Almost everyone who has seen one of my Veneer Mosaics from a short distance, starts out believing it is a painting. It's not long, however, before they step closer and realize the uniqueness of the art.

 

Examined closely, it becomes obvious that the mosaic is made of thousands of small pieces of veneer carefully placed to create a unique piece of work. The typical first comment is: "unbelievable".

 

To construct a mosaic, I first color thin sheets of wood veneer using my own special process. The colored sheets are then cut into pieces, affixed and inlayed onto a hardboard backing. The initial inlay sets the general shapes and tones of the picture. I continue to add more layers and colors in smaller and smaller pieces until the desired effect is achieved. The mosaic is then sealed with several coats of an art-grade epoxy resin. The resin locks the pieces permanently into place and creates a glassy, smooth surface. 

 

 

 

The mosaics have a vibrancy and life that goes beyond paint. They are as beautiful from across the room as they are interesting under close examination. People marvel at how thousands of small pieces can interact with one another to create such a lifelike image from only a few feet away.

 

 

The coloring process and application techniques are things I have taught myself through trial and error over a period of years. This leads me to believe that I am very likely the only artist who is using these materials in this way.

 

It is time-consuming and tedious work, but the results are so unique and so satisfying that I can hardly wait to start the next one.

- Mark Jacobson
   Bluestem Studio