Make a Mosaic !

So, we climb a couple flight of stairs to the classroom...passing amazing rooms and art work in progress along the way.

Now Ricky is gonna show us the fine points of doing a simple, basic mosaic.

He begins with how to break the tiles and explains that using hand nippers is one method

using the 'power nipper cutter' is another

fantastic for taking your agression out !!

and the old tried and true 'smashing in a plastic bag' is the easiest.

I got into trying all three...and always wore my safety glasses

whole lotta smashing going on !!!

Ricky also showed us the 'lick' method...how to tell if a tile is ok to use outdoors....

when you lick the back of it, if it sticks to your tongue (yuck!) that means it absorbs water and is NOT suitable for outdoor use. C'mon now...these are important things to know !!

*******

then he showed us how to do a simple sketch on the Durock (or Wonderboard) board. These boards are for interior and exterior use and come in 1/4" and 1/2" thicknesses.

once the sketch is done you start placing the tiles. No glue at all at this point. Later we do a 'transfer method'.

oh yeah...it's tricky! You need patience...just relax..go with the flow...

he shows us a small simple finished class sample just to give us an idea.

I decide to make life complicated and try circles

started out easy...then....oh c'mon..you know me...

I walked around to see how some of the others were coming along...nosy me...

 

break for home made lunch....yummy scrumptious!

then...a demo on mosaic for outdoor use, how to grout & how to clean off tiles that the grout stains (vinegar)

little hidden treasures are everywhere

and back inside to finish up

Once the piece was completed we taped the entire thing with a sticky film

flipped it over onto another board so you could mortar your original board

then flipped the mortar board onto the backside of the mosaic

and flip again!!

now we rub the plastic layer until we're sure everything is really stuck well

and we take it home that way and let it sit for 2 days. Then we can grout at home using black polyflex grout (this is what Ricky recommends because the polymers aid in water proofing)

*******

I was so lucky to have a wonderful 'table mate'

Debby D'Aries, a recycling artist who lives in the Sussex County area.

Debby is involved with The Common Thread Art Tour (they're on FB if you want to "like"

	COMMON THREAD ART TOUR/OPEN STUDIOS --June 26, 2011

Company Overview	SUSSEX COUNTY, NJ: Our 1st self-guided and FREE tour is scheduled for Sunday, June 26, 2011 from 11 AM to 6 PM EST. "All roads lead to Sussex County!"
Description	Local artists will open their private studios to share their passion and talents with the public. Tour guests will experience viewing the artists original work from the point of creation, in several stages of completion. Rain or shine.

and they have a BLOG too

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and before I sign off I must also send you to another site.  

Please visit Greg Hicho

 

another wonderful artist whose watercolors will amaze you.

when we got home the moon was in full force...a gogeous ending to a fabulous day

who knows what's in store before Passover starts !

 

Comments

[nt-rajib]

I just finished the blog. Really very helpful. Thanks for sharing such an amazing blog.
http://mosaictiledirect.net/glass-mosaic-collections.html

[Elaine Allen]

Gorgeous Mosiacs Suze. I had to laugh because I knew there was no way you would make it "easy" for yourself - LOL! I love your mosaic design.

Elaine Allen

[ann in UK]

brings back memories of Barcelona and the Gaudi mosaics and buildings, fabulous city, overflowing with inspiration. must find my box of mosaic pieces and get busy.

[Victoria Sturdevant]

Such a great place and wonderful projects! TFS

[Jeanette]

AMAZING. Pics are sooo gorgeous Suze. Tfs
Jeanette
netrix_ (on twitter)