The beauty of the Rockies has struck me for many years.  So much so that I wanted to incorporate some of my travel memories into the kitchen of our home.  An etched and hand-glazed focal tile featuring a stylized representation of Mount Wilson dominates the space.  This is surrounded by irregular edged field tiles and framed by another of my favorite images, the Charter Oak.

Because this kitchen features a mixture of vintage cabinets and Victorian inspired reproductions, an Arts and Craft matt green glaze was the best choice for the hand-made field tiles.  The basic glaze was modified slightly to produce rich tan and ocher undertones when applied by hand.  A deep, olive green transparent glaze was applied to the Charter Oak border tiles to provide contrast with the field tiles and wall colors.  The translucent nature of this glaze also presents the low relief oak trees in the best way. 

Once the surrounding tile glaze palette was developed, the colors were used, or in some cases slightly modified, to produce the central focal tile.  Great care was taken to ensure the glazes remained in their designated compartments.  After several hours of work, the large tile was placed in the kiln and fingers were crossed.  Careful planning and well-practiced skill ensured that when the kiln was opened 26 hours later, the focal tile more than met my expectations 

I enjoy incorporating travel themes into my work.  They add personal touches to the space and intimacy to the design. These travelogue tiles allow us to bring pieces of our favorite places into our home where they can be cherished every day.  It takes a bit more time and fuss to create these one-of-kind tiles but in the end I think you will agree that the final results are well worth the effort.