Scenic Wellington
April 2016, size: 600 mm x 1200 mm, 125 hours to complete, substrate is Weldbond and base is sign plywood. This panel is a representation of Wellington looking up the hills. It features individual houses of Wellington but not actual settings. Each house has been taken from a photograph. I am only interested in the old villas and houses and like to preserve them for posterity. They are often painted in wonderful colours, hence the use of a lot of colour in my work. This panel was awarded 1st place in the 2D category, overall 2nd place and People’s Choice in the Magic of Mosaics Exhibition, Orewa, 2016. It also won the People’s Award at the New Zealand Academy of Fine Art Summer Exhibition 2017. It sold in March 2017 and now resides in Australia.
Koru in 4
2004, The panel used porcelain, ceramic and glass tiles hand cut and applied on sign plywood, substrate was Weldbond, which is not recommended for the outdoors. This panel was the first of a series of Korus completed as split panels or single triangular panels that I have done over the successive years. The original still hangs attached to my house and is still greatly admired. This panel is in a very sheltered position and should the substrate fail I am on hand! It has been displayed now for 15 years.
Game on for the Sevens
2012, size: 780 mm x 500 mm, 80 hours to complete, panel used porcelain, ceramic and glass tiles hand cut on sign plywood, substrate is Weldbond, technique is by direct application. This panel was inspired by the many diverse costumes people wore to the Sevens in Wellington. I took just a few to make this impromptu assembly. There is humour here and this panel won the Margaret Coupe Award at the Mosaic National Exhibition at Pataka, Porirua in 2014.
A Good Year September
2010, size 500 mm x 500 mm, 40 hours to complete, panel used porcelain, ceramic and glass hand cut tiles on sign plywood, substrate is Weldbond, technique is direct application. The challenge here is to make the feathers as authentic as I can. Movement is important and the birds need to have character. This panel was inspired by the flora and fauna of New Zealand that surround me. Tuis are everywhere and often feature in my work.
Uniquely Nikau
October 2015, size: 640 mm x 1200 mm, 70 hours to complete, substrate is Weldbond and the base is sign plywood. Nikau palms are native to New Zealand and are very abundant in the area where I live. They are slow growing but if allowed will tower over surrounding trees when mature throwing out vibrant pink clusters of flowers. The shape of the panel is a triangle and is one of a series I have entitled a slice of life.
Grand Illusions
2018, 1200 mm x 400 mm, 97 hours to complete, panel used porcelain, ceramic and glass hand cut tiles on sign plywood, substrate is Weldbond. Parts of the panel are built up on two layers of tiles to add depth to the piece. Technique is by direct application. This panel is no.71 of a series featuring the old villas of Wellington. Most of these houses are in Thorndon. The individual houses are taken from photographs, but the street and surroundings are mine own. I have always had a fascination for buildings and the old villas have immense charm and are worthy of keeping for posterity. The dog on the pavement is our family dog, Jack, who loved the escape the confines of the enclosed property, and who has been given that freedom in the cityscapes (should they feature a pavement). Jack died in 2015, but his spirit lives on in my work. This panel is subtitled Jack’s Shadow no. 17.
Jane Santos
My Mosaics are inspired by my surroundings and the wider environment where I live in New Zealand. I started mosaics when I was living in the UK after being inspired by the artists at the Mosaic Workshop in London. After many years of working on my art part-time whilst pursuing a career in education, I took early retirement in 2002 to work on my art full-time and opened a Gallery in Kapiti. Since then I have worked on projects and commissions; a representative group of which I share with you viewers on this website. I use porcelain, ceramic and glass tiles which are hand cut and applied on sign plywood. These panels are not suited to the outdoors.
Outdoor mosaics are by commission only. They are done by the indirect method and do not use wood.
I have exhibited in Wellington, Auckland, Australia and England and sold from selected Galleries. I am lucky that my work has pleased, and been collected by, so many buyers from around the world.
I am available for commissions and welcome inquiries.
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