Mixed Media Art & Vintage Re-Imaginings
David Greenhalgh is an Award-winning Mixed Media Artist who creates in Southern California. The native Angelino often finds inspiration in unusual found objects and vintage or recycled discoveries.
NEW Piece just in time for The Beverly Hills Art Show: THE BRIDGE
I’ve been exploring more ways to really fulfill the “3-Dimensional” aspect of my mosaic art. Part of the “pre”-mosaic process involves the concept, design and shaping of the base before the mosaic elements are applied. It was a challenge (admittedly an enjoyable one) to figure out how to build a physical second level, or “bridge” and then to add the mosaic to all of it. I wanted there to be a visual surprise that you wouldn’t discover until examining the piece up close. Upon closer inspection, what initially looked like a 2-dimensional wave or strip of color reveals the continuous second level beneath it. This piece has already spurred my next project which will continue exploring the possibilites of 3-dimensional mosaics.
Summer Art Shows 2024!
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Summer Art Shows 2024! 〰️
TWO Big Summer Art Show Events!! First up: come out and say hello May 18th & 19th at the Beverly Hills Art Show. I’m excited to be back in LA that weekend and I have a ton of new work to show. If you can’t make the Beverly Hills Art Show, I can also be found this Summer doing a residency down in Laguna Beach, June 28th thru September 1st at The Laguna Art-A-Fair! Beverly Hills Art Show is free and tickets for the Laguna Art-A-Fair can be purchased in advance with a discount (see info below). If you come down to Laguna, there are many galleries around town AND the Sawdust Festival and Pageant of The Arts are within walking distance.
“Mosaic Window Art” AKA Jewelry for your Home!
NEW WORK! “Tides 2” (Dec., 2023)
A Multi-dimensional mosaic work created from Murrini glass, Millefiori glass, aventurine, malachite, recycled glass tile, mirrored tile, ceramic tile, Smalti tile, Van Gogh tile, foil-backed tile and more. Approximately 24.5” in diameter.
2023: A Year of Change
The last year has been one of great change for me. After living most of my adult life in The City of Angels, I decided it was time to move back to my home town of Dana Point, California, to be closer to mom. I spent most of 2023 living with her while putting my creative skills to work in a new way: renovating a house from top to bottom! I learned how to work with mortar, upped my wood-working skills, painted, landscaped, did a little wiring and looked at hundreds (if not thousands) of bathroom and kitchen tiles during the journey of this remodel. I was sad to miss the 50th anniversary of The Beverly Hills Art Show, but it would’ve been just too much in the middle of a renovation. The passing of my stepfather before I moved back was a big motivational force driving me to move back and be closer to mom; then just as I was settling in, my birth father also passed away. As hard as it was to move out of Los Angeles where most of my friends are, nothing compared to the emotional challenge of saying goodbye to a parent (or two parents). I’ve been very grateful to have my art to get lost in while letting my mind wander through childhood memories of my Dad and stepdad while I create, especially during this last year. I had started a new piece at my real dad’s house that I was making for my home and he was excited to see the finished result. Sadly, he passed away before I could complete it and he never got to see the finished product. The piece is created from a round green mosaic base which I filled with eyelet screws and it hangs mosaic-side-down from the ceiling. I wrapped a multitude of glass orbs in annealed wire and hung them from chains attached from the mosaic. I then added hand-made monstera leafs of millefiori glass, stained glass, resin and more to the chains. There are two spotlights pointing up at the reflective mosaic tiles which sends small gleams of light around the room. I keep thinking of it as a Rainbow Asteroid when I look at it… although it will always remind me mostly of my dad. (Photos of my “rainbow asteroid” and other recent projects below).
(My “Rainbow Asteroid;” custom Chandelier of blue/green crystals; new ‘Mermaid’ Window Jewelry (& more); new series of Mosaic Window Jewelry; custom-made Mosaic Stepping Stones and… Mom!).
Excited to share that one of my works from the “Flatten The Curve” series was selected to be in Dab Gallery’s exhibition for the “Art In The Time Of Corona” global project. The gallery opening reception is October 23rd, 2022 from 1pm to 3pm in Downtown Los Angeles. Dab Art Gallery is located between S. Main St. and S. Los Angeles St. and there is a parking lot adjacent with stairs leading down to the gallery (see map).
For more information, click here: Art in The Time of Corona. More on Dab Art Gallery here: Dab Art Co.
New Mosaic Work: “Tides” completed July, 2022. (Sold).
Limited Edition Golf “Window Jewelry”!
Each of these window hangings are created with a vintage pewter golf figurine, millefiori glass, hand-blown glass baubles, lampwork beads, sea glass, stained glass and more! All are uniquely one-of-a-kind and are for sale for only $48 each! please email greenphoenixrelics@gmail.com with design number (in upper left-hand corner) to check availability. Each piece is approximately 8 to 10” long. Also preparing to release a new lot of swallows, fish, owls and a whole lot more for the holidays! The non-golf pieces range from $35-$50.
Beverly Hills Art Show
~ First Place ~
Beverly Hills Art Show ~ First Place ~
“Nuns V. Nudists”
Created from recycled Botox vials filled with themed miniatures and thousands of hand-cut pieces of glass/ceramic mosaic tile on wood.
“Flatten The Curve: Fire”
Final piece in the “Flatten The Curve” series. Each is based on one of the Four Elements: Water, Air, Land & Fire. “Fire” was created with a nod to Dante’s Inferno. Seven of the nine Circles of Hell are represented: Limbo, Lust, Greed, Gluttony, Heresy, Anger/Wrath and Violence. Each level holds recycled Botox vials filled with themed media symbolizing that specific Circle. Measures 22” H x 36” L x 5.75” D. Completed in August of 2021. #ArtInTheTimeOfCorona
“Flatten The Curve: Air”
“Flatten The Curve: Earth”
“Flatten The Curve: Water”
That Haunting Feeling
Last year I came across an old chandelier with 3 double sets of brass busts that looked like they came straight out of a haunted mansion. I loved them and immediately bought the piece. Sadly, by the time it was delivered to my home, it was packed so poorly that much of the chandelier was damaged. The upside was that the busts were intact, so I took the fixture apart and saved the darkly-enchanted women.
I decided to go “Full Haunting” and turn the pieces into a candelabra in all blood-reds with lots of dripping crystals. I love how it all came together.
Chandeliers, Candelabras and More:
Besides my obsession with all things “vintage,” I also create original Mixed Media Art pieces. I make an effort to use as many recycled elements as I can, but most of my work (even with non-vintage creations) tends to be crafted with a core of the same mixed media materials. These ingredients consistently include mosaic tile, recycled chandelier crystals, vintage lampwork beads, semi-precious stones in bead or carved pendant form, sliced druzy stones and unique jewelry components. I usually begin with a wood, wire or cork base… Below are a few examples.
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“The Duck Pond” is a project which required quite a few different skills to get it from my imagination to the physical form you see here.
The Prep: It took almost a month to find all the parts needed to create this piece, then another 6 weeks to build. The pond & the sun were created by cutting hundreds of tiny pieces of glass mosaic tiles to fit together like a tight puzzle.
The Ingredients: Green sea sediment jasper twigs, malachite beads, glass ducklings, glass birds, recycled wine corks, yellow druzy slice, vintage lead toy fences, pinecone charms, glass owls, jewelry components, 700 glass leafs, glass mosaic tile, wood, vintage lampwork beads, dragonfly charms, acorn charms, glass fish, a lazy Susan turning mechanism (for the pond) and more!
The “Dentata”
I’ve spent the last few years exploring the concept of the wreath as more an “Art Form” than traditional folk craft by including the hollow center as part of the canvas. I began by experimenting with color palettes using vintage chandelier crystals, lampwork beads and jewelry components, but quickly decided it would be a much more creative challenge to choose specific visual themes instead. I started with a couple jungle motif art-wreaths, then did a few beehives, an undersea piece, an “into the woods” theme and more. One of this year’s wreaths (pictured) is based on the mythical Vagina Dentata.
All my wreaths start with a recycled wine/champagne cork base and it can take up to 3-5 weeks just to collect all the individual themed parts. The Dentata wreath was created from fossilized Moroccan shark teeth, vintage red coral twigs, a sliced pink druzy stone, phosphorescent mosaic tile, rose quartz, glass flowers and thousands of different glass and semi-precious stone beads and jewelry components.
Each wreath i make inspires 2-3 more ideas for new projects. I was planning to debut all my Art Wreaths at the Spring Beverly Hills Art Show in May of 2020, but that was cancelled due to Covid-19. So, then I hoped the October show in the park would be their Beverly Hills unveiling, however that was also cancelled, so now I’m waiting for public shows to be considered safe venues again.
In the meantime, stay tuned…
Works in Progress: I'm currently working on several more chandelier/candelabra projects (each one completely different in every way) and you can see one of my favorites below. I do quite a few custom request pieces, but when I am not working on those, I'm working on multiple projects that I do for my own enjoyment. Besides the lighting pieces, I also have antique grates, vintage radiant heaters and a new stock of vintage cast iron oil lamp bases to re-imagine (I guess you could say I have "art-project A.D.D.").
Colors: I love to work with colors. I especially enjoy mixing and experimenting with color combinations and I welcome the opportunity to make a new statement piece that suits your home.
Mixed Media: I am checked off under the category of "Mixed Media 3-D" in the art categorization box, but I enjoy working with many mediums. Mosaic tile/glass, painting, jewelry making and wire sculpture, photography, woodworking... and much more.
Art Deco Chandelier… Re-Imagined.
“The Eye”
When I first began creating these mixed media art wreaths, It took me working on a few of the early projects to realize that the “empty” space in the middle was actually part of the canvas. Once I understood this, it opened up so many possibilities of what I could create there. Each one became a little more complex - and enjoyable - to create. I’ve started to incorporate a lot more mosaic elements into the newer art wreaths and this last one had its own challenges. The mini-pyramids I had to create separately and then install one at a time, while filling in the remaining mosaic tiles around each base. Meanwhile, I think It took about 3 weeks just searching for and collecting all the lampwork/vintage glass beads and jewelry components that cover the outer cork base. I worked on this every day for 3-4 weeks and completed it 04/23/20.
Recycled from SIX Vintage Finds!
This is the first chandelier that I've basically built from the ground up. I collected parts/pieces from six different antique chandeliers that shared a certain aesthetic, starting with several kinds of vintage brass acanthus leaves.
I built the main body from wood to attach the pieces to, then covered it with complimentary mosaic tiles (I knew I wanted to create a look with greens and bronzes and envisioned it like a mysterious tree with hanging vines).
My favorite part of this chandelier holds a lot of sentimental value: My friend and neighbor, actress Cynthia Frost, passed away a little over a year ago. Besides receiving all her personal family photos (she had no family left to leave them to), I was given a good amount of her costume jewelry. There was one necklace made of clear beige crackle beads and I wanted to use them for something special. As I created this piece, they felt like they really suited the chandelier and so I incorporated all the beads from that necklace in with the hanging crystals. I loved the idea that when the chandelier was done, a little bit of Cynthia would be shining down in more ways than one.
(Click over to the "Before & After" page to see some of the progress on this piece).
Druzy Stones, Dragon's Veins, Quartz, Crystals, Geodes, Agates, Hematite & More...
I love the brilliant colors of these varied crystals. Most of them are not found in nature with the magical hues you see now, but have a little (some a lot) of help from man. Think of them as the, "cubic zirconia" of crystals.
Some people don't care from these types of stones since they are not naturally formed in the earth, but the colors are so vibrant and beautiful that my attitude towards them is definitely a positive one: If they are pleasing to the eye, safe and no one is hurt during the process to create them, then I'm happy to use them to create and experiment with.
Check out the link at the top of this page to see how I use these beautiful crystals in my Sun Relics.
LED Candles
Everyone loves the ambient glow of a flickering fireplace and the mood one creates. The same is true of the fluctuating flames that candles add to any space. Both heighten the feeling of warmth and romance, however, neither come without their faults...
A fireplace can only be enjoyed seasonally, so for someone like me who lives in California, that season lasts about 2 or 3 weeks. Give or take.
There's also the “damage factor.” Both a fireplace and candles can start an accidental fire. Embers can burn holes in blankets & furniture. Wax drips onto wood, carpet, etc.
I prefer the new generation of LED candles. They have timers you can switch on and they will turn themselves on that time every day for months and them turn themselves off each night 3-5 hours later. They are perfect - they flicker just like the real thing, but no heat, no dripping wax mess, no fear of fire and they last a long time! I use these in all my candelabras & radiant fireplaces.
I'm in the process of building and adding to my golden Hollywood "cityscape" that started with the Hollywood Sign I made on the left. I'm going to make a few more gold/mirrored mosaic palm tree holders as well to put with the other buildings and bump up the LA palm tree vibe. I JUST finished building a mini (mostly) gold Chinese Theater, which was quite a challenge, but I'm really pleased with how it came out. See below.
More to come...
“For Art to exist, for any sort of aesthetic activity or perception to exist, a certain physiological precondition is indispensable: Intoxication”
“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time”