Picking up the pieces…

Known to break the glass ceiling, Danielle Fernandez has had a long-standing a air with mosaic art for almost 30 years. Recently, FARIDA MASTER visited her home studio for a sneak preview of some of her most whimsical and wildly exciting projects.

When creating mosaic art with broken glass and tiling Maraetai’s Danielle Fernandez enjoys playing with light and geometric patterns. Readers may be familiar with her work due to her studio, Mainly Mosaic, playing a regular part in the popular Franklin Arts Trail.

“I was the first person in Maraetai to be a part of the Franklin Art Trail,” she confirms.

Danielle’s studio is a woman cave of art, creativity, and brilliance. It’s her happy place as she goes hammer and tongs with grout, tiles, marbles, and glass. She can mosaic anything she wants.

Every artistic piece in the studio –be it 3D wall art, stained glass mosaic sculpture, wall sconces, decorative tables, planters, letterboxes, birdhouses or beautifully cut stained glass mosaic jewellery – has an enchanting story.

While working on multiple bejewelled pieces of art, the one that jostles for attention is Danielle’s pet project – it’s a breed apart! She’s been working long hours on a unique mosaic artwork for a kennel (Bombay’s Cane Corso Corsarii) known for high quality, pedigree dogs. At the last count, she has worked with approximately 1700 pieces of sculpted smalti (traditional enamelled glass mosaic material) for the work’s border alone. The smalti was sourced from Australia and the

US as she couldn’t find the exact colours she wanted here.

“This piece will be placed at the entrance of the kennel. It will be embedded in the floor,” she says. “When I asked the owner what he had in mind for the mosaic he said: ‘surprise me’!”

Of Spanish and Italian descent, Danielle’s energy is infectious and her work is popular. She has her share of high-profile clients willing to wait their turn for her specially commissioned work. Recently, she completed custom wedding presents, including a suncatcher, and necklaces for the wedding ceremony of a New Zealand-based Hollywood stunt double – although we can’t say which one!

There’ve been a few occasions when this American expat has been oblivious to how well known her clients are. In one instance, it was only when she asked a client for a delivery address that she realised he happened to be a top executive of Ryman Healthcare Group.

“I told him later that, had I known who he was, I wouldn’t have done as good a job [because] I would’ve been a nervous wreck!” she laughs.

Following a trip to the US late last year, Danielle was thrilled that her work was set to exhibited at DiRasa House of Diversified Arts at Montclair, a new gallery in New Jersey.

“I met with them and they’re happy to showcase three of my mosaic paintings of Elvis, Madonna and Barbara Streisand,” she says. “The gallery is also exhibiting my jewellery and stained-glass mosaic-lit pieces –I love to be recognised for my lights.”

The pop art pieces are part of her ‘Not Just Another Pretty Face’ series of 3D sculptures created with fragmented tiles and jagged glass.

From her Maraetai studio, Danielle enjoys sharing her art with those eager to learn. She hosts regular workshops and her website/blog (www.mosaicsmostly.com) inspires and teaches people interested in her craft. In addition, her book, Brilliant Stained Glass Mosaics amply illustrates simple mosaic techniques to create stunning designs for both home and garden decor.

“I enjoy teaching people how to create something beautiful for their homes with ceramic, tiles or stained glass,” she adds.