Mosaic Lava Porch

What could be a more appropriate theme for a smoky and smoldering hot summer mosaic? Hot lava! It was the summer of 2008. Lightning fires were ravaging the nearby hills and towns but save for a little smoke inhalation, the show must go on!

I had recently expanded my tile line to include custom color circle tiles and was itching to lay some down in a big way. When this client showed me her beat up porch and asked me to come up with a colorful design I immediately had one in mind. I had done a smaller version of it to hang in an art gallery and called it “Lava Spill”. I showed it to her explaining that the lava could flow down the steps while at the same time act like a red carpet right up to her door. She agreed on the color scheme and design, but just as we were ready to shake hands, I had one more idea. “Did you know they make glow-in-the-dark glass tiles?” This got her very excited. I told her I’d bring some by the next day.

When her son saw the tiles he kept running from the sunny porch with them to the dark bathroom and shouting “Wo-o-o-w!” They glow a brilliant electric blue. That sealed the deal. I made dozens and dozens of handmade red and black glossy circle tiles to serve as the main lava flow and filled in the rest with shiny copper-glazed tiles, peach and reddish brown. Then I lined the lava with the glow-in-the-dark tiles that I nipped in half, and put little nipped pieces inside the lava to remind one of glowing embers. It really makes a dark porch magical at night. No more losing your way!