Let’s talk about red grout!
Way before I begin a landscape, way before I have an image in mind, way before I pull my palette, I think about what color grout should I use….
Before Evergreen, I rented a studio in Denver. It is a large warehouse with over 50 other artists and they were mostly painters. There is a painting technique where you prime the canvas first with a red wash, called under painting. I loved the warmth it brought to a painting and decided to try it with my mosaics.
In mosaics, grouting is the last part of the process. I find the grout pulls an entire piece together. My “GO TO” color is a Sable brown. But, knowing that in this piece the grout will be red, I start filling in my landscape with colors that will be complimented with red outlines. The red then becomes an important part of the visual story.
I sent this picture to my client who bought this piece, and I might have scared her a bit…. It does look quite messy! No worries, it cleans up nicely, filling in the cracks that are created with intent, knowing that the red will give this piece warmth and character.
Hello Sunshine, 24” X 24” created with a wraparound frame, is off to Bozeman, Montana.
“Mountain Bloom”, in a hand-made metal frame is 25” X 25” and the very first landscape I made using red grout. Sorry, this one is SOLD too!
“Whispers of the Mountains” has a beautiful home in the lobby of Elevation Dental, thank you Dr. Last!