Our extremely popular weekly 'How to Mosaic & Project Ideas' Newsletters contain valuable information for all mosaic enthusiasts (from beginners to advanced)!
Choosing an adhesive can be confusing. So to help you make the right choice for your next Mosaic project we have put together this quick reference guide.
The colour of your grout is very important - it can make or break your piece. Grouting unites the mosaic and highlights the layout of the tiles. We've included some handy hints to help you achieve the results you're after.
Mosaics can be applied to practically any surface including bowling balls and styrofoam forms. This 'How To' details how to use the most common types of mosaic bases.
There are two basic methods of mosaic work, the direct and indirect (or reverse) method. By far the most common and easiest method is the direct method. In choosing which method is appropriate for your project you need to assess the projects requirements and the advantages and disadvantages of both methods.
Sealing is an important step in the mosaic process as it waterproofs the piece, improves the sticking power of the adhesive and stain proofs the final piece.
Working with uneven tesserae like millefiori, broken china and ceramic tiles can be tricky. In this 'How To' we have outlined some methods for achieving a flat or relatively smooth mosaic surface.
Mosaic tiles can be placed in different patterns to achieve different effects. Andamento is the visual flow and direction of your mosaic which is created by the placement of your tesserae in specific patterns.
Texture and depth are achieved by using different types and thicknesses of tesserae and are important design elements in mosaics. It can make a mosaic catch the light and sparkle, producing beautiful effects.
Grout and colour are important design elements in a mosaic. This 'How To' details some points to take into consideration when designing your mosaic project.
This topic looks at transferring your image (photo, cartoon, drawing) or pattern onto your base. This method is known as 'Grid Drawing' and is extremely useful and well worth mastering. If your not confident with your drawing skills or wishing to enlarge a pattern than give this method a try!
The cutting of glass and ceramic tiles is a fundamental mosaic skill that, when mastered, will bring you one step closer to creating the mosaic design that you've envisaged. This 'How To' looks at tools for cutting tiles and techniques.
Ceramic leaves are a popular feature in mosaics which you can make yourself in any colour and size variation.
In this 'How To Mosaic' I am showing you how (including how to add the vein detail to the leaf).
This 'How to Mosaic' follows on from topic 13 'Make Your Own Ceramic Leaves'. By looking at how to make ceramic flowers I'll also be covering how to make circle shapes and cutting concave curves. These flowers can also be combined with the ceramic leaves to make some gorgeous garden mosaics.
This 'How to Mosaic' looks at how to add letters and numbers to your mosaic. Adding letters & numbers is a great way to personalise your mosaic, use them to add the name of your child, to commemorate a special event or simply to create your own house number. This topic is really only limited by your imagination but if you're struggling for inspiration here are some great ideas and reference sources for you!
When starting a project it's important to estimate how many tiles or tesserae you will need to complete the project. It's very frustrating running out of materials, having to wait to finish your project or finding out that the colour of the batch has changed since you made the initial purchase.
This 'How to Mosaic' demonstrates the most common cuts for glass tiles and build on the information contained in 'How to Mosaic' Topic 12: Cutting Tiles - Tools, Tips and Techniques, so if you're new to mosaics or the cutting of glass tiles make sure you read both of these topics.
This 'How To Mosaic' looks at a technique for cutting tesserae (tiles) so that the pieces fit together. Many mosaics are completed by placing irregular shapes next to each other and filling in the gaps. But if you're after a more precise layout this technique will help you achieve it.
This 'How to Mosaic' demonstrates the indirect or reverse method of mosaics using brown paper. If you are new to the indirect method you should read this 'How To' in conjunction with our earlier 'How To' entitled: Topic 4: Methods of Mosaics - Direct and Indirect Methods.
