Barbara Svoboda's portfolio

Work samples

14611060_1200917983299016_7031704756601917606_n.jpg

Commission of a stained glass mosaic fireplace insert.
cropped Med-Chi.jpg

Commission of the facade of the Med-Chi building in Baltimore, in stained glass mosaic.
LJ's birthday gift 2013.JPG

I made this freeform peyote necklace as a commission from a friend for his wife's birthday present. This type of beadwork is done with Fireline, a very fine fishline, on a needle, and has no pre-conceived plan. It just grows.
closeup of peony.jpg

Peony done in a painterly stained glass mosaic style.

About Barbara

Barbara Svoboda
Resident of Catonsville
Taught art for 33 years in elementary schools in Anne Arundel County.
Have taken mosaic classes with Isaiah Zagar, Susan Crocenzi, Gila Rayberg, Rick Shelley, Bonnie Fitzgerald, Candace Clough, and Yulia Hanansen.
Teach mosaics in various venues, including AVAM and the Gem Cutters Guild. I also teach jewelry classes through the Baltimore Bead Society.
Have had a number of commissions, and have shown work at the Creative… more

View Barbara's Resume

Garden Wall and other Yard Art

Our backyard garden wall. This took me 3-plus summers to complete the 4 panels. It is 12 feet across and 5 feet high, done in the pique assiette, or broken china method. During the pandemic I also created a group of garden sculptures.

DSC09528.JPG
IMG_0067.JPG

My biggest project to date has been a 4-panel garden wall of broken china, in our back yard. Each summer I did a panel.
ungrouted, with flowers.jpg
right panel, right side with pig, ungrouted.jpg
DSC00241.JPG

Tabletop on porch, stained glass mosaic based on an African-American quilt.
248939148_5121954631154408_4923219352742115925_n.jpg

Stained Glass mosaic fascia board on porch
IMG_20151102_154513.jpg

Pique assiette mailbox

Smaltimore Series

A couple of years ago I started a series of Baltimore-related projects, incorporating both polymer clay and mosaics of various kinds, including tempered glass mosaic. Since then I have continued to create more "Smaltimore" pieces, due to popular demand!

10968511_872282986155252_3591227618363894185_n.jpg
IMG_20150108_103627.jpg
IMG_20150130_115648.jpg
IMG_20150130_115622.jpg
IMG_20160614_152607.jpg
IMG_20150129_205856.jpg
20200508_100807.jpg

A Smaltimore piece on reclaimed base, with polymer clay and tempered glass mosaics.
20200502_124136.jpg

The Longer You Live Here

Jewelry: Freeform Peyote Necklaces

Using seed beads, fireline, and a needle, I concoct these freeform necklaces without any plan.

Lynn Jensen's birthday gift 2013.JPG

Commissioned for a friend's birthday present from her husband, in her favorite colors.
Turquoise and copper necklace.jpg
orange heavy necklace on shawl.jpg
P2180067.JPG
P3140117.JPG

Freeform peyote beaded necklace
P4200198.JPG

Freeform peyote beaded necklace
IMG_20140909_145448.jpg

Closeup of freeform peyote

Pique Assiette Mirrors with China Figures

I acquired a ring saw, which enables me to saw china. This opened doors for me, in that I could include 3-D figures in hanging mosaics by sawing the backs flat.

IMG_20180222_153032.jpg
IMG_20170517_151731.jpg
IMG_20171122_111048.jpg
Flamingo for Bazaart publ.jpg
Bazaart photo.jpg

Happy Buddha shrine-like mosaic with mirror
IMG_20180328_115019.jpg

Child in the Garden mosaic
IMG_20180123_161452.jpg

Center of a piece in Dutch blue and white with a china windmill.
IMG_20180526_190107.jpg

Pique assiette mosaic of a Japanese woman in a garden gazebo
IMG_20180526_184947.jpg

Pique assiette mosaic with Buddha.
20220827_133852.jpg

Blue and gold pique assiette Buddha.

Painterly stained glass mosaics

I took a class with master mosaicist Yulia Hanansan, and made several mosaics in her style.

20190410_184247.jpg

Orchid from the Conservatory at Druid Hill Park, done in stained glass in a painterly style.
8353_1058731010851048_7895278216822118362_n.jpg

Peony stained glass mosaic in the style of Yulia Hanansan.
20190424_140543_001.jpg

Stained glass mosaic in a painterly style.
20190613_204258.jpg

Stained glass mosaic flower in a painterly style.
20210212_231335.jpg

Painterly style of glass mosaic, a portrait of our two kitties, Rufus and Sophie.
20210330_075332.jpg

Portrait of Vincent Van Gogh done in a painterly style of mosaics.
orange vincent2.jpg

Stained glass mosaic of Vincent Van Gogh
Poe in glass.jpg

Stained glass mosaic of Edgar Allen Poe

Commissions

Works that clients have commissioned me to do .

Mary Ann and mirror 2.jpeg

Stained glass mosaic mirror commissioned by neighbor for their home.
IMG_20160922_141243.jpg

A stained glass mosaic commissioned by some friends for a fireplace insert.
IMG_20170319_151655.jpg

Pique assiette mosaic made with family china pieces for a client. It hangs in her kitchen.
IMG_20160327_140215.jpg

Mosaic table for the deck of some friends in Philly. My first commission.
IMG_20170320_171324.jpg

A commission from a friend who was retiring from Med-Chi, and wanted a mosaic of the facade of the building to be the gift from her colleagues. It was the hardest mosaic ever, since I had to cut each tiny brick and arrange them in the requisite pattern.