Ep. 112 MOSAIC MANDALAS PHASE II PREP + Wildflowers and Chester!

I just finished designing 15 mandalas for Phase II of the Community Mandala Project at Spruill Center for the Arts in beautiful Dunwoody, GA. Phase II consists of 15 mandalas totalling about 15 square feet. Now it's time to prep the substrates. I step outside, and I begin by tracing the circles on a piece of 36"x60" Wedi board. I used Adobe Illustrator to design them and had a local blueprint shop print them out for me. There are 6 - 9", 3- 12", 3- 15", & 3-18".

TIP: Leave a bit of space between the shapes for the width of the jigsaw blade!
I cut them all out with no issues. I did wear a mask once I saw foam bits in the air to protect my lungs.
BONUS: A brief update on one area of my garden with a mosaic birdbath!

Then the wildflowers are calling and I talk about greens and show my palette, including my Secret Weapon! Then its all about cutting bits and gluing them down. The front area I fill in with greens that splay outward in a very simplified version of the splay on the leaves in the front. The greens are cut into strips and then an inventory of pieces is cut to dip in Weldbond and place with tweezers. I prep a handful of flat green glass noodles to use as stems. First, I cut them in half lengthwise, then I hold them over a lighter until they melt enough to curve a tiny bit. This extra effort pays off when placed on the mosaic and the cosmos look as if they are swaying in the breeze! Sometimes finding just the right spot is a challenge for the precut pieces!

Back to prepping the mosaic mandala substrates! I first place the Wedi washers in the center of the 9" and 12" mandalas which will also be attached to the wall with thinset. Alkali resistant fiberglass mesh tape is added to the edges. Then I mix up white thinset and Mortar Admix and coat the tape. I finish the first one and realize it was WAY TOO MUCH WORK!!! It took a ton of tape, the tape did not lay flat on the small curve of the circle and the thinset did not go on evenly. It also took too much time, since I have 14 more of these to prep!
I figured out a better way to prep them with the tape going along the edge and then notched with scissors and laid flat. It stayed in place very well and was easy to add the skim coat. I also put the thinset on the back first, so when I flip it it doesn't get all over my little bowl. And I spread it so the tape does not get pushed out of place.
BONUS: Rinsing off is a pleasure with these amazing little red flowers!
Now that I have a good method of work, I am able to really get after it and I worked until I ran out of thinset, which fortunately was the same time the hot sun came out from behind the cloud. I finished the six 9" and one 12" mandala.
Chester was patiently waiting for me back in my studio and after talking warm and cool grays, I ALMOST finished him. Just one ear and part one front paw to finish.
That's it! Thanks for watching. See you next time!

WATCH NEXT:
Ep. 92 HOW I MAKE BIG MOSAIC SUNFLOWERS and prepping two other substrates! [ Ссылка ]

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