MOSAICS - How to work
Artist; Cleo Mussi. All her work is made out of pieces of unwanted or broken pottery, plates, jugs, tiles, statues, etc.; it is very personal and individual; she creates small designs for private houses and also large installations for public buildings.
Steps for mosaic making
Lay out all your materials. Using the tile nippers begin to cut out regular and repeating shapes using the patterns that you find within the ceramic designs. Experiment with shapes, scale color and pattern. Lay your design out onto the tile and when the design is complete then cover another tile with a thin layer of 2-3 mm of ready-mixed tile adhesive. Transfer your design from one to another, pressing each one sharply into the adhesive. Allow your tile to dry for 24 hours in a warm place.
Wearing rubber gloves, put a cup of tile grout into a plastic container and add a small quantity of water gradually mixing to make a thick paste, like cake mixture. Push the grout mixture into the gaps of the ceramic, making sure it reaches the edges of the pieces. Wait a few minutes, and using an old nail brush, clean off the excess grout which should come off as a wet powder. Using an old towel, polish off the remaining grout and your mosaic tile will be finished.
Note: Grout is a construction material made to reinforce, fill up voids and seal joints in buildings. It is a mixture of water, cement and sand. It is applied as a thick emulsion and hardens quickly and there are many different types. It is used to fill the spaces between tiles or mosaics.
The photos (a) to (k) go through the method of working and the last six are finished designs.
Click on the image to enlarge it
