I've always been drawn to the blank canvas at the bottom of a pool. It's such a unique and intriguing space, and I knew I had to do something with it.

The project was inspired by David Hockney's famous pool at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. But I quickly realized that painting a pool would require a lot of maintenance – it would have to be drained and repainted every two years. So, I decided to use tile instead. I figured it would give me the same effect with less hassle.

I started by sketching out different designs, then I built a set of extra large protractors, compasses and rulers to do precise geometry on a non-level, curved surface. Then I mixed my own cement, mortar, and grout and got to work. I laid each of the 1200-or-so tiles myself, taking care to create a design that would play off the distortion caused by the water and the unique shape of a pool floor.

I wanted to create something with perfect geometry so that the water would mess it all up. I used long straight lines, 90 degree curves, and perfect circles to create a clean and modern look. The way the tile curves up onto the pool wall adds depth, and the water's warping effect creates movement and brings the design to life.

The blank canvas.