| People often think that mosaics are made by | | | | stuck to the paper upside down. Glass mosaic |
| pressing the pieces (tesserae) into a | | | | tiles have a flat surface (which will appear |
| background medium, such as cement. This is | | | | in the final mosaic) and an uneven surface |
| one possible way, but the most widely used | | | | (designed to grip to adhesive). It is the |
| techniques are the direct method and the | | | | flat surface which is being stuck to the |
| indirect method. | | | | paper. A water-soluble glue, such as soluble |
| | | | craft glue or wallpaper paste, is used. It is |
| With the direct method, the tesserae are | | | | easy to see if the pieces are in the right |
| stuck firmly into place to a backing surface. | | | | place because the tiles are more or less the |
| When the adhesive has dried, grout is applied | | | | same colour on front and back. This starts to |
| to the mosaic to fill in the gaps. | | | | be a problem with ceramic tile, for example, |
| | | | where the back of the tile doesn't give much |
| The indirect (reverse) method involves | | | | clue as to the colour on the front - it can |
| sticking tesserae face down on to a temporary | | | | be hard to spot a misplaced tile until much |
| surface (such as a sheet of brown paper) with | | | | later. In this case, mirror glass is being |
| a water-soluble glue (e.g. wallpaper paste). | | | | used for the outline of the swimsuit - the |
| When set, the entire mosaic can be taken to | | | | reflective side is face down and the grey |
| its final site and pressed into a bed of | | | | backing can be seen. |
| adhesive or cement. When it is set in place, | | | | |
| the paper can be soaked off and grouting | | | | Another advantage of this method is that a |
| completed from the front surface. | | | | large design can be divided up into several |
| | | | sections which can be worked on by different |
| The indirect technique is very useful, for | | | | people. For this project there were four |
| example, where it would be difficult to spend | | | | separate sections, and the paper was trimmed |
| time making the mosaic in its eventual | | | | to the edges of them when the work of |
| location. This might be the case for a large | | | | sticking the reversed pieces in place was |
| outdoors mosaic, or a wall mosaic high off | | | | finished. |
| the ground. More about this method... | | | | |
| | | | Once the glue is dry, the paper and mosaic |
| Another way of using the indirect method | | | | sheets are very robust. |
| would be to make a paving stone (where a flat | | | | |
| surface is needed). The tesserae are stuck | | | | A layer of adhesive is spread where the |
| down to paper as before. When dry, a mould is | | | | mosaic is going to be situated. In this case |
| placed over the mosaic and filled with a | | | | it was a wooden board, but it might be a wall |
| mortar or concrete mix, to create a slab | | | | or floor. The sections of mosaic on brown |
| containing the mosaic (still face down). This | | | | paper are pressed into the adhesive, tile |
| is given plenty of time to set and then | | | | side down. In this picture the other sections |
| released from the mould. The paper is soaked | | | | have been fitted into place and the mermaid |
| off and grouting of the front of the mosaic | | | | is about to go, literally, face down in the |
| is completed. | | | | adhesive. |
| | | | |
| The reverse, or indirect, method is more | | | | When the adhesive has set fully, the paper |
| complicated than the direct method, but is | | | | can be sponged with water. The water soaks |
| very useful in many situations. The mosaic | | | | through the paper and dissolves the wallpaper |
| mermaid was made using this technique, and | | | | paste or glue, allowing the paper to be |
| this page will explain how the technique | | | | peeled off. This reveals the mosaic with the |
| works. You can find more details of each | | | | flat sides of the tiles showing (and the baby |
| stage throughout the project. | | | | mermaid on the left again). The tiles are |
| | | | embedded in the layer of adhesive and now |
| As the name suggests, the mosaic is built up | | | | need to be grouted to fill the remaining |
| in reverse, and involves using a temporary | | | | gaps. |
| surface (brown paper) to transfer the mosaic | | | | |
| to another location. | | | | Another way of using the indirect method |
| | | | would be to make a paving stone (where a flat |
| Notice that in the finished piece, the baby | | | | surface is needed). The tiles are stuck down |
| mermaid is on the left of the picture. In the | | | | to paper as above. When dry, a mould is |
| picture below, the design has been drawn on | | | | placed over the mosaic and filled with a |
| to brown paper in reverse (a mirror image), | | | | mortar or concrete mix, to create a slab |
| with the baby on the right. An advantage is | | | | containing the mosaic (still face down). This |
| that this allows the detail of the design to | | | | is given plenty of time to set, released from |
| be seen while the mosaic is being made. If | | | | the mould and turned over. The paper is |
| you were putting the tiles into an adhesive | | | | soaked off and the front of the mosaic is |
| paste spread out over the surface, the pencil | | | | grouted. |
| lines would be covered up! The tiles are | | | | |