Mosaic is an art form that involves creating an image using colored materials such as tiles, glass, and stone. In the past, mosaic was used to display and personify certain religious and cultural symbols. Today, the art form is used not only to build intricate portraits and landscapes, but also has become an important aspect of modern interior design.
There are two ways to make a mosaic: direct and indirect. The size and scope of the project are the two main variables that artists will consider when choosing which tactic to use.
Direct
Start by tracing the pattern of the design onto the base. Next, choose tesserae that will best suit the intended pattern and design. (Tesserae are the individual tiles, stones, or any other building blocks used to construct a mosaic.) Once all the tesserae have been collected, begin gluing each piece to the corresponding location on the base. You can either glue each tessera individually or break the project into pieces by applying glue to entire sections of the base. When using the latter technique, be sure to work quickly so that the glue doesn’t dry before the tiles have been laid. Overall, the direct method should be practiced by amateur artists, as there is room for error if mistakes are made.
Indirect
Like with the direct method, begin the indirect technique by creating a design and collecting all the necessary mosaic supplies. The tesserae are then applied face down onto backing paper. Once all the tiles, rocks, or glass is in place, the project is then set into a bed of grout, and the backing paper is removed, leaving behind a beautiful mosaic. The indirect method is used for larger mosaic projects with repetitive designs.
Creating mosaics is a specialized skill that takes years to perfect. The best way to become an expert is to gather a bunch of mosaic supplies and continuously practice laying tesserae. With the right amount of practice, you will be able to build fabulous works of art.