Mosaics
By, Justice Hanson
Paragraph 1 Materials
A mosaic is a style of art usually in the form of a pattern, arrangement, collage, picture or pastiche. Materials such as stone, ceramic tile, and glass are being used to create medallions, borders, and patterns for both commercial and residential design" (Mastroberte 3). A mosaic can be created from almost any material, it all depends on the pattern. Many Mosaics are often made from paper or plastic, but if the pattern is not mosaic style than it is not considered mosaic worthy, and stuff like that.
Paragraph 3 Styles/Types
People often think that Mosaics are made by pressing pieces (tosserae) into a background medium, such as cement. This is one possible way, but the most widely used techniques are the direct method and the indirect method. The indirect method involves sticking tesserae face down on to a temporary surface (such as a sheet of brown paper) with a water-soluble glue. When set, the entire mosaic can be taken to its final site and be pressed into a bed of adhesive or cement. When it is set in place, the paper can be soaked off and grouting completed from the front surface. With the direct method, the tesseare are stuck firmly into place to a backing surface. When the adhesive or cement is set in place, the paper can be soaked off and grouting completed from the front surface. Many people like shaping the pieces they use for their mosaic. "Water-jet cutting also allows for a variation of stone sizes and can produce mosaics that are much smaller than those cut my hand"(Adams 3).
Paragraph 3 History
The history of mosaics goes back some 4,00 years, with the use of terracotta cones pushed point first into a background to give decoration. "First, it has been assumed that the aim of ancient mosaic designers was generally to imitate painting, that mosaics are (or attempt to be) essentially paintings in stone laid out on a floor"(Molholt 2). By the eighth century BC, there were pebble pavements, using different colored stones to create patterns, although those tended to be unstructured decorations. The expansion of the roman empire took mosaics further afield, although the level of skill and artistry was diluted. If you compare mosaics from Roman Britain with the Italian ones you will notice that the British examples are sampler in design and less accomplished in technique.
Paragraph 4 Process
The mosaic process is very easy, relaxing and fun. Mosaics are the perfect addition to any studio. After a piece is finished there is always a sense of accomplishment and pride. Find a rigid surface to construct the mosaic. We chose a base picture frame. Glass, metal, wood, ceramic, and other rigid surfaces are ideas. After you choose your surface, it is time to design your piece. You can draw your design on paper first or lay it out on your surface. We decided to use metallic gems, and glass for our piece. Apply all of these pieces using glue, preferably "Elmer's" glue. Now when your done putting on all your gems and glass you can polyurethane and grout your mosaic to make the piece look shiny and lost longer. "For mosaics with a big emblema (central figure) such as the Poseidon, the emblema alone was more than 300 square feet, they used a specially built wooden ruler"(M. B. 2).