Mosaic Art Techniques
Today mosaic art is familiar to everyone and can be used in a variety of ways to add detail and interest to many items and surfaces. However, mosaics have in fact been around for thousands of years. The early versions were quite basic with some of the earliest mosaic art being traced back to 3000 years BC to a temple in Mesopotamia which today we know as Iraq. It would have been made from a mixture of stones, ivory and shells.
Over time it is thought that the Greek people began to make detailed mosaic art patterns using a mixture of black or white pebbles set into a mortar mix. Later during the 4th Century BC it was the Romans who expanded on this to create a more refined look and by the 3rd Century BC they had begun to use small cubes made of glass and ceramics. One of the most famous Roman mosaics can be seen at The House of the Faun in Pompeii. Roman mosaics typically portrayed birds, people, animals and fish and were a sign of great wealth.
What is mosaic art
In essence mosaic art is the process of using small pieces of hard materials such as glass, stone, tiles and shells. These are then placed or embedded into a substance such as mortar or plaster. Once the design is finished it is then left to dry and set hard. It can be used to decorate small items or can be used on a range of larger areas such as garden table tops or the floors of Roman villas. One such example is that of the 4th Century North Leigh Roman Villa in Oxfordshire which is now an English Heritage site.
Villa Romana Del Casale, Piazza Armerina, Sicily, Italy
Learn more at https://www.visitsicily.info/en/villa-romana-del-casale/
What do you need to make mosaic art
If you are using Baker Ross mosaic art kits it couldn’t be easier! We have included everything you need such as our colourful self-adhesive foam mosaic tiles. This is the perfect first mosaic art for kids to help them get used to the process and idea of mosaics and how to place them with regular spacing but as they become older and more able you could create some mosaics from scratch. To do this you will need:
• A supporting flat, base surface such as strong card , wood or table top
• Tesserae: small regular shaped pieces of hard material such as glass, ceramics or stones
We have put together these mosaic art tips to help you get great results every time:
• Always plan your design first
• Get everything laid out before you start
• Choose colours that go together well
• Work quickly and neatly to minimise mess
• Allow plenty of time for drying
For more mosaic art inspiration and easy-to-follow instructions check out Creative Station on our website. There are bangles, planters and lots more crafty ideas for you to make. Have fun.
