Marble Mosaic of Table 44 of Eustachi’s Tabulae Anatomicae, 2020 Marble, Travertine, Onyx, Limestone, Gatorfoam substrate, Steel frame. 86.25" High x 50.25" Wide x 2" Deep This mosaic is part of a larger project I am building. Details of the full project can be found here: Anatomy Set...
Marble Mosaic of Table 26 of Eustachi’s Tabulae Anatomicae, 2021 Marble, Travertine, Onyx, Limestone, Lapis Lazuli, Red Jasper, Blue Quartz, Rose Quartz, tiger Eye, Gatorfoam substrate, Steel frame. 86.25" High x 50.25" Wide x 2" Deep This mosaic is part of a larger project I am building. Details...
Marble Mosaic of Table 45 of Eustachi’s Tabulae Anatomicae, 2020 Marble, Travertine, Onyx, Limestone, Petrified Wood, Gatorfoam substrate, Steel frame. 86.25" High x 50.25" Wide x 2" Deep This mosaic is part of a larger project I am building. Details of the full project can be found here:...
Marble Mosaic of Table 43 of Eustachi’s Tabulae Anatomicae, 2020 Marble, Travertine, Onyx, Limestone, Petrified Wood, Gatorfoam substrate, Steel frame. 86.25" High x 50.25" Wide x 2" Deep This mosaic is part of a larger project I am building. Details of the full project can be found here:...
Marble Mosaic of Table 19 of Eustachi’s Tabulae Anatomicae, 2019 Marble, Travertine, Onyx, Limestone, Blue Quartz, Rose Quartz, Star Ruby, Black Garnet, Gatorfoam substrate, Steel frame. 86.25" High x 50.25" Wide x 2" Deep This mosaic is part of a larger project I am building. Details of the...
I can't resist the joke— from now on, whenever I get an email promising to improve my search results, I'll send them to this page so they can see that my Big Bowl O’ Zen 37 inch Sculptural Firebowl is literally on top of Google,...
La Source Bains Nordiques is a spa located in Rawdon, in the Lanaudière region of Québec. Amenities include steam bath, dry sauna, outdoor whirlpool tubs, Nordic waterfall and pools, a cold river for bathing, a thermal waterfall, a "dark room" inside the mountain, indoor relaxation...
A King Isosceles Sculptural Firebowl nestles among boulders between the entry and the patio at Redstone American Grill, Minnetonka, MN. You can see from the buildup of logs and ashes that it's seen a lot of use. Each location features a wood burning rotisserie and...
Enjoying an outdoor meal or a cocktail at Lookout Cabin is warm and comfortable thanks to four Big Bowl O’ Zen 37 inch Sculptural Firebowls installed as gathering spots across the deck. Amazing views of the Wasatch Range and rustic decor are the perfect setting...
At Downriggers in Friday Harbor, WA, a Compass 37 inch Sculptural Firebowl plays a central role as a gathering place on the harbor front patio. Diners can watch boats come and go while enjoying regional Pacific NW American cuisine, innovative cocktails and gorgeous views. When I...
Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa offers deluxe s'more kits which guests can cook over one of the four Great Bowl O' Fire Sculptural Firebowls at The Cliff Dive Grill. “Guests traveling to our resort will love experiencing a local take on a classic childhood favorite with...
The eight Great Bowl O' Fire Sculptural Firebowls at Rumfire Waikiki's beach front patio are an iconic part of the restaurant's chic atmosphere. Since 2008, these fire features have provided a stunning background for countless photos, all the more impressive due to the natural beauty...
Ingrid at Georgetown Brewing Company, in Seattle, WA sent me these great photos of one of my Big Bowl O’ Zen Sculptural Firebowls installed at their recently expanded tasting room. The tasting room features exposed steel and concrete, a bar-top fabricated with salvaged wood from...
The staff gathers around a 41 inch Waves O' Fire Sculptural Firebowl for a group photo at Lawson's Finest Brewery and Taproom, Waitsfield, VT “Early in the planning phase of our new brewery, taproom and retail store in Waitsfield, Vermont I stumbled upon John T. Unger’s...
Marble Mosaic of Table 33 of Eustachi’s Tabulae Anatomicae, 2019 Marble, Travertine, Onyx, Limestone, Rose Quartz, Star Ruby, Black Garnet, Gatorfoam substrate, Steel frame. 86.25" High x 50.25" Wide x 2" Deep This mosaic is part of a larger project I am building. Details of the full project...
Marble Mosaic of Table 38 of Eustachi’s Tabulae Anatomicae, 2019 Marble, Travertine, Onyx, Limestone, Rose Quartz, Star Ruby, Black Garnet, Gatorfoam substrate, Steel frame. 86.25" High x 50.25" Wide x 2" Deep This mosaic is part of a larger project I am building. Details of the full project...
[caption id="attachment_18688" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Photo by Janet Loughrey for Small Gardens Magazine[/caption] When Jeff Fisher ordered a Great Bowl O' Fire Sculptural Firebowl for his 60th birthday, I was happy to help him celebrate a milestone. I always like it when a firebowl has special meaning...
Using marble, stone and precious gems I am creating a series of 12 mosaics that replicate Bartolomeo Eustachi’s 16th Century anatomical engravings. As each mosaic is finished, it is added to the bottom of this page. Scroll down to see large photos of the finished...
Marble Mosaic of Table 21 of Eustachi’s Tabulae anatomicae, 2018 Marble, Travertine, Limestone, Blue Quartz, Rose Quartz, Star Ruby, Gatorfoam substrate, Steel frame. 86.25" High x 50.25" Wide x 2" Deep This mosaic is part of a larger project I am building. Details of the full project can...
Marble Mosaic of Table 23 of Eustachi’s Tabulae anatomicae, 2018 Marble, Travertine, Limestone, Gatorfoam substrate, Steel frame. 86.25" High x 50.25" Wide x 2" Deep This mosaic is part of a larger project I am building. Details of the full project can be found here: Anatomy Set in...
Marble Mosaic of Table 28 of Eustachi’s Tabulae anatomicae, 2018 Marble, Travertine, Limestone, Star Sapphire, Gatorfoam substrate, Steel frame. 86.25" High x 50.25" Wide x 2" Deep This mosaic is part of a larger project I am building. Details of the full project can be found here: Anatomy...
Marble Mosaic of Table 30 of Eustachi’s Tabulae anatomicae, 2017 Marble, Travertine, Limestone, Star Sapphire, Hardiebacker substrate, Steel frame. 86.25" High x 50.25" Wide x 2" Deep This mosaic is part of a larger project I am building. Details of the full project can be found here: Anatomy...
Marble Mosaic of Table 31 of Eustachi’s Tabulae anatomicae, 2017 Marble, Travertine, Limestone, Hardiebacker substrate, Steel frame. 86.25" High x 50.25" Wide x 2" Deep This mosaic is part of a larger project I am building. Details of the full project can be found here: Anatomy Set in...
It's not revolutionary to tell you that if you have a big project in mind, you can save a lot of time and frustration by doing as much advance planning as possible. You'll still need to amend, revise, improvise and adapt as you go but...
To celebrate eleven years of making Sculptural Firebowls™, I am introducing a new line of Exclusive Originals, custom fire features that are true one-of-a-kind works of art. My Classic Sculptural Firebowls are signed and numbered in an open edition. As the artist, I draw and cut...
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Newport Winter Carnival, Christopher Marcotte commissioned a Great Bowl O' Fire 30 inch Sculptural Firebowl™ to be installed in the town's Little Common on a tall torch base....
For most of us, gathering around the fire is a seasonal activity. In summer and fall a fire is a favorite way to spend an afternoon or evening. In spring, if it’s not too muddy or wet, gathering around the fire is a pleasant return...
A sculptural steel steel light fixture in the visage of Fudu Myoo the Wisdom King. ...
At Weber Grill Restaurant in St. Louis, MO, two Big Bowl O’ Zen 37 inch Sculptural Firebowls on tall pillars flank a statue of George Stephen, Sr., the inventor of one of the most iconic outdoor grills of all time. As an aficionado of grilling...
This commission came through Edgewood Orchard Galleries in Fish Creek, WI. They had a customer who loved the Waves O' Fire Sculptural Firebowl, but also really loved the phoenix on the Great Bowl O' Fire....
A Big Bowl O’ Zen 37 inch Sculptural Firebowl welcomes customers at Burt and Max's in Delray Beach, FL. The fire pit lounge features cocktail tables made from reclaimed logs, a curved bench of cozy seating set against a masonry wall and gas lights on...
Patrick and Ann in Maryland own one of my very rare 52 inch Great Bowl O' Fire Sculptural Firebowls™. But they also have something that no one else has as yet— custom Prometheus Torches that are not only plumbed for gas, but can be turned...
I'm always excited to see where my art winds up, but I especially like when it finds a place where it brings meaning to it's new home. Rhett ordered an Eternal Flame Sculpture as a present for his girlfriend's birthday which became the centerpiece of...
When Kevin called from Long Beach , CA he already knew that my firebowls will last generations. Thinking about how the firebowl would be passed down through his family, he wanted to commission a custom piece that would tell a story about his present family...
Patrick in Hayward, CA bought his Great Bowl O' Fire Sculptural Firebowl™ four years ago and just sent me the following testimonial and photos: I chose the bowl of fire because it's a perfect piece of art. You have made something beautiful out of recycled material....
The second email quoted in this post brings tears to my eyes every time I read it. It is a beautiful, tragic yet ultimately inspiring letter. The woman who wrote these prefers to remain anonymous but graciously agreed to let me share her story and...
Gracing a raised fountain promontory, the Great Bowl O' Fire Sculptural Firebowl™ at Sandals Ochi in Ocho Rios, Jamaica makes quite the tropical statement! From the photo above you can see that it definitely puts guests in a festive mood as they enjoy the poolside...
The Great Bowl O' Fire Sculptural Firebowl™ was the star of Caribbean Courtyard, Season 2, episode 5 of Billy Derian's DIY Network show Extra Yardage. The episode first aired September 4, 2012. The description on the site is a bit brief, but since I have...
Two colors of FireCrystals Fire Glass are used to make a spiral design I don't usually get to visit my firebowls in their home, but I was so blown away by this Seabrook, TX installation of the Great Bowl O' Fire™ that I had to make...
For his La La Land Record Release Party last summer, philanthropist and pop star Sir Ivan Wilzig installed two Great Bowl O' Fire Sculptural Firebowls™ flanking the pool of his 13,000 square-foot castle known as the "Playboy mansion of the East." The event has been...
Last night my firebowls warmed the stars at the Cannes Film Festival. It was a cold, rainy evening for an outdoor seaside party, so I'm sure the firebowls were appreciated. Calvin Klein purchased SIX Big Bowl O' Zen Sculptural Firebowls™ for the company's annual Women in...
The King Isosceles Sculptural Firebowl™ is featured this week on Season 3, Episode 2 of Decked Out with Paul Lafrance from HGTV. I haven't been able to see the episode myself yet, but I love what I can see from the photos. Here's the description of...
These photos of the King Isosceles Sculptural Firebowls™ were shot by Drew Hadley for a feature in Montreal Home Living last year. Several of the shots were used in the magazine, but I was so blown away by those that I contacted Drew to license...
The Compass Sculptural Firebowl™ is the third custom design I've made for Graeme Cameron of Base Camp X. The idea appealed to me strongly because you can orient the bowl to the cardinal points and it will always tell you which way you're facing....
The Font O' Fire Sculptural Firebowl™ is aptly named as it has become the centerpiece of several fountains in top notch hospitality environments. Brian Sweeney created a Japanese inspired fountain for the Glenn Hotel in Downtown Atlanta using my 24" Font O' Fire firepit. The...
Waikiki Parc Hotel has three Great Bowl O' Fire Sculptural Firebowls™ decorating their pool deck facing the ocean. The firebowls are installed in a concrete bed filled with blue glass, which give the illusion they are floating in a pool. Many of my gas fired...
The Font O' Fire Sculptural Firebowl™ features as a social centerpiece in this Santa Monica garden patio designed by landscape architect Joseph Marek. The warm rust patina of the firebowl nicely complements the color of the walls and the outdoor cushions of the day bed. I've...
Gary in Manchester Center, VT, sent this great picture of his Big Bowl O' Zen Sculptural Firebowl™ and screen on a gorgeous bluestone patio. His email included the note: The backyard Deathstar is almost complete...
The Waves O' Fire Sculptural Firebowl™ at Onyx was only one of the club's many outdoor amenities. I never had a chance to visit Onyx before its recent closure, but from all accounts it was quite the operation! A review of Onyx on Columbus Alive portrays...
The Big Bowl O' Zen Sculptural Firebowl™ overlooks the ocean in this Pacific Palisades garden design by Joseph Marek. The simplicity of the Big Bowl O' Zen is a perfect match for this minimalist, modern design. The small square grass yard surround by stone terrace my...
The first thing you see as you approach Chef Bobo Bergstrom's Fire Grill Restaurant in St. Lucia, West Indies is the Great Bowl O' Fire Sculptural Firebowl™ he commissioned to extend the fire theme of his restaurant. It looks fabulous and I put it on a...
The plaza fountain at BluEmber Restaurant in Rancho Mirage, CA was one of the first to incorporate my firebowls. A Font O' Fire Sculptural Firebowl™ is the centerpiece of the multi-level masonry fountain. At night, the fire fountain provides lighting and ambiance, by day it...
This stunning project by Montreal designer Endrée Villeneuve of Vision enVert uses three King Isosceles Sculptural Firebowls™ to great effect. The firebowls flank a pool on stone pillars, with gorgeous waterfalls feeding into the pool to create a soothing soundscape. Built on the shores of...
The goal of this project was to create a firebowl nested within an outer ring so that it appears to float in air. I am super happy with the way this one turned out! I'm also really impressed with the landscaping around the firebowl— it's...
Emily sent me photos of her Great Bowl O' Fire in both the US and UK, which she has carried across the Atlantic twice! This is a firebowl I made in 2006, so it looks a bit different than the current Great Bowls O' Fire....
Tucked into shade and seclusion, I suspect this Font O' Fire 30 inch Sculptural Firebowl™ offers peaceful respite in Los Angeles. From where the photo is taken, you'd never guess that this serene social area was smack in the middle of a major metropolitan city....
Doug in Castle Rock, Colorado was kind enough to send in these great photos of his King Isosceles Firebowl™. The large stones and and gravel patio have a Zen garden feel. I really like the double ring of limestone pavers that define the patio space. Thanks...
Usually my firebowls appear on TV without me. I ship them to the set and only see the show much later. For the Surf's Up with the Greens episode of My Yard Goes Disney JayTV sent Rich Brauer out to the studio to film me...
I love this modern, multi-level deck! The Font O' Fire Firebowl™ complements it very well. Note how closely the patina of the bowl matches the wooden deck. This space is set up nicely for entertaining or hanging out with friends and family. Glenn wrote: Just had...
Rimmer in Madison, Mississippi sent in these dramatic photos of his Waves O' Fire Sculptural Firebowl™ that show how lovely the fire is when reflected in a pool. There's something very poetic about the flame from a Waves O Fire being doubled in the water...
Fiamme in Naperville, IL incorporated a Great Bowl O’ Fire 37 inch Sculptural Firebowl into their dynamic and dramatic signage. Fiamme is a traditional Naples inspired Italian restaurant, specializing in authentic oak-fired oven pizzas. The Great Bowl O’ Fire is a perfect match for their brand,...
A Big Bowl O’ Zen 37 inch Sculptural Firebowl provides a meditative space on the deck of Rass Mandal, a charming boutique retreat in the mountains above Santa Fe, New Mexico. With only six bedroom, guests and visitors are limited to no more than ten...
John in Mississauga, Ontario just sent in some gorgeous photos of his Great Bowl O' Fire Sculptural Firebowl™. The nighttime photo above even shows a flame that looks much like the signature Phoenix carved into every flame design firebowl I create. John also shared the details...
Last year, Chris Guillebeau asked me to make an Olympic style torch that would travel cross country with Adam Baker to be lit at the opening ceremony of the inaugural World Domination Summit. I loved the idea, and the traveling torch was a great success. Here's...
The Great Bowl O' Fire Sculptural Firebowl™ is prominently featured in the Artful Home's email newsletter this week. The Great Bowl O' Fire was included in the Artful Home Spring Catalog and will be in the upcoming summer catalog as well. Artful Home is a juried...
Seaworld San Antonio's new Aquatica Waterpark rented two of my Waves O' Fire Firebowls™ for their VIP Grand Opening. The firebowls are a temproray installation just for the Grand Opening, but there is a strong possibility that I'll be doing some custom stingray themed firebowls...
Lori in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan just sent me the above photo of her Great Bowl O' Fire™ with a note: We love our new firebowl and thought you might like a photo. You do beautiful work! I love the way this installation turned out. I made the...
Every now and then, I get a request for a Great Bowl O' Fire™ without the signature phoenix. I've always turned those requests down because I feel that the phoenix is such an important part of the design— it not only relates to fire, but...
A fire pit is the most essential part of any rustic campsite— it doesn't need to be fancy, but as the center of social activities it must be pleasing to the eye. That's why Michael in Olivette, MO chose the Big Bowl O’ Zen 37...
With Diamond Head and sunsets over the Pacific Ocean behind them, the eight Great Bowl O' Fire Sculptural Firebowls at Rumfire Waikiki manage to hold their own visually. Since 2008, these fire features have contributed the the restaurant and bar's chic atmosphere, bringing tropical flair...
On the drive down to SXSW this year we decided to take a few days extra and enjoy the trip, stopping to photograph some of the more awesome Firebowl installations that were (sort of) on the way. The first stop was Nada, a stylish purveyor of...
Four King Isosceles Sculptural Firebowls graced the roofline of Cafe Adobe in Houston, TX. At each end of the front facade, a firebowl lit the building and two were installed above the central dining patio above a stone fireplace. I wish it had been a...
About a year ago, I shipped my first Sculptural Firebowl to Australia, a Great Bowl O' Fire Sculptural Firebowl™ for a log home in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. Craig just sent me some photos of the firebowl, now that they've finished their...
Photo Credit: Eric Staudenmaier. The largest firebowl I've done to date is the 53 inch diameter Meridian Sculptural Firebowl™ installed on the 6th floor pool deck at Allure Waikiki. I absolutely love the above photo by Eric Staudenmaier and how it captures the glow of the...
Photo Credit: Chris Rush This photo of the King Isosceles Sculptural Firebowl™ at WaterWalk Place in Wichita is stunning! Chris did a great job of shooting a night photo that still gives a sense of the landscape around the firebowl. WaterWalk Place is a multi-use destination on...
Christina Celenza and Tyler Roy enjoy toasting s'mores on a recent date around one of the Big Bowl O' Zen Sculptural Firebowls™ at Frankford Hall in Philadelphia. The photo shoot, organized by Nick Silva and shot by Pete Hall, turned out great! I love the star-like...
I don't usually post press releases to the blog, but this is such a good story I feel like it works. Campfire cookouts come to the city as Philly beerhall puts the fun into functional art. Photo Credit: Jeffrey Meade Surprise success of snack sales could point the...
Suqi, Rima. "Warding Off Winter." The New York Times 29 Dec. 2011: D1-D7. Print....
Alex Townsend was a passionate artist and musician studying graphic design at the Savannah College of Art and Design when he tragically passed away at the age of 21. As a remembrance, the family commissioned me to create a firebowl incorporating Alex's signature tag. ...
Tiki Beach is a newly launched premium quality beach facility on 7 Mile Beach, Grand Cayman Island offering visitors a full range of guest experiences including a restaurant, bar, and beach activities. With a dramatic Polynesian styled roof, and four Great Bowl O' Fire Sculptural...
The Southwest Porch, located near the southern end of the Fountain Terrace, offers all visitors the ambience and luxury usually available only to a few. Equipped with a wood fueled Big Bowl O' Zen firebowl™, Adirondack chairs, sofas, and couches typical of those found at...
Three Great Bowl O' Fire 37 Inch Sculptural Firebowls™ adorn the roof top pool at Parc Blue. One of my favorite things about this firebowl installation is the blue glass used as a gravel below the firebowls— that rich field of blue really intensifies the orange...
One of the best photos I have of the Great Bowl O' Fire Sculptural Firebowl™ was shot at Rumfire, Waikiki Beach. The eight Great Bowl O' Fire Sculptural Firebowls at the beach front patio have become one of the hallmarks of the restaurant. One of...
I had already done a custom firebowl for Graeme Cameron when he was part of Best Made Co., so when he left to form his own venture, Base Camp X, he asked me to do a new design featuring the BCX logo. We called it...
Fire Imps are playful, energetic and touchable sculptures scaled to fit any home. I love the way that the shapes and colors of the Fire Imps interact in a group— like a coral reef, a modern dance troupe, a forest of fall leaves, a party...
About a year ago, Zenas ordered a Big Bowl O' Zen Sculptural Firebowl™ for his Minneapolis townhouse, and when he chose to add a fountain to his landscape, he sent the following email...
When I first heard about the beautiful designer axes made by the guys at Best Made Co., it seemed like such a natural overlap with my firebowls that I promptly gave them a call. I had a great talk with Graeme Cameron and we were...
This stone and glass fountain with a Great Bowl O' Fire™ as centerpiece in San Clemente, CA shows that you can have it all… a stunning water feature crowned by live fire. Day or night, fire brings a lively focus to this water feature, combining...
With free reign to do whatever I wanted around a fire theme, I decided to try an idea that I had been toying with in the back of my mind for quite some time… Cutting outlines of flame shapes withing the flame designs of the...
When Hotel Indigo Athens selected a fire feature for their outdoor courtyard, the Font O' Fire Sculptural Firebowl was their first choice. The fire pit is hand made from 100% recycled steel and exemplifies a perfect expression of the hotel's commitment to sustainability and craftsmanship. Hotel...
Every few weeks I get an email asking me about how my Bottle Cap Mosaics are created… people want to know what they're made of, how the caps are attached, where I get the caps for the mosaics and so on. I've created the video...
The Great Bowl O' Fire Sculptural Firebowl™ at Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa, Osoyoos, BC is a rare 53 inch diameter firebowl. I've never been able to find a contemporary source for bowls that large but every couple years I come across one or...
[rev_slider alias="FaceOfSpadesMasks"] Inspired by traditional mask designs from all over the world, each Face of Spades carving is made from 100% recycled materials— breathing new life into the atoms of the abandoned. Shovels retired after a life of hard labor are reborn as playful, intriguing masks— faces...
I had a chance to visit Club Westside, a health and fitness club in Houston, Texas on my way to SXSW, and photograph the Great Bowl O' Fire Sculptural Firebowl that caps their fountain. Due to the rainy weather that day, it's hard to see...
One of the phone calls I get a lot is from people who want to know how to install gas burners in Sculptural Firebowls™. This diagram that shows the basic concept of how the stainless steel burners connect to the firebowl. This is not, however, a...
Dale Ayers is an architect in Park City, Utah. He just sent me some amazing photos of his Great Bowl O Fire Sculptural Firebowl™ installed at his home in the Promontory development outside Park City. The fire bowl with gas burner is accessible from the...
Frances in Minneapolis sent in both construction photos and photos of the finished space for her Font O' Fire Sculptural Firebowl™. She wrote: The fire pit is beautiful! Very simple and just what I wanted for an informal space. I really appreciate how you were able...
Fire/water feature at the Glenn Hotel in the heart of Downtown Atlanta using a 24" Font O' Fire™ as a centerpiece. Photo courtesy Brian Sweeney of Sweeney Gardens....
This lovely Houston courtyard is set up very nicely for outdoor living. A fountain for warm days, a Big Bowl O' Zen firebowl for cooler days and evenings, functional seating and a grill for outdoor meals. I like the mosaic table which complements the pebble...
These twin Fiery Fleur-de-Lis 37 inch Sculptural Firebowls™ flanking an infinity pool over Lake Okanagan in British Columbia were a commissioned design. I worked together with the client to come up with the drawings and scale, and when they were done, we were both so...
Mark in Watsonville, CA wanted a modified King Isosceles Sculptural Firebowl with a smooth undulating edge and reached out about ordering a custom 41 inch diameter firebowl....
Mosaic Fish For Limelight Lodge Swimming Pool, 2008 Sicis glass, glass eyes, glass tile Dimensions variable Commission...
Check out the before and after photos of this project which flanks a waterfall with two Great Bowl O' Fire Sculptural Firebowls™. The finished yard is a gorgeous space with a large waterfall at the head of the pool area and several smaller streams of...
There's a great article in this week's Antrim County News about me… Jeff Kessler did a great job of capturing the breadth of what I'm up to lately, and I really enjoyed the couple hours that we spent sitting on the porch chatting. He was...
Don and Sue bought their Great Bowl O' Fire Firebowl from Goldner Walsch Nursery. They were so taken with it that they looked me up online and wrote to tell me how much they liked it. They wrote: We just had to email and tell you...
This is a recent bottle cap fish I did as a commissioned housewarming gift. It's my favorite that I've ever done. I love the way that the mixed caps work to create a richer color tone. To see a larger, print quality image just click...
Mary Abe at Garden Gate Landscaping has won an award for her project "A Frame for Lush Scenery" which features a custom firebowl I collaborated on and built....
Wizard Academy has two of my Great Bowl O' Fire Sculptural Firebowls at their Austin, Texas campus. Above is the standard 37 inch size that I delivered on a trip to Austin for SXSW. I enjoyed meeting Roy Williams and touring the retreat including the...
A while back I posted an email I'd gotten from Ben in Florida, who ordered a customized version of the Great Bowl O Fire. He sent me a great photo of it recently....
Which is a time when you're supposed to burn your Lamas doll that you've created at the beginning of Lamas, and then live with until Equinox, and then burn it, ritually. And now I have this beautiful work of art to do my burning...
My favorite thing about the New York City rooftop patio where this Great Bowl O Fire Sculptural Firebowl™ sits, is the life guard's chair that looks over the south end of Manhattan! Man, if I had a chair like that, with a view like that,...
Clive's been a great friend over the years. We've never had a chance to actually hang out in person though until my visit to NYC this summer when we had some excellent BBQ. I brought him a Pot-de-Feu Grill as a gift, which...
I got a cool photo and note in the mail a while back… long enough ago that I really should have posted it for halloween. In case you can't make out the handwriting, it says "Under the right conditions, the Great Bowl O Fire...
I got an email this morning from Karin and Keith in Springfield, Virginia about their new Great Bowl O Fire™. It was so sweet and beautiful it made me all misty-eyed. I get a lot of great feedback, but I rarely get such a detailed...
These dancing devils were adapted from a series of medieval block prints… although they also remind me of Indonesian shadow puppets. Especially because of the way that they cast lively dancing shadows when you build a fire in the firepit. As the flames leap, so...
Hello John. Your product is one of the reasons I love art. Just when you don't expect it it hits you. Here i am looking for a fire pit when I stumble along your creations. My search has ended. I live in SW Fla and would...
People love to tell stories around a fire… so it made sense to me to create some narrative fire pits that tell stories themselves. And what better story to begin with than the story of how mankind was given fire?...
These two custom Fire Chalices were made for Johnson Pools in Oklahoma City, OK to flank the first 51 inch Great Bowl O' Fire I made. ...
Daily Confection just posted a really fun phone interview I did with Gary Connolly. We discussed a broad set of topics including art, business, marketing, the ways that blogging and the web in general have impacted my work as an artist and 30 foot...
Ted sent in these photos of his Great Bowl O Fire on a cliffside patio at sunset. Nice!
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A lot of people have wondered if the Great Bowl O Fire can be painted… The answer is yes!...
Amy and Elph sent me these great pics of a BBQ on their patio using the Pot-de-Feu Portable Grill. Not only was it a fun way to cook, but the food came out great. My mouth is watering right now!
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The Great Bowl O Fire is a great way to keep the ashes and coals out of your beach sand! Thanks for the photos, Cathy.
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Wow! Thanks for the great photos, Carl! That's some view.
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Bob Struber sent in a few awesome photos of his Great Bowl O Fire! This one was my favorite. Bob found me on the web, but decided to visit the studio to pick up his Bowl… It's cool when I get to meet...
This bowl was a commission for a neighbor who wanted the design to focus on the natural elements she observed daily in her yard. ...
Drew Klonsky is pretty dang cool. For one thing, his sign-off on emails is /drew ( I wish I'd thought of that!) For another thing, he takes great photos like the one above. Drew was among the early buyers of the Great Bowl O' Fire...
Fire Tribe Hawaii ordered a Great Bowl O Fire 41 inch Sculptural Firebowl™ for their Solstice Gathering. Here's a cool video from their Las Vegas sister organization that gives a feel for what Fire Tribe is all about. I just got an email letting me know...
Ascension Church celebrates the Service of the Light with a Great Bowl O' Fire Sculptural Firebowl holding the Paschal Fire. The very fire Great Bowl O' Fire I ever made went to Ridge Art Gallery. When Laurie emailed to tell me she had sold it to...
Alyson commissioned a Blaze O Glory Brazier last December for use as a fireplace insert in her Buckinghamshire, UK home. I love the way it looks resting on the bed of white stones… Very Zen. Very cozy. This is the only firebowl so far to...
Our Blaze O’ Glory Brazier ~ Kindling the Paschal Fire in Style As part of the Great Vigil of Easter, we kindle a new fire from which the Paschal Candle is lit and burns for the Great Fifty Days of Easter. It is from...
Johnny Evers Mosaic Portrait, 2006 vitreous glass mosaic, steel frame. 48" H x 60" W x 1.5" D Commission It's nearly impossible to reduce a six foot wide mosaic to a 600 pixel wide image and get it to look the way it should! The grout lines tend to...
The brazier above is a great example of how a commissioned piece can turn out. This photo is not the piece I did for the client, but a second one I did in the same style. I've thought about doing a wave motif on the...
I'm glad I had a chance to visit the Brick Oven Courtyard Grille in Topeka, KS on a trip in 2009. We arrived before serving hours, but the staff was kind enough to turn on the restaurant's three Great Bowls O' Fire so we could...
Free Spirit, Mosaic Bear 2005 Ceramic tile over fiberglass. 36″ X 60″ x 28″ Private Collection Free Spirit was created for the 2005 fundraiser Great Northern Hunt for Bearable Art organized by The American Red Cross of Northern Lower Michigan. An anonymous donor sponsored one of the bears and specifically...
Brook Trout Mosaic No. 2, 2006 Sicis Iridium glass tile, glass taxidermy eye, copper, Hardibacker substrate. 11" H x 19" W x 1.5" D Most of the tile used on this mosaic is from the Iridium line of glass from Sicis. As the light or viewing angle changes,...
Rainbow Trout Glass Mosaic, 2006 Sicis Iridium glass tile, glass taxidermy eye, copper, Hardibacker substrate 9" H x 21.25" W x 1.5" Most of the tile used on this mosaic is from the Iridium line of glass from Sicis. As the light or viewing angle changes, the iridescent...
Bluegill Mosaic No. 2, 2006 Sicis Iridium glass tile, glass taxidermy eye, copper. 11 x 17.5 x 1.5 in My daughter Mya did so well last summer helping me with mosaic that this year I had her create a whole line of fish. She got to do the...
Lake Trout Mosaic, 2006 Sicis Iridium glass tile, glass taxidermy eye, copper, Hardibacker substrate. 11" H x 18.5" W x 1.5" D Private Collection My daughter Mya did so well last summer helping me with mosaic that this year I had her create a whole line of fish. She...
Brook Trout Mosaic No. 1, 2006: Dimensions: 11" high x 19" wide x 1.5" deep. Materials: Sicis Iridium glass tile, glass taxidermy eye, copper. Mosaic is set with mortar on a Hardibacker substrate over plywood and finished around the edges with copper...
Bluegill Mosaic, 2005 Sicis Iridium glass tile, glass taxidermy eye, copper. 11" H x 17.5" W x 1.5" D...
Rainbow Trout, 2002 glass tile, glass eye, copper, Wonderboard substrate on plywood. 27.5" H x 16.5" W x 1.5" D Commission Rainbow Trout Commissioned by Jeff Ott for his office at Warner, Norcross & Judd. The iridescent glass tiles create a highly realistic shimmer on the surface of the...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish at Vale Craft Gallery Bottle Caps, plywood, printed tin, copper or bronze, rakes, dustpans, nail, etc. 126" H x 90" W Bottle caps have long had a place in the folk art tradition as a decorative element. Usually, they are deployed more as a texture,...
Shiny Happy Puppy: A Modern Take On An Ancient Mosaic When I first saw an image of this "beware of dog" mosaic from Ancient Rome, I immediately fell in love with it...
Christy MacLear commissioned this piece for her gallery, Fleur Fine Art, because people kept asking her to sell the mermaid from her private collection and she couldn't bring herself to part with it. She gave me "total artistic freedom" to create any bottle cap...
La Siren With her Italian glass top and bottle cap tail, LaSiren reflects not just light but a sense of humor and playfulness. Private collection.
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What I love most about this piece is the variety of interpretations I've heard— from holding up the weight of the worlds garbage, to being crushed by alcoholism, to a desire to drink in the entire world....
One of four mosaics commissioned by Eson Chan, Art Director at Northeastern University Magazine,to illustrate an article about dolphin watching off the coast of Spain. ...
Community Harmony Through Song & Play, Panel 1: Music, 2001 Ceramic mosaic on wood substrate. 66" H x 48" W x 2" D Public Art Commission Panel 1 portrays musical styles which have been cornerstones of the African American culture and experience. The sax man probably plays jazz or...
Community Harmony Through Song & Play, Panel 2: Arts and History, 2001 Ceramic mosaic on wood substrate. 66" H x 48" W x 2" D Public Art Commission An African horn player blows his horn from the deep past, communicating with the sax man in the first panel. Behind...
Community Harmony Through Song & Play Panel 3 In the park a band plays, a man and woman dance, a child jumps to catch the notes in the air...
My neighbor across the street lives in what was once the old train station, sometime around the turn of the century. He commissioned this piece for the exterior of his home. This was actually the most difficult mosaic I've done to date....
This piece and the What Would Elvis Do? mirror were created for a show of all-Elvis art at Fleur Fine Art in Chicago....
This piece and the Elvis Is Love mirror were created for a show of all-Elvis art at Fleur Fine Art in Chicago....
When my dad was young he had a series of pet crows, all named Peter, and Peter was the hero of my bedtime stories....
Vévé for Erzuli Mosaic Table, 2003 vitreous glass, glass gems, steel table. 30" Tall x 42" x 42" Commission Laurie Beasley of Ridge Art commissioned this table, featuring a version of the Vévé for Erzulie, the Haitian goddess (Lwa) of love. My mosaic of the Vévé for Erzuli was...
This table was commissioned by Angelo at Casa Loca in Chicago. The original design is from the Mexican Loteria deck, a traditional game similar to Bingo. ...
La Femme Astrale, 1999 ceramic tile, plywood substrate. 24" x 48" x 17" high Stolen, whereabouts unknown The design for this table was adapted from a 19th Century French poster for a floating woman act.… This is one of a set of four tables I did in collaboration with...
Cocktail Girls, 1999 ceramic tile, glass, plywood substrate. 24" x 48" x 17" high Private Collection The design for this table came from an antique matchbook… Most of my early mosaics were based on old 4 color ads and posters. The limited colors of tile I was using seemed...
Ballad of the Dragon, 1999 ceramic tile, glass, plywood substrate. 24" x 48" x 17" high Commission The design for this table was adapted from a metal engraving by José Guadalupe Posada. The eye is a photo pasted behind a Xerox copier lense. Most of my early mosaics were...
The Friendly Gesture, 1999 ceramic tile, slate, plywood substrate. 24" x 48" x 17" high Private Collection The design for this table came from an antique matchbook. The tile is a mix of ceramic and porcelain. The cigars I carved from slate....
DisneyQuest Chicago: Mosaic Mural and Sculpture, 2005 Plastic rhinestone mosaic Commission...
Mud's Marker, 2001 Concrete, Ceramic tile 12.5" H x 12" W x 4" D Commission I made the headstone above for Mud, a friend's cat who had sadly used up it's allotment of nine lives. The marker has been through five long winters in Michigan with no sign of...
[rev_slider alias="LibationBottles"] All the bottles on this page were inspired by the sequined libation bottles of Haitian Vodou, a standard feature of Vodou altars traditionally used in ceremony to serve rum to the spirits. Libation bottles are often much more plain than the ceremonial flags which...
Three Billy Goats Gruff was the first drawing my daughter Mya did for our collaborative series of narrative sculptures....
Sad Bunny is a collaboration I did with my daughter Mya, one of many sculptures we did this summer using her drawings and my welding and cutting chops. ...
The house is made from an old refrigerator drawer and the rest is recycled steel plate. The wind from the wolf's mouth is copper plated welding rod. The plants are scrap left over from cutting out the flames on the Firebird Grill....
Aluminum + Copper Fish Sign, 2005 Recycled Aluminum, copper and plywood. 51" H x 96" W x 1" D This was originally going to be a sign for the studio… I got this far with it and decided that I liked it better as art. I made it...
A Mermaid and her Fish, 2006 Recycled steel, 54" H x 37" W x .25" D Collection: Jerry's Sandwiches, Chicago, IL Here's a bold, graphic sculpture made from recycled car steel… The corrugated steel in the background is not part of the piece, it's the wall of my office...
Galaxy No. 3, 2005 recycled steel 139 H x 133 W x 14 in at the base...
Galaxy No. 2, 2004 Steel 82" x 82" x 14" Collection: Kathleen Glynn & Michael Moore. The Galaxy Series of sculptures is inspired in part by David Smith's sculptures Australia and Royal Bird. But I also enjoyed the comment left by Craig...
The Galaxy Series are Modernist inspired, abstract wind vanes made from recycled steel. ...
The figures below are one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by, and built around, stone shapes that catch my eye from the cast-away pile at a local stone vendor's. Because the stone is polished on one side only, the back is decorated with copper....
Swiss Army Horse, 2000 Recycled steel, grout dimensions variable Collection: Marilyn Houlberg...
Cycling Salamander Windvane, a kinetic sculpture windvane commissioned in 2004...
Grasschopper Wind Vane, 2004 Steel, cast iron, copper 60" H x 40" W x 20" D Private Collection ...
These three sculptures are early examples of sculpture based on line art drawings. The Guardian sculpture is one of the few I've done which combines lines and planes....
Abstract Bull, State 11. 2005. Steel. Dimensions variable. Private Collection Picasso has had a quiet, but huge influence on my fences and sculpture. Whatever else you may choose to say about the man, he had a knack for drafting the perfect line and I've aspired to match him on that...
The Dancer Sculptures come in two styles: the steel and copper version shown here and a powder coat enamel version....
The Dancer Sculptures come in two styles: the powder coat enamel version shown here and a steel and copper version. In creating these sculptures, I try to capture the essential gesture so precisely that the mind completes the movement—making a still image appear to be in...
Houses and Weather: Scrapyard Abstract No. 8, 2006 recycled steel 14 x 10 x 3 in Although the steel in this sculpture was crushed, compacted and sheared intentionally, by a machine at the junk yard, it reminds me of what you see when heavy weather tears through a...
When I made this piece, I saw it as an animal running at full tilt, turning sharply mid-run on two legs. I love the way the tail whips around through the air and the head stretches outward, still thrust in the original direction. ...
Odysseus lashed himself to the mast of his ship to avoid being seduced by the cries of the sirens into grounding on the shoals of a reef. This sculpture suggests all the elements of that myth to me… from some angles it resembles a ship...
Arbor Vitae reminds me of music in some ways, referencing both notes on a page and sort of twining piano keys. It also makes me think of a storm, or vortex, or swirling smoke. But the breakthrough idea came when I saw it as a...
Garden Meditation Gong. 2006. Recycled steel. 85" H x 35" W x 12" D Private Collection The freestanding garden gong above would make a nice centerpiece for any garden… it requires a concrete pad below grade to stabilize it (or you could do something like a cool stonework base...
Antique Radiator Firewood Cradle, 1999 Cast iron, recycled steel. 23.5" x 22" x 8.5" Custom Order item I love the visual pun of making a cradle for holding fire wood from sections of an old radiator. This piece was originally made as a Christmas present, but I'd be into...
The gates shown here are largely created from various recycled elements. They were part of a larger project in Chicago, IL by Kenneth Morrison on which I collaborated....
Window Grilles, 2005: steel, 20.75" H x 20" W x .25" D Private Collection This pair of window grates was created from a sheet of scrap steel left over after a factory cut blanks for what might have been rotating blades for a mower. I included a larger...
E. Jones wanted burglar bars for her ground floor windows, but she didn't want to feel like she was in prison when she looked through them....
City Gates, commissioned by Bob Racky for his offices at 4022 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago, features two pairs of gates based on maps of the Chicago area. The south gates show Riverside, IL and feature urban planning by Frederic Law Olmstead in the lower left...
A collaboration with Kenneth Morrison. He originated the concept and sketched a rough layout for overall project. I designed and fabricated indivdual panels. The choice of which panels went together was his. It was a little like an enormous steel version of the exquisite corpse...
These graceful figures suggest both the motion of their dance and the music that moves them. The obvious joy of the figures is engaging— but their simplicity is what really captivates us. We can easily see ourselves, someone we know, or the person we might...
I was (and still am) one of those kids who always feels compelled to lean chairs back on two legs. I didn't get into making furniture just to avoid being yelled at, or breaking chairs, but I do believe that in addition to being beautiful...
The Mosaics: Music | History | Peace in the Park Contents: Credits | The Design Process | Creating the mosaics | The Youth Artists Credits Lead Artist: John Unger Assistant Artist: Caswell James Mentor: Nina Smoot-Cain With Youth Artists: Sheena Barlow, DeJuan Birge, Katheris Ellis, Ashley Harvey, Kenyetta Howard, Ernest Johnson,...
While I was in Chicago, I delivered the finished mosaic of Frank Chance that Mya and I worked on this summer. This is the second of a tryptich featuring portraits of Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers and Frank Chance. ...
Anima Sola/Marinette Altar, 2004 Steel, cast iron, vitreous glass mosaic, slate, antique mirror, copper, bronze 76" H x 31" W x 10" D Private collection I've always wanted to do a mosaic of the image of Anima Sola, or “The Lost Soul.” It's such a powerful image...
For a long time, my most well-know work was the Devil Girl tile mosaic windvane. I felt like she needed an angelic sister to balance the family. So last winter while the snow piled up to the eves of my studio I created this sleeping...
The Amazing Devil Girl— She Whirls!, 2000 ceramic mosaic, plywood, steel, copper, bronze 66.6" H x 48" W x 13" D I'm pretty sure I'm the only mosaic artist who's ever made a wind powered kinetic mosaic sculpture… The wind vane sculpture shown above is the second of...
Here's another narrative sculpture that Mya designed. Click the thumbnail images to see detail shots. I love the way she used the tree and the bed post to organize the frames of the story! Pretty sophisticated work for a sixteen-year old.This piece...
Bottle Cap Mosaic Fish No. 21, 2006 plywood, primer, bottle caps, recycled roofing copper 20" H x 27" W x 2.5" D This fish is made from Bud Light and Izze bottle caps. The fins and tale are cut from recycled roofing copper. The eye is a jar lid....
I wish I had better photos of the two Great Bowl O' Fire 41 inch Sculptural Firebowls at Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas, Lahaina, Hawaii. Installed on stone pillars in the pool, they provide dramatic lighting and reflections on the water. ...
Cara was born in the dead center of the twentieth century, Solstice day, 1950...
Atlas: World Famous is my first large-scale sculpture made using the newly operational plasma cutter to create metal "collage."...
I finished the marble mosaic for Tommy Jenkins last week and brought it down to Chicago on this trip. Tommy does massage therapy and just opened up his own space recently. ...
[rev_slider alias="galaxy2Kinetic"] More pics I meant to post a long time ago… Back in February Kathleen Glynn and Michael Moore purchased Galaxy No. 2 for their Torch Lake home. She asked me to store it for them until the snow lifted and they had a space...
I took these pics a few weeks ago as I was getting ready to make the four new bottle cap fish for Vale Craft Gallery. This is what it looks like when I'm sorting beer caps for my mosaics. Actually, this is a lot better than...
When I arrived in Chicago, my back was so out of whack that I could barely walk… too much work, too little sleep and way too much heavy lifting this month. Britt sent me off immediately to see Tommy Jenkins, a total freakin' genius massage...
Organ: Scrapyard Abstract No. 3, 2005. Recycled steel. 76" x 37" x 31"...
Scrappy Rooster: Scrapyard Abstract No. 2, 2005 Recycled steel. 33" x 21" x 12"...
The sculpture above looks a bit like a fish on the one side and a bird on the other… but what it really reminds me of are terra cotta ocarinas I've seen from Mexico and South America. I love the patina on it, although...
Little Colossus started out as a base for Galaxy No. 3 but soon made it clear that it wanted to be it's own sculpture. There are some photos on the studio blog from before it was painted that show some of the cool tricks...
It's all done and installed. Yay! Actually, there is the little matter of going back next month and dying the grout in the background to match the black tile more closely, but other than that it's done and installed. I think there's one last step...
The coolest thing about using Sicis tile on the trout mosaics is that the irridescent surface of the tile so closely resembles the actual scales of a live fish. Click on the image to the left to see both the normal and irridized colors of...
About CANtern Hand-cut Luminaries What I enjoy about making the CANtern luminaries is the way they allow me to think in the exact opposite way I do when I make fences or sculpture… When...
The Fish design has been my best seller from day one. Everybody needs more fish! The light shadows this one casts are really cool, like a whole shimmering trout stream swimming in the dark, flicking their tails as the candle shimmers. See all the CANtern Luminary...
I spent the last couple days working on this project, which I've been dying to do for months. The firepit is cut from the end of a propane tank and the legs are from some kind of farm implement. After extensive testing (heh) I've decided...
The Electro Tiger Kitty design has always been my favorite of the Cantern designs. It's also the most difficult to get right. See all the CANtern Luminary designs. To learn more, read the CANtern FAQ page. 100% recycled content. Hand made and signed by the artist. Holes in...
The Scarab Beetle was sacred to the Ancient Egyptians as a symbol of the sun traveling across the sky. This Scarab Cantern will light up your yard or patio all evening unless his cousin the June Bug flies into the candle and puts it out....
The Radiant Heart CANtern shows rays illuminating outward from the heart in a symbol of universal and growing love. See all the CANtern Luminary designs. To learn more, read the CANtern FAQ page. 100% recycled content. Hand made and signed by the artist. Holes in the base allow...
The Sacred Heart CANtern is slightly different on each side: One side has an eye in the middle of the heart, the other side has a smaller heart nested within the first. See all the CANtern Luminary designs. To learn more, read the CANtern FAQ page. 100%...
The Eyes CANtern reminds me of the opening credits for Scooby Doo. It casts a particularly nice glowing image of the eyes when lit. See all the CANtern Luminary designs. To learn more, read the CANtern FAQ page. 100% recycled content. Hand made and signed by the...
The Spiral CANtern is a nice example of a simple, traditional design. See all the CANtern Luminary designs. To learn more, read the CANtern FAQ page. 100% recycled content. Hand made and signed by the artist. Holes in the base allow water to drain. Safe for use...
This glass mosaic portrait of Joe Tinker is a recent commission for the Lakeview Baseball Club. Below is the image I used to work from, an antique baseball card that I was able to find thanks to the fabulous online archives at the Library of Congress...
Frankie Machine Community Garden Sign, 2003 Recycled Steel. The sign for Frankie Machine Community Garden in Chicago used to get stolen on a fairly regular basis by Nelson Algren fans… So I was hired to create a sign that would be more difficult to abscond with....