The mosaic is a classical art form that has been used for a variety of purposes. Mosaics are predominantly used today as decorative pieces and are often the subject of outsider art or school art projects. As mosaics are fairly easy to assemble anybody can make them. The focus is usually on the colour scheme used over the technical competence of the piece produced.
Mosaics were popular in ancient culture particularly in Ancient Greece and Rome. Early mosaics were much more haphazard in construction and were used as walkways in public areas. As designers became more ambitious mosaics began to become more artistic. Designs depicting people, scenes from history and animals began to become more sophisticated. These early designs had geometric patterns that blended colours in impressive arrangements.
As the art form progressed people began to manufacture pieces specifically for use in mosaic production. Tesserae tiles were produced in varying sizes from small pieces a few millimetres across to larger pieces used to fill block sections of colours. With the introduction of Tesserae tiles artists were free to create mosaics which were on a par with paintings in terms of representation of form and blending of colours.
With the rise of The Roman Empire mosaics began to appear across the globe. Many of these mosaics were simpler in design than their original Italian counterparts as the technique moved to new shores. Many of these mosaics can still be found preserved in historical bathhouses and other buildings of historical interest around Britain.
Materials Needed for Mosaic DesignsDue to the haphazard approach to making mosaics almost any materials can be used to create an innovative design. When choosing materials the location the mosaic is going to be displayed needs to be taken into account as well as the backing material.
The main factors to take into account when designing the mosaic are whether the materials need to be water proofed, the budget for the project and whether it is to be used as a walkway.
The following materials are commonly used in mosaic production.
Household Tile MosaicsOff cuts and seconds from tiles can be used effectively to create mosaic designs. A little patience and care may be required to get the perfect fit although this is made up for in the relatively low cost of materials. These tiles will be suitable for displaying inside but may perish in cold conditions outside.
Glass MosaicsGlass is a relatively inexpensive material that can be used to great effect. Stained glass of different shades can be used to add colour to a mosaic. Some cutting may be required to make pieces fit and it may be difficult to find pieces of a similar width to make the piece level.
Vitreous glass is another popular material for use in mosaics. Its surface resembles conventional tiles and is much more hard wearing than normal glass so it can be used indoors and outdoors.
Alternative Materials for Mosaic DesignsMany people choose to use items they have found from around there homes or from outside. This often includes pebbles, shells or fragments of other natural materials. These can be arranged and cut as the artist sees fit, using a mixture of different materials and textures to continue a colour scheme throughout the piece.
As with most forms of decorative art almost any materials can be used to create an alluring piece. For further information on materials available contact your local tiling supplier or art shop.