| Mosaics are an art form that has been around | | | | using smaller pieces, the pictures could be |
| for thousands of years. What we recognize as | | | | more detailed and complex. Mosaics could be |
| a mosaic today, pieces of glass or ceramics | | | | found everywhere from floors to ceilings to |
| set into patterns in concrete or grout, had | | | | even walkways where mosaics were made from |
| its beginnings in ancient Greece. Before | | | | stones and pieces of marble.In due time, the |
| that, people made things that were similar to | | | | Romans passed their mosaic making skills onto |
| modern mosaics, but were different in a | | | | the Byzantines who took it to even greater |
| couple of vital ways.Most experts agree that | | | | heights. The number of mosaics and the skill |
| the origins of mosaics started in the Orient. | | | | and intricacy involved in them are phenomenal |
| One example of this is in Chaldean society | | | | during this period in Byzantium. With the |
| around 2000 BC. Instead of glass, the | | | | fall of Byzantium in the 15th century, |
| Chaldeans used small cones of painted clay | | | | however, mosaic making fell out of favor and |
| that were set into surface of columns for | | | | was not practiced much if at all until the |
| decorations. Fused glass was first | | | | 19th century. Since then mosaics have |
| discovered by the Egyptians and they began | | | | persisted in one form or another.Today, |
| decorating everything with it, including | | | | mosaics are alive and well. It is an easy |
| their ships. From Egypt, the use of fused | | | | art to learn, but it can take a lifetime of |
| glass spread slowly across the world. Early | | | | infinite possibilities to master. The |
| on, in Greece, mosaics were crafted out of | | | | variations and potential for so many |
| pebbles that had been worn down in water. | | | | different pieces is infinite. You can buy |
| The pebbles (or ciottoli) were set in the | | | | items for your mosaics, including pre-cut |
| pictures carefully so that shading and | | | | tiles or glass. You can use broken dishes |
| designs were created to make the pictures | | | | from around your house, or even random items |
| more realistic. They also used thin strips | | | | you find such as shells or rocks. |
| of lead to highlight and define lines in the | | | | Inspiration is all around you, from |
| pictures. Often these mosaics were used for | | | | historical examples to more modern mosaic |
| floor decorations, so your entire floor could | | | | art. Many examples of ancient mosaics still |
| be one huge mosaic. Not only was your home | | | | exist, some of them remarkably intact and |
| more beautiful and interesting, it was | | | | well kept. You could attempt to recreate a |
| functional as well.By the 4th century BC, the | | | | drawing or painting that you like into a |
| art of mosaics changed greatly. The Romans | | | | mosaic, or you could take a historical |
| expanded on and made changes to the art that | | | | example and try to recreate it. The |
| had been passed on to them by the Greeks. | | | | possibilities are endless and the scope of |
| The Romans began to use smaller pieces of | | | | your project could be huge or small, |
| both stone and glass. Because they were | | | | depending on what you plan on using it for. |