Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Getting started with mosaics

By Drake Stapleton


For thousands of years, people have been using small mosaic tiles to create pieces of art. Today, mosaic craft is becoming increasingly popular, largely to the simplicity of the technique.

Learning to work with mosaic tiles is easy, and the results can be beautiful. You don't need to be a creative genius or a skilled craftsperson to enjoy creating mosaic art - with very little instruction, you can create something that looks great and will last for years with very little maintenance.

The basic materials needed for mosaic crafts don't cost very much at all, and creating something to be proud of is relatively straightforward. In fact, you can recycle things like broken plates, as well as using found objects like pebbles or washed up glass on a beach. You will also need to buy cement, glue and grout, but they aren't expensive at all.

Above all, mosaic craft demands a bit of imagination and a suitable surface to stick your tiles on. If you're not the sort of person who likes to plan things to carefully, that's fine - mosaic tiles lend themselves beautifully to abstract creations, so just make it up as you go along! If that doesn't work for you, why not buy a pre-packaged mosaic kit from a craft website or hobby shop? Whatever you produce, you'll definitely find a home for it somewhere in your house or garden. A splash of colour can make a huge difference to an otherwise plain space.

Artists like the legendary Antonio Gaudi have created stunning and extremely valuable pieces of work using the medium of mosaic tiles. The vibrant colours and fascinating textures you can create using mosaics make them an ideal medium for big surfaces where you want to do something with real impact. Start by having a go at something small, and see where it takes you!




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