The Romans became interested in mosaic art during the 5th century. Mosaic art began to appear in the city of Ravenna and became known as the “Capital of mosaics”. The Byzantine Empire developed new ways of using mosaics. “Smalti,” which are pieces of glass began to be used. Walls, ceilings, and floors were decorated in mosacis. During the 12th and 13th centuries, artists were creating religious pieces of art in Rome.

Even during the Middle Ages, mosaic art was being used in creating beautiful scenes inside churches, the best which can be seen in Venice and Sicily. Jerusalem’s many synagogues were decorated with mosaics.

From one civilization to another, mosaic art changed from the pieces used to the purpose it performed. For example, in some places mosaics served to protect walls and floors from wind and water. Mosaics began from clay stones to colored rocks to smalti. Today mosaics are made from a variety of materials and the imaginations of the artist.

For the beginner working with mosaics you may choose a simple pattern that you find in a craft book or even on stained glass windows. The easiest piece to start with would be a simple round side table that you currently own or can pick up at a bargain outlet store or even a garage sale. You can purchase bags of mosaic stones in various colors and sizes at the local craft store which are great for beginners. Trace your idea on a piece of paper or cardboard cut to fit the size of the table so you can practice how the pieces will fit and look on the table. Apply the mastic to the tabletop and position your pieces, making sure the top of all the pieces are flat. Once the mastic is dry you can apply the grout in between the pieces. Grout can either be white or coordinate to the colors of your mosaic. Once dry you must apply a grout sealer to keep the furniture beautiful and for longer wear in outside weather.

Once you have practiced the art of mosaics you can begin to tackle bigger pieces of patio furniture such as lamps, large dining tables and even long benches and stools.

Granted, some of us (like yours truly the editor of this blog) haven’t graduated beyond the mosaic as a craft skill. But there are clearly real artists in this community of Mosaic Practictioners. Sandy Ozz & Elaine Goodwin are famous examples of Mosaic Artists that immediately come to mind – but there are many, many less well known mosaic artists who have produced stunning installations in public spaces, and art gallaries alike, and perhaps quietly and anonomysly in their own home studios.

So, today when I checked my Facebook page and received an invitiation from Salazar Fine Art putting out a casting call, as it were, for Emerging Artists to participate in up coming Art Fair, the first thing I wanted to do was send to invite to my friends on the mosaic users group on Yahoo, just in case any of them wanted to participate, but then I hesitated?

Would mosaic artists be considered? Would a mosaic artist make the list of potential candidates for Reality TV Shows like “Work of Art?” Is our art form so restrictive we can’t call ourselves ‘artists’ – no matter how talented we become?

I think if a sculptor can be considered an artist than so can a mosaic artist provided their work actually is a piece of art and not just a piece of craft. As it has been said in art circles, “the only thing in art that matters is that it works.”

So, can a mosaic artist make something for an “emerging artists fair,” that ‘works’ and competes with all those painters, scultpors, photographers and conceptuals artists?

I say – yes. So, if you’re local – and your work is artsy enough -why not enter this fair?

Here’s the invite details: E.A.SEL -San Diego Art (af)FAIR-September 1-7, – Seeking Emerging Artists
Location:7th Avenue
Time:9:00AM Wednesday, September 1st

Mosaic Madness.org
Editor
Heidi White

As the grout sets and hardens, you may notice grout shrinkage (i.e., the grout lines are like little valleys where the grout sinks and isn’t flush with the tesserae).  This used to happen to me a lot when I mixed the grout too runny.  However, since using thick, pasty grout, I’ve experienced much less grout shrinkage.  Don’t fret!  It’s an easy fix.  Simply re grout the mosaic.  It’s a lot easier the second time, especially when using thick, pasty grout.

If you’re not crazy about the idea of going through the whole grouting process again, here’s a little trick I use at the end of my normal grouting process.  After the last wiping cycle when the grout has set for about 45 minutes, go back and carefully inspect the entire mosaic for tiny pinholes, missed areas, depressed grout lines (i.e., where the grout is no longer flush with the tesserae), and other grout imperfections.

CAUTION: Cement (i.e., grout) is mildly caustic so don’t do this process with your bare hand.  Wear a glove for protection.

Use the leftover grout if it’s still workable.  If it’s not, then mix another small batch (two tablespoons of grout powder are usually enough).  Add just a bit of water at a time so you don’t end up with grout soup (i.e., the grout should be thick and pasty, not runny).  Wearing a glove, use your index finger to scoop up a dab of grout and rub it into the imperfect area.  Fill the little pinholes that invariably occur, and the little gaps that you missed, and the little depressions that seem to form as the grout sets.  Simply fill in those imperfections with your finger, wipe off the excess grout from your finger, and then use your clean finger or a dry paper towel to carefully wipe up the excess grout without disturbing the grout line.  Voila!  The imperfections are fixed.  Don’t accept those imperfections!  Go back and fill them in.

Do not use your bare hand to do this.  After a while, the skin will wear away and you’ll bleed all over your beautiful mosaic.  Yes, you will, indeed, bleed if you spread and wipe grout long enough with your bare finger.  It happened to me!  I could see the skin wearing away on the tip of my finger, but I was stubborn, thinking I’d be done soon.  A few wipes later, the last layer of skin was gone and it bled.  Now, I always wear a rubber glove to protect my skin.  I don’t use latex medical gloves because they’re relatively expensive (about $100 for a box of 50).  Instead, I use vinyl synthetic, powder-free exam gloves.  I can get a box of 100 at Walmart for about $30.  I only need one glove at a time because I only use my right hand when spreading and wiping the grout (i.e., I don’t need to glove my left hand).  That equates to about $0.30 per mosaic, which is well worth it to avoid the pain of wearing your skin down until it bleeds!

Second, it’s also a good idea, to wear long sleeves, not just shirt wise, but pant wise as well. If you are making your own materials, for instance breaking your own glass or tile (which may not be a such good idea in the first place), wear long sleeves, so that if while you are in the process of making your materials, there is no possiblity of shrapnel, or debris cutting you in anywhere, or in any way. Also, if you decide to break your own glass or tile, it’s a good idea to wear safety glasses, at least while you are breaking stuff, so that you do not have anything get into your eyes. Last, be sure to place your mosaic or mosaic materials, in a place where no one can hurt themselves by stepping on them. Let’s just say that it’s not exactly fun to step on broken glass.

There are many different types of glass you can use to create your masterpiece. They can range anywhere from metallic glass mini tiles to premium swirled gems. Millefiori assortments make great accents and the colors and patterns are absolutely dazzling. When applying, thumb tweezers and pick up tools will come in handy.

You may have to use a tile nipper or cutter when assembling your mosaic tile art. If it’s necessary to cut the glass tiles you’ll want to make sure you are wearing safety glasses to prevent any kind of damage to your eyes.

Glue is very important when constructing your artwork. Without the correct glue you could have spent hours creating a piece of art and then have it ruined when your pieces fall off. Welbond mosaic art glue is said to be the best. It’s easier to work with than concrete or construction adhesives.

Most likely you’ll need a mounting grid to assemble the glass, glue, and grout. Grouting is the very last step to creating glass mosaic tile art. You’ll want to make sure it is done outdoors so that you can hose down the mess and the dust created. You should always wear a dust mask to prevent breathing in the dust. Also it would be a good idea to wear some sort of gloves such as dishwashing gloves to apply the wet grout.

Mosaic work can be very fun, although sometimes a little tedious. With a little care it will be done safely and easily. Have fun!

With this in mind, some of the most common types of materials used are crockery, household tiles, glass, shells and random objects people find. Crockery is one of the cheapest materials to use and is abundant to find. However, it is not easy to get a flat surface and the material does not stand up well to outdoor conditions.

Household tiles will allow for a flat surface and will hold up well indoors. However, it is not the type of material to use in an outdoor mosaic. They do hold up well to being walked on if the mosaic will be placed underfoot.

Glass comes in different types. For one, there is vitreous glass which is very expensive. It will have to be cut, which is hard to master. However, it allows for a very flat surface and is outdoor friendly. You can also use stained glass or mirror glass which have the same benefits.

Shells and other random objects will not allow for a smooth surface. however, they do add personal touches to any mosaic since they are often objects that have high sentimental value. Whether they will do well outdoors, depends on what objects you add.

One of the best side-affects of becoming mad about mosaics is a sudden ability to no longer cry over broken dishes. The next time someone accidentally breaks a favorite coffee mug, a piece of heirloom china, or even that lovely cobalt blue candy dish that used to grace the coffee table, instead of being sad – as the ‘non-initiated-into-the-joys-of making-mosaics’ individual might feel, those of us who have been bit by the mosaic bug, may feel a momentary sadness – but not for long. The broken pieces call to the mosaic artist, foretelling a new beginning as part of a future mosaic work of art. The mosaic artist sees opportunity behind the calamity and salvages the usable pieces. All is not lost, hope springs eternal, and the mosaic artist knows that the broken pieces will soon live again.

Some mosaic artists even go so far as to remind their friends not to ‘throw away’ their broken dishes; chipped figurines; or even leftover tiles from home renovation projects. Breathing new life into no longer useful items is the mosaic artists calling.  

Others offer to create ‘memory pieces’ for their friends loved ones who have passed away. An urn covered in mosaic fashion with bits and pieces from the deceased persons’ life can feel more real to the survivors and offer more comfort that some machine tooled wooden container or mass produced ceramic urn.

Collecting boxes and containers filled with these busted, found, donated and salvaged bits and pieces to be held in storage for a future mosaic project – also known as collecting Tessarrae – is one of the greatest joys of the mosaic artists.  Just having multiple materials to choose from can set the creative mind of the mosaic artist off and running. We love having lots of colors, textures, and materials to choose from when we sit down to design our next work of art.

Even expensive collectors china can sometimes be found at a flea markets, thrift stores, or garage sales, selling for a fraction of its intact price because of a minor chip or crack. The mosaic artist doesn’t care about the cracks, because the dish will soon undergo a far greater state of destruction, and these ‘finds’ can add real oomph to a mosaic project.

So, the old expression that there is no use crying over spilt milk, can be altered to there is no use crying over chipped china – so long as you are a mosaic artist or know someone who is.