100 S+H).

This was originally going to be a sign for the studio…  I got this far with it and decided that I liked it better as art. I made it before I had a plasma cutter, so the whole thing was done with shears and a jigsaw.

I especially like the way that the copper fin near the gills came out all ripply and dimensional. I had intended it to lay flatter, but the copper got all bent up while I was cutting it and actually looked much better that way. It's pretty common that the best features of a piece will be the mistakes… I could certainly have flattened it out the way I had intended it to be, but so often what makes art be art is seeing the benefit of an error before you correct and having the sense to leave it in.

 

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Haitian Style Merman Sculpture

merman sculpture
Haitian Style Merman, 2006
Recycled steel.
26" H x 8" W x 3.5" D
Purchase Haitian Style Merman Sculpture  for $90
($70 plus $20 S+H).

This sculpture reminds me a lot of the graphic style used by Haitian artists who make cut steel art from 55 gallon drums. Which makes me really happy, since usually I can't even touch those cats for raw style. It's just one of those things that can't be faked.

I got lucky on this one… it was a piece of steel that was left over from some other cut out pieces I was working on, and I could kind of see the design struggling to get out. So I made a few more cuts, emphasized a few things, threw in a little bit of detail, and there it was.

 

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Folk Art Mermaid Sculpture

Folk art Steel mermaid
A Mermaid  and her Fish, 2006
Recycled steel,

54" H x 37" W x .25" D
Collection: Jerry's Sandwiches, Chicago, IL

Here's a bold, graphic sculpture made from recycled car steel… The corrugated steel in the background is not part of the piece, it's the wall of my office (familiar as the backdrop of many of my photos). This Mermaid is 54" tall by 37" wide. She's similar in style to Atlas: World Famous, but rather than being a free standing piece, the mermaid is wall hanging.

A Mermaid  and her Fish Was puchased by Mark Bires to adorn the walls of Jerry's Sandwiches, 1045 W. Madison Street, Chicago IL. I hear they have amazing food, and I'll definitely be sampling their menu on my next trip to Chicago.

Below is a detail image of this sculpture.

folk art mermaid sculpture

 

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Atlas World Famous Sculpture

Atlas World Famous sculpture
Atlas: World Famous, 2006
Recycled steel,

75" H x 48" W x 12" D
Buy this sculpture on my ArtBuzz Blog

Atlas: World Famous is the first large-scale sculpture I've made using antique steel to do collage. It's a lot of fun for me because it's a way to go back to my roots in the folk art/pop culture vernacular where I started my art career. The sculpture is 75" high x 48" wide x 12" deep, which means that Atlas himself is pretty much life-size. As you can see in the images below, the sculpture is two sided, with the image reversed on one side.

World Famous folk art Atlas World Famous 01 World Famous sculpture Atlas World Famous
click thumbnail to view larger image. enlarge

Below is the image this sculpture is based on. It's one of my all-time faves… a couple years ago I did an Atlas mosaic in glass and bottle caps using the same image. The original is from the Mexican Loteria deck, a traditional game similar to Bingo. Teresa Villegas did a very cool updated version of the game which has now been published in in a handsome book. I highly recommend checking out her site devoted to the project, which provides a good deal of background on the game and images. You can also learn more by visiting this website from Boston University on the History of the Mexican Loteria Card Game.

El Mundo, Loteria Card

 

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Keep Your Yard Evil Spirit Free with Bottle Trees

Bottle tree
Bottle Trees, 2006
Recycled steel, glass

dimensions variable
Collection of the Artist

Bottle trees are a tradition I've always liked, and I've long meant to make one. There's a great site here that explains the history behind them, with a bunch of photos of traditional and newer versions.

Back on Memorial Day weekend I decided it would be just the thing to add a little color to the yard. Not so much as something I would sell, but more to draw attention so people would, you know, notice, that there was an art studio by the side of the highway. Most of my art is invisible to people driving past at 70 mph because the rust finish just blends into the yard and trees…

The bottle tree  definitely  caught people's eye, so I made a couple more…  I think  I may just make a whole forest grove of them.

I'd be happy to make these as a custom order item. Drop me a line from the Contact page for pricing, etc.

Bottle tree Bottle tree Bottle tree Bottle tree
click thumbnail to view larger image. enlarge

 

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