I have delayed in sharing this piece because it was created as a thank you gift for our amazing wedding photographer, Steve Dondero. He went out of his way to make our day incredible. He was photographer extraordinaire, tour guide, official witness and all-around nice guy. I wanted to do something special to thank him for everything he did for us. He gave us the gift of his time and I thought what better way to show our appreciation than to gift him with our time in return.
I had admired this photograph when looking through his extensive portfolio. I love the calm starkness and varying texture that comes through the composition. While researching the use of seed beads in mosaics, inspiration struck. This was the perfect way to try a new technique and send a special thank you.
Steve received the finished piece a couple of weeks ago and sent me a lovely message of thanks. Now that there is no risk of spoiling the surprise, I can share it with you.
I started with the tree in the center using a dark green nipped stained glass and a brown glass rod for the trunk. For the snow I used white stained glass nipped for the horizontal foreground and narrow rectangles for the vertical striations in the background. To represent the dotted rain marks in the snow, I placed glass seed beads of various sizes using tweezers and a needle. The piece is finished with white grout to maintain the starkness of the original and custom framed by my hubby. I love how it turned out and am thrilled to know Steve is enjoying it.
If you are an admirer of amazing photography, check out Steve’s portfolio at www.stevedondero.com. You won’t be disappointed!