(Reproduced with kind permission of the Mosaic Association South Africa - MASA)
Cher Manning is a Founder Member of the Mosaic Association South Africa and remains part of the management team of the social network and MASA activities. We asked Cher to share her mosaic philosophy and journey with us:
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Mosaic-98 MARMADUKE (2008) and Mosaic-192 DUBE (2009
(Marmaduke reproduced with kind permission of Moira MacMurray)
MOSAIC INSPIRATIONS EXHIBITION (2009) : HIGHLY COMMENDED (NOVICE)
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What started you in mosaics or drew you to the mosaic art form?
I have always loved working with my hands and tried a number of crafts including Scrapbooking, Fabric Painting, Beading and even Decoupage! It was only when they tried to steal my car in December 2005 and someone asked if they could have all the shattered windscreen glass “to stick down in interesting patterns” that something in my brain clicked.
I have always loved working with my hands and tried a number of crafts including Scrapbooking, Fabric Painting, Beading and even Decoupage! It was only when they tried to steal my car in December 2005 and someone asked if they could have all the shattered windscreen glass “to stick down in interesting patterns” that something in my brain clicked.
My local craft shop supplied me with the wrong information, wrong materials and wrong tools with which to make outdoor ashtrays for a jacuzzi being installed. In spite of having to cut 25mm tiles with a pistol grip tile scorer and snapper, it did not stop me from having huge amounts of fun and getting addicted to mosaic!
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Mosaic-203 AUTUMN LEAVES (2010)
Inspired by the photograph "Autumn Cycle" by Robin Rowlands
MASA ONLINE COMPETITION 1- AUTUMN (2010) : HIGHLY COMMENDED
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What inspires you and/or keeps you mosaicking?
Not having an art or design background, I used to feel at a disadvantage of not being able to come up with spectacular original art or designs. So, the next best thing was to reproduce a design and put my own interpretation or creativity to work in creating the mosaic.
Not having an art or design background, I used to feel at a disadvantage of not being able to come up with spectacular original art or designs. So, the next best thing was to reproduce a design and put my own interpretation or creativity to work in creating the mosaic.
Inspiration comes from the most unexpected directions and of course being challenged to create a mosaic for a specific purpose or with a specific theme causes hours of research and pondering on a design – which in itself is huge fun!
Mosaic-227 ABIGAILS B&B WATER FEATURE (2010)
MASA ONLINE COMPETITION 2 - INSTALLATIONS (2010) : HONOURABLE MENTION
MASA ONLINE COMPETITION 2 - INSTALLATIONS (2010) : HONOURABLE MENTION
What is the highlight of your mosaic career to date?
The biggest highlight would have to be the time I spent at Mosaic Arts doing research for the book MOSAICS MADE IN AFRICA- Marina Giovitto Ehlers' tribute to the mosaics created by her mother' Vera Giovitto. Working in such close proximity to Vera and Marina, writing about the history of the family and the company was a particular honour that is difficult to describe.
The biggest highlight would have to be the time I spent at Mosaic Arts doing research for the book MOSAICS MADE IN AFRICA- Marina Giovitto Ehlers' tribute to the mosaics created by her mother' Vera Giovitto. Working in such close proximity to Vera and Marina, writing about the history of the family and the company was a particular honour that is difficult to describe.
And of course holding the printed book for the first time gave me the most unmeasurable amount of pleasure, knowing I contributed in a very small way to the production of a book which would serve to inspire mosaic artists for many years.
Spending so much time in the factory I also learned a whole lot by observing the design and implementation process. On occasion I would also accompany Marina on doing an installation so could see how the final product was installed and remain in awe of the standard of work produced.
Mosaic-207 GLASS FUSION MIRROR (2010)
MASA MOSAIC EXHIBITION (2010) : 2nd PLACE MIRRORS OPEN
MASA MOSAIC EXHIBITION (2010) : 2nd PLACE MIRRORS OPEN
What are your mosaic aspirations? What do you still want to achieve, learn or attain?
It is still my dream to have an art exhibition based solely on mosaics made by South African artists to be hosted by a reputable and famous art gallery, who will spend huge amounts of money promoting the works because they are that good!
It is still my dream to have an art exhibition based solely on mosaics made by South African artists to be hosted by a reputable and famous art gallery, who will spend huge amounts of money promoting the works because they are that good!
South African Art Galleries as a rule do not take mosaic art seriously or consider it as a serious investment. We (Mosaic Association South Africa) have spent the past 6 years trying very hard to change their minds and are slowly, slowly making a difference. We have been advised to collaborate and come up with a theme and then produce works for a proper exhibition. Who knows? Just maybe 2015 will be the year that we get it right!
Mosaic-255 PEACE CROSS FOR THE RAINBOW NATION (2011)
MASA MOSAIC EXHIBITION (2011) : HIGHLY COMMENDED OPEN
MASA MOSAIC EXHIBITION (2011) : HIGHLY COMMENDED OPEN
What are you busy working on now (from a mosaic perspective)?
I am currently working on two projects – still have not finished the Whitfield Family Crest which was supposed to have been finished in December last year! It is proving to be VERY difficult but will persevere.
I am currently working on two projects – still have not finished the Whitfield Family Crest which was supposed to have been finished in December last year! It is proving to be VERY difficult but will persevere.
The other is a 4-piece contribution for the MASA Online Competition 11: Elements in Motion. Found beautiful patterned glass strips at Hobby-X and bought 4 different colour blends. A really simple project but am pretty sure it will get the concept across!
Waiting in the wings is a commission and a pretty elaborate and detailed mosaic based on Wegeulin's “The Bath” which should keep me busy for a while.
Mosaic-271 / Mosaic-274 / Mosaic-276 MOSAIC WITH HEART (2012)
MASA IN SUPPORT OF ABUSED WOMEN/CHILDREN PROJECT (2012) – TOP 20
MASA IN SUPPORT OF ABUSED WOMEN/CHILDREN PROJECT (2012) – TOP 20
Do you have a favourite technique in your mosaics? If so, what is it and why.
The control freak in me definitely prefers working in the Direct method so that I can see what I am doing although certain projects lend themselves more to Indirect if you want to achieve a perfectly flat surface for eg table tops. I would think my style of applying mosaic and tile layout would be defined as “classic”, although I have been known to get a tad rebellious or adventurous and do something quirky – like adding mosaic inserts or crashing through borders.
The control freak in me definitely prefers working in the Direct method so that I can see what I am doing although certain projects lend themselves more to Indirect if you want to achieve a perfectly flat surface for eg table tops. I would think my style of applying mosaic and tile layout would be defined as “classic”, although I have been known to get a tad rebellious or adventurous and do something quirky – like adding mosaic inserts or crashing through borders.
I tend to be very pedantic about tiles being placed really close together and since discovering filetti I tend to make use of it a lot for defining lines. If the “line” is very narrow I would leave bigger gaps between the tiles so that grout forms part of the mosaic design.
Mosaic-283 RHINO FOR RAGE LAUNCH (2013)
Reproduced with kind permission of Mosaic Arts
MASA ONLINE COMPETITION 9- AFRICAN ABSTRACT (2013): 1st INTERMEDIATE
Reproduced with kind permission of Mosaic Arts
MASA ONLINE COMPETITION 9- AFRICAN ABSTRACT (2013): 1st INTERMEDIATE
What was your “biggest blaps” or mistake (in a piece, in your mosaic career, etc)?
The first time I flipped an indirect mosaic into a table top frame and the consistency of the tile adhesive was too runny!! Although only 30cm in diameter it was for a Craftwise Project and I was working to a deadline when disaster struck. Some tiles slid underneath their neighbour which caused more tiles to shift out of line and completely destroy an entire section of the table top.
The first time I flipped an indirect mosaic into a table top frame and the consistency of the tile adhesive was too runny!! Although only 30cm in diameter it was for a Craftwise Project and I was working to a deadline when disaster struck. Some tiles slid underneath their neighbour which caused more tiles to shift out of line and completely destroy an entire section of the table top.
The damage only became evident after “floating” the mosaic and removing the paper backing. This entailed a few hours work of painstakingly digging out the runaway tiles, filling the gaps with more adhesive and replacing the tiles to complete the geometric design. Of course, the more I fiddled with the design, the less inclined it was to dry so what should have taken half an hour ended up taking the best part of four hours to repair!
Mosaic-287 SPIRIT OF RHINO (2013)
Reproduced with kind permission of Mosaic Arts
MASA IN SUPPORT OF RAGE (RHINO ACTION GROUP EFFORT PROJECT (2013) – TOP 12
Reproduced with kind permission of Mosaic Arts
MASA IN SUPPORT OF RAGE (RHINO ACTION GROUP EFFORT PROJECT (2013) – TOP 12
What was the most useful tip or trick that you have learnt/been told?
There are a handful of simple tips and/or rules that have made a huge difference in my mosaic ability and which I follow religiously:
There are a handful of simple tips and/or rules that have made a huge difference in my mosaic ability and which I follow religiously:
- If glue squishes out around a tile, you are using too much (Jacqui)
- If tiles move around when you are not looking, you are using too much glue (Cher)
- Avoid creating 4-way stop streets in tile layout (Marina)
- White grout is only good for kitchen/bathroom tiles (Marina)
- Use as many colours as possible to create shades (Vera)
- Do not go looking for a cut tile that has escaped and dropped on the floor – by the time you find it, you could have cut another one (Karin)
- DO NOT use any kind of wood base for outdoors, irrespective of what you have been told ….. at some stage moisture is going to get in and warp the wood! (Cher)
- Photograph, number and date every mosaic that you complete- that way as years go by you have a record and see your progress (Cher)
Mosaic-293 PHOENIX TAKING FLIGHT (2013)
MASA MOSAIC EXHIBITION 2013: ROBYN DOUGLAS JONES INSPIRED AWARD (SHARED)
MASA MOSAIC EXHIBITION 2013: ROBYN DOUGLAS JONES INSPIRED AWARD (SHARED)
Which is your personal favourite of all the pieces you have done and why?
Phoenix Taking Flight is by far my personal favourite because it provided the greatest learning curve and the opportunity to experiment with a variety of design, tile layout and shading aspects that I have never tried before.
Phoenix Taking Flight is by far my personal favourite because it provided the greatest learning curve and the opportunity to experiment with a variety of design, tile layout and shading aspects that I have never tried before.
The end result surprised me and although the source of some controversy, it finally convinced me that even if I battled to produce an original work of art, there is place in this world for good artisans and I am very happy to be considered as such!
Mosaic-295 MEMORABLE DAYS COLLECTION 32 (2014)
MASA ONLINE COMPETITION 10 – TRIBUTE TO PORTCHIE 2014: 1st ADVANCED
MASA ONLINE COMPETITION 10 – TRIBUTE TO PORTCHIE 2014: 1st ADVANCED
What else do you do (outside of mosaics)? This could be your work/career, other hobbies and/or other passions in your life.
Since retiring from the recruitment industry a few years ago, mosaic has pretty much provided me with an income – firstly in the retail environment where I provided mosaic materials to a chain of craft shops until it stopped being viable as EVERYBODY was selling mosaic accessories and materials.
Since retiring from the recruitment industry a few years ago, mosaic has pretty much provided me with an income – firstly in the retail environment where I provided mosaic materials to a chain of craft shops until it stopped being viable as EVERYBODY was selling mosaic accessories and materials.
I then started building websites for mosaic and craft suppliers as well as assisting with the management of their Facebook pages. I manage the MASA network and its related activities, produce a monthly Blog (where I observe the quirks of my Universe) and a Newsletter for my old school. Oh yes – and I still teach mosaic classes too!
