Mosaic Art

Mosaic Art Using tiles, small objects and other bits of material to create a color scheme and design.

History The history of mosaic goes back 4,000 years or more, with the use of terracotta cones pushed point-first into a background to give decoration. By the eighth century BC, there were pebble pavements, using different colored stones to create patterns. It was the Greeks who raised the pebble technique to an art form, with precise geometric patterns and detailed scenes of people and animals.

The Moors brought Islamic mosaic and tile art into the Iberian peninsula in the 8th century, while elsewhere in the Muslim world, stone, glass and ceramic were all used in mosaics. In contrast to the figurative representations in Byzantine art, Islamic motifs are mainly geometric and mathematical. Examples can be seen in Spain at the Great Mosque at Cordoba and the Alhambra Palace. (Tessellate)

Sandy Schimmel is the artist behind the much talked about Schimmel Art Sandy Schimmel is the artist behind the much talked about Schimmel Art. Shaped out of recycled junk mail, ads and flyers, this eco-conscientious art renders a new meaning to mosaic art.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. "My pictures are made of thousands of incongruent pieces - images and text. Assembled like a mosaic; the tiles create an entirely new image - a portrait, a landscape, a fantasy - directly from my imagination, utilizing materials that would otherwise go to waste. Every little "tile" you see was once advertising ephemera, junk mail, a postcard or packaging. " - Sandhi Schimmel Gold

Recycling vs. Upcycling Upcycling is the practice of taking something that is disposable, or worthless trash, and transforming it into something of greater use or value.

Create a mosaic out of upcycled materials. Your Assignment Create a mosaic out of upcycled materials.

Assignment To begin, find a photo with a strong range of values. Transfer the image using carbon paper to the surface you will be attaching the “tiles”. Determine the color scheme you will use. (Numbering or labeling is a good idea.) Cut the “tiles” and begin planning the arrangement for your image.

IMPORTANT! Do not glue anything down until you have determined where all the pieces will go to create the image.

Glue each “tile” to create your image. Hint: Keep fingers clean to avoid the pieces sticking to you or damaging the exposed surfaces. Be patient! Make sure all edges are secure. Seal with a clear coat.

You can add acrylic paint to trim out edges.

Now it is your turn. Sketch possible design ideas in your sketchbook today. Be ready to transfer your idea tomorrow.