Glass On Glass ( GOG)

 Firstly, a wonderful site named This To That which allows you to search for the appropriate glue for any given material using dropdown selections.

 

Tools recommended by Barb The Maker

 

Special Running Pliers with the curved jaw,  glass nipper pliers (has 2 cutting wheels)to nip smaller piecesof glass. Flat pliers and tweezers also come in handy. I decided to purchase the set recommended by Barb from Amazon.

Less Mess - More Haste

Choice and variation of adhesives on the market can make glue selection both a daunting and messy process.  Not only do I want to have the correct glue for the project, ease of application is high on the list of considerations as I dont have a mosaic studio or large work area.

The Indirect Method as explained by Mosaic Art Supply offers a more controlled application of tesserae to substrate which removes the need to glue individual pieces or tesserae. This makes it possible to apply the glue to the entire substrate area in one go rather than onto individual pieces of tile or glass.  

Have Tiles Will Travel

There are specific tools associated with mosaics and then there are "the others". These "others" refers to items not related specifically to mosaics, and yet helpful additions for the tool kit, particularly when attending class away from home.

1. A carry box - preferable one with a divided tray insert and enough room at the base to hold your nippers and other larger items

 

2. A selection of tools for adhesive application - I have used cotton buds, small popsticks, plastic squeeze bottles and toothpicks dependent on the size of the tessera

TILE SUPPLIES

Sy Mosaics

G35Blue 20x20 (70 tiles) $7.00 ( great for water)

Diamond Gold 20x20 (49 tiles) $8.00

The Mosaic Store

Mosaic Magic

Meisha Mosaics

OZ Mosaics

NA14 Bahamas 105 Mosaic Glass Tiles 2cm x 2cm x 4mm  $5.00- Oz

Merlin Mosaica

Cornflour 2cmx2cm small tub $8

 

19 Mosaics - $ 11 Postage

 

Mixed Flat Back Tiles 15x15 (100 tiles) $4.70 

MOSAIC MUSINGS

Creating mosaics is an addictive pursuit and once exposed to its possibilities, every object is viewed as a possible receptacle for a new project. As with photography, each person's vision is interpreted differently, fashioned by taste and life experience.  

Mosaics are assembled on a substrate (base) using tesserae (small pieces of irregular or regular shaped glass, stone, ceramics, pebbles, and many found materials). When constructed using glass or ceramics, the pieces are cut and sometimes filed in a variety of shapes using special tools.

The tesserae may be applied to a variety of substrates (bases) using adhesive and finally secured using grout. The adhesive used is dependent on whether the design will be displayed inside or outside. The grout also serves the purpose of highlighting the design elements by outlining each of the components. 

The laying down of the tesserae is known traditionally as the "opus". Different opus produce a different flow or appearance.

The Order Of Things

 Gluing the tesserae in  a specific order simplifies the process when creating a mosaic, particularly those with a border. 

Mosaic Art Reproductions

 Many mosaic artists have used other art forms as a stimulus for creating new works. A series of art to mosaic reproductions are represented on the the Mosaico Blog

image credit: The Mosaico Blog

Serendipitously I discovered an amazing online tool which turns any photo into a mosaic, and it only takes a minute. I used a photo of one of my daughters as a test.

Photo To Mosaic

 Creating a mosaic from a photograph can be a challenging task. One tool for transferring a photo's tonal qualities to a template involves the use of an image editor.  Three free and simple to use examples of editors are LunaPic, Anymaking and Photo Editor. Selecting the Cartoon option in "Effects" transforms the image which can then be used to guide the placement of tesserae. Effects may be increased or lessened according to taste. 

Examples below 

1. LunaPic    

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2. Anymaking

 

3. Photo Editor

   

Grout Applicator & Other Grouting Ideas

 * How to make an applicator for cement based grouts (video) 

 

TIP: Whenever adding a tessera to a dry porous surface dampen it so that the moisture is not instantly ‘sucked’ out of the thinset.

 TIP 2: If any areas need smoothing a fine brush works nicely.

TIP 3: A bamboo skewer can be used to move tesserae around. 

TIP 4: Putting the grout/mortar in a bag gives you more working time as the polymer is exposed less to air.

TIP 5: Sealer will often change the colour and when it wears out or flakes it destroys the beauty of the finished piece

 

 

Cutting China Plates

 * How to cut china plates for mosaic designs (Video)

Choosing Colour

 * How to choose a grout colour  - online generator

An alternative generator by Davco 

Safety Comes First

Keep work areas free of food or drink. Flying shards or dust can land on food. If you need to have a drink nearby ensure it is lidded.

Cut tiles over a wide shallow tray to collect any small pieces. A damp hand towel placed in the bottom of the tray will assist with collecting dust and slivers. A spray bottle can be used to keep the towel damp. 

When working with tiles it is a good idea to wear closed in shoes and glasses to protect eyes against flying pieces of glass or tile.  

Keep the workspace as clean as possible and always use a dustpan and broom to sweep up small pieces of glass, never your hands.

Use tweezers to reposition tiles, particularly when working in cramped spaces.

Wearing breathing apparatus when working with cement based adhesives, ceramics or porcelain will prevent dust particles from entering lungs and hardening. Many plates and tiles contain silica which is invisible to the eye and can be easily inhaled.

Store products in a safe area and label each item especially those with a use by date. Retain any information sheets associated with the products.

Always carefully read any instructions before using any adhesives, grouts, additives or sealers. Work in an open and well ventilated space particularly when working with products which emit fumes.  Use a fan or work in an outside area. 

Any wet cement based product has a caustic, abrasive effect on skin so gloves and eye protection are necessary when working with grout.

Dispose of any left over grout in a bin, not down the sink, in order to prevent blockages.

Dont allow children or pets access to the work area.

Grouting Disasters

* How to fix grout mistakes

Hints from " Mosaic Art Supply" for addressing some of the common problems which occur when grouting. 

Some of the topics covered include:
1. Hazy or dull tiles
2. Hardened grout adhering to tiles
3.Grout collecting in pitted tiles.
4. Crumbling grout
5. Grout being too light once it has dried.
6. Grout appears to be the wrong colour
7. Gaps are irregular or too large

Stained Glass Waves

 * How To Cut Stained Glass for a Water/ Sea Mosaic ( Video)