Rhonda Doenges makes mosaics for 15 years now. As an autodidact, she constantly developed herself experimenting with various materials and techniques. Stained Glass is her preferred material. She finds inspiration in life, nature and people. She is a member of the German Organization for Mosaic Art (DOMO e.V.) and is in exchange with other artists worldwide. Her artwork is displayed in touring exhibitions all over Germany.
Where do you get your ideas? What are the references for your work?
Colors, shapes and materials are my main reference, e.g. with “Path of Encounters” or “Rainforest”. My artwork develops on its own terms. Sometimes, I happen to have a clear mental image – a specific picture in my head or a topic that I want to realize. Then, I do research, drawing inspiration from photographies and pictures, before developing my own design, as with “Panna Cotta” or “La Catrina”. For commissions, of course, I respond to the wishes of my customers, as with the logo for “Kraeuterschule Sonnenbraut”.
The development of “Rainforest” was particularly interesting. It emerged from my personal wish to create something colorful with many shades of green. I got inspired by the flora and fauna of the Costa Rican Rainforest. Step by step I filled the frame – without a first draft, just as with nature where everything is intertwined. The intuitive process, piecing together plants, animals and organic shapes to become a vivid whole, was an exciting experience for me.
Why do you prefer stained glass?
Glass is fragile, transparent and yet still so powerful. It is a natural material, which subsists on the variation of light and shade. Stained Glass has many different color shades in depth and surface. I love the interplay of the gentle yet contrasting streaks in the glass. I like to discover the most vivid pieces and process them studiously. There is a tremendous radiance and glow to stained glass and it captivates with its three-dimensional effect and the intensity of its colors. This is especially apparent in various church windows and the Jugendstil Glass Art.
Glass is fragile, transparent and yet still so powerful. It is a natural material, which subsists on the variation of light and shade. Stained Glass has many different color shades in depth and surface. I love the interplay of the gentle yet contrasting streaks in the glass. I like to discover the most vivid pieces and process them studiously. There is a tremendous radiance and glow to stained glass and it captivates with its three-dimensional effect and the intensity of its colors. This is especially apparent in various church windows and the Jugendstil Glass Art.
Is there a message that you want to communicate through your artwork?
My goal is to make mosaics which reflect nature and moments that are true to life. I want to attract the viewer`s attention to the detail without losing sight of the big picture. For me it is about the deliberate play with light and shadow and the harmonic flow of shapes and colors. I especially love round and organic shapes.
My goal is to make mosaics which reflect nature and moments that are true to life. I want to attract the viewer`s attention to the detail without losing sight of the big picture. For me it is about the deliberate play with light and shadow and the harmonic flow of shapes and colors. I especially love round and organic shapes.
Despite being so compartmentalized, mosaics form a unity. They create connections between opposites, between square and round, bright and dull, monotonous and multicolored. Ultimately, I want to give people impetus to perceive the world in its natural harmony and complexity. I am imbued with happiness, when people are touched by my glass art.
What does your artwork tell us about yourself?
My artwork is an expression of my own vitality. It is a mirror of my mood and feelings. For me, mosaics offer the possibility to show different facets of myself: my love for details and the beauty of nature as well as my fascination for vibrant colors and organic and harmonic shapes. In the process of creation, I follow my intuition and unite my artistic and artisanal personality. Working all the bits and pieces into a harmonic whole makes me happy.
For me, making mosaics is like bringing something to the surface that is caught on the inside and always allowing the emergence of new perspectives.
„Rhonda“ - in Germany, that is quite an unusual name. What is its meaning?
It is English, Welsh to be exact. Rhonda means “good spear”. I think it fits my nature in regard to working meticulously and purposefully. I break glass exactly at the places, which help to reflect light and color moods as naturally as possible.
Interview by Andrea Stanke for HEART WORX.
My artwork is an expression of my own vitality. It is a mirror of my mood and feelings. For me, mosaics offer the possibility to show different facets of myself: my love for details and the beauty of nature as well as my fascination for vibrant colors and organic and harmonic shapes. In the process of creation, I follow my intuition and unite my artistic and artisanal personality. Working all the bits and pieces into a harmonic whole makes me happy.
For me, making mosaics is like bringing something to the surface that is caught on the inside and always allowing the emergence of new perspectives.
„Rhonda“ - in Germany, that is quite an unusual name. What is its meaning?
It is English, Welsh to be exact. Rhonda means “good spear”. I think it fits my nature in regard to working meticulously and purposefully. I break glass exactly at the places, which help to reflect light and color moods as naturally as possible.
Interview by Andrea Stanke for HEART WORX.