How to mosaic

Friday, July 13, 2012
How to mosaic:

Mosaic is the decorative art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass stone, or other materials. Sometimes, one can find a hobby in making mosaics as each piece is different from the other. It is nice to learn how to mosaic when thinking of the benefits it has.

First, start by choosing an image you would like in mosaic: it can be a natural scene, a portrait, a family photo or anything you think would like nice in mosaic.

Then, print an actual size image of the piece you want to make and calculate the overall area. Set the size of tiles you want and estimate the number of mosaic tiles needed to complete it.

Cover the printed area with a nylon sheet followed by a mesh backing that will be the base of your mosaic and fix all three layers together surely.

Choose the material you want to work with, marble or glass, as each will require a different cutting tool. For marble tiles, you will need a nipper which is a compression tool that applies pressure to opposing sides of the mosaic tiles, allowing them to be cute in a precise manner. As for glass, there is a tool similar to a nipper but with wheels instead of blades on sides which allows it to compress the glass without shattering.

You might find the cutting process hard at first but that’s the fun in it. The key is experience and confidence. You will get there. Avoid cutting too quickly so you don’t miss-align the cut, nor too slowly so you don’t risk crushing the mosaic tiles and leaving them with curved or ragged edges.

Mark the border of the mosaic carefully to ensure that the application of mosaic tiles will be precise and to scale.
With the above ready, start cutting tiles in your own creative way. Apply an adhesive glue to the mesh and start positioning your own hand cut tiles.

A good tip is to start with the main lines of the image before jumping in on the details. Also, clean the surface continuously if you feel that an excess of glue is accumulating.

After you finish putting up the tiles, allow your mosaic to rest around 6 hours to ensure the glue has dried.
Now that you have yourself your own mosaic, it is time to install it.

For installation, you can choose to have it on your wall, floor and ceiling or anywhere you want. For outdoor mosaics, they are most often used for beautiful and durable table tops, pathways and pools.  These uses provide a unique feel and ambiance to a space, providing a touch of art, color and texture in a way that cannot be mirrored by other art forms.
 
Check our YouTube channel for more information on the cutting and installation processes.

Let the fun begin! And remember: Practice makes perfect :)