| Mosaics, mosaics, mosaics. It seems as if everywhere | | | | rather with a study of color. The descriptive, |
| we look we see mosaics. It is an art form that has | | | | emotional and expressive qualities of color were |
| resurfaced as a popular craft form. Tables, flower | | | | discussed and explored. Each student was asked to |
| pots, candle holders, garden stepping stones, | | | | assemble a color palette with at least 12 samples |
| coasters and just about anything you can imagine has | | | | selected from the printed pages of magazines. These |
| been covered in mosaic material of one type or | | | | colors were to represent the colors associated with a |
| another. Mosaics can be made from any of a number | | | | specific season of the year. |
| of materials, from the traditional tessera and glass, to | | | | Next, every student was asked to make a list of |
| mundane materials such as stones and beads, to the | | | | words related to the colors or the imagery of the |
| unexpected bottle caps, nuts and bolts, and industrial | | | | seasons. Students then made a chart consisting of |
| castoffs. | | | | color samples, associated words and marks that |
| FIRST, A BIT OF MOSAIC HISTORY Traditional | | | | could represent the words listed. Marks could suggest |
| mosaics, most noted in ancient Byzantine culture, | | | | texture, direction, motion or objects. |
| were made from small pieces of stone and glass set | | | | Finally, each student built a collection of magazine |
| in cement. The decorative nature of mosaics became | | | | photographs representing the selected season. |
| extremely popular in Roman villas, with mosaics | | | | Photographs could suggest the season through color, |
| covering floors and walls. | | | | subject matter, location and so on. From all of the |
| The tiles were set unevenly in cement, probably not | | | | collected materials and lists, the students made |
| intentionally, and this created a shimmering effect | | | | several thumbnail sketches of a landscape or |
| when the light from windows and candles played | | | | cityscape. |
| across their surfaces. These shimmering figures seem | | | | Each student then chose one of these thumbnail |
| to come eerily to life and are, perhaps, the reason | | | | sketches to enlarge to a predetermined size and |
| why the churches of the period came to be called | | | | drew freehand on a piece of black construction |
| "Houses of Mystery." Frank Lloyd Wright used this | | | | paper. |
| technique in the construction of his leaded windows. | | | | Colored construction paper was carefully selected to |
| He discovered that if the glass pieces were set | | | | approximate, as closely as possible, the colors of the |
| unevenly in the leaded panel, the light would be | | | | original composition. |
| reflected in an equally uneven manner. The reflection | | | | The colored paper was torn into small square pieces |
| of sunlight would make it impossible to see through | | | | representing the tiles and placed on the black paper, |
| the window from the outside. The effect would be | | | | emphasizing directional motion. Our past study of van |
| somewhat jewel-like, with light reflecting from | | | | Gogh's paintings proved helpful in understanding how |
| different facets at different times. This enabled the | | | | the tiles could suggest direction and motion in the |
| windows to serve their original purpose from the | | | | same way van Gogh used brush-strokes in his |
| interior, that being to see out and to let light enter. | | | | paintings. |
| At the same time, this trick made it possible for the | | | | A critique followed this experience. The limited colors |
| occupant to leave the windows bare of curtains, and | | | | of the construction paper yielded beautiful results, |
| still feel rather secure in his or her privacy. | | | | and the soft, torn edges made for a finished piece |
| Mosaics may be seen in many public buildings today. | | | | that I knew would be much different from the final |
| The glorious architecture of yesterday stands proud | | | | tiled mosaic. I felt that the contrast and comparison |
| as a tribute to the talents and skills of artisans long | | | | of the two techniques would be another example to |
| gone. Floors, walls and ceilings are decorated in both | | | | the students of the many possible solutions to the |
| interior and exterior spaces. One cannot help enjoying | | | | creative process. |
| them, contemplating with awe the time-consuming, | | | | Mosaics can be made in numerous ways and using |
| painstaking process and the patience of the | | | | various materials. |
| dedicated laborers who created these artworks. | | | | MOVING TOWARD THE FINAL STAGE The paper |
| Chicago abounds with such mosaic treasures, which | | | | mosaic became the working model for the final stage |
| can be enjoyed not only in the city's architecture, but | | | | of the assignment. The sketch was transferred to a |
| also in its art. | | | | piece of masonite board and outlined with a bold |
| MOSAIC MATERIALS I have always been most | | | | black marker. Next, the marks chosen to represent |
| impressed with the mosaic art style and regard it | | | | objects or areas were made directly on the masonite |
| with the utmost respect. I do not believe you can | | | | using the same black marker. |
| fully appreciate the accomplishments of the mosaic | | | | Again, our previous studies of van Gogh's paintings |
| artist unless you have tried to complete a similar task | | | | provided a useful reference point to make the |
| yourself. | | | | students aware of the visual possibilities that exist |
| I became interested in mosaic making as a class | | | | with a directional brushstroke. The entire surface of |
| assignment with its recent resurgence in popularity | | | | the mosaic panel was eventually covered with marks |
| for home decorating and crafts. | | | | of various sizes, shapes and directions. These marks |
| Mosaic designs may be found everywhere from | | | | became a reminder as to how the "tiles" would be |
| nontraditional kitchen countertops using a broken-tile | | | | laid out to complete the design. |
| technique to garden stepping stones incorporating | | | | Byzantine mosaic wall decorations were used to |
| colored glass in cast concrete. It seems that you | | | | illustrate how the various colored tiles could be used |
| cannot pass through a single day without | | | | to create shaded, as well as intricately detailed, |
| encountering mosaic patterns in one form or another. | | | | compositions. Examples of mosaic-patterned works |
| The cost of traditional mosaic making, using either | | | | were displayed at each workstation for inspiration |
| glass or ceramic tiles, makes this technique | | | | and motivation as students worked on their own |
| incompatible with classroom economics. Most art | | | | designs. |
| teachers would have to find a substitute material if | | | | Cork was precut into 1/2-inch strips and made |
| the experience were to be introduced to several | | | | available to all artists. Students were required to cut |
| advanced studio classes. Many cost-efficient materials | | | | these strips into "tiles" of appropriate sizes and |
| can be found, however, depending on considerations | | | | shapes to correspond to the marks drawn on their |
| such as size and weight of materials, necessary | | | | patterns. Tiles were then glued in place, leaving a |
| adhesive, and tool and equipment requirements. | | | | predetermined amount of grout space between each. |
| Studio size, storage accommodations and drying | | | | Once all of the tile work was complete, the mosaics |
| facilities will also play important roles in the final | | | | were sealed with a coat of white acrylic (interior wall) |
| material decision. | | | | paint. Only the top surfaces of the "files" must be |
| Unable to move past the scavenger mode of the | | | | sealed, as this is the only surface that is to be |
| stereotypical art teacher, I found myself using a free | | | | colored in the next phase of the assignment. If the |
| industrial castoff--cork shoe insoles--for tile making. I | | | | student was successful in carefully designing and |
| do not even know exactly where this treasured | | | | arranging the cut tiles, the total composition is |
| material came from, but it was headed for the trash | | | | obvious at this point. |
| pile during our department's most recent cleanup | | | | APPLYING COLOR Color is now applied using acrylic |
| campaign until I salvaged it. I did not know exactly | | | | paints. This is a first-time experience for many of the |
| what I would use it for, but I knew it was much too | | | | students, as most have only worked with tempera |
| interesting and valuable a material to discard. | | | | paints or watercolors. Every area of the composition |
| STARTING WITH A STUDY OF COLOR The steps | | | | was to be dry-brushed to the surface using at least |
| leading to a finished work of art are each important | | | | three different colors, or variations of a color. |
| in their own way, and none may be skipped or | | | | Practice sheets are useful until students feel |
| rushed. The sequence of the steps and the | | | | proficient with the technique. |
| successful completion of each step must be | | | | Moving to the tiled surface, the students soon |
| stressed, especially to the beginning artist. It is a | | | | discover that the dry-brushing technique will result in |
| major misconception that the artist can merely set | | | | paint being applied only to the top surface of each |
| up his or her easel and make a masterpiece. An | | | | file. Spaces between tiles need not be painted, as |
| understanding of the process is as important as, if | | | | these areas are going to be filled with grout when |
| not more important than, the finished work. | | | | the painting process is complete. |
| Our process began, not with a study of mosaics, but | | | | |