Our guest contributor Rajani Batula is an Adliswil-artist based artist. For this issue, she shows us how to easily create mosaic art at home. In her My Story, she has shared her love for painting and art.

A Little Mosaic History

Mosaics have been created and used decoratively throughout the world since ancient times. The Romans popularised mosaics as an art medium on indoor and outdoor walls, floors, ceilings and in gardens.

The Greeks created mosaics from pebbles that had been softened by the sea. They created pictorial mosaics that told a story. The world-famous Spanish artist Antoni Gaudi created mosaic installations in Barcelona using primarily recycled material.

Here’s my guide for beginners to help you in the process of making a mosaic. There are a few steps needed before creating your mosaic. If you can draw, cut, glue things together, and experiment with shapes, you will certainly enjoy this art form.

Materials needed

  • A wooden mirror (available at Ikea)
  • Coloured glass
  • Cutting Plier
  • Tile adhesive or Holz glue
  • Pencil
  • Marker
  • Mosaic tile craft grout
  • Paper towel
  • Sponge
  • White vinegar
  • Gloves

Instructions

    1. Choose an object that you are going to decorate with your mosaic art. I have used a wooden mirror from Ikea.

Photo of frames used for the mosaic art project - Step 1

    1.  
    2. Choose your design and draw it with a pencil on your chosen object or use a marker to highlight the spots where you would like to add the mosaic tiles
    3. Cut mosaic tiles and coloured glass into triangles or squares or the shape you like using a cutting plier and stick them on the wooden mirror with the help of holz glue or tile adhesive.

Photo of step 3 of mosaic art

    1. After sticking the glass pieces on the wooden mirror, allow it to dry for 24 hours.

Photo of step 4 of mosaic art

    1. Next step is to fill in our work with grout. Take a plastic bowl and mix the grout adding water slowly till you get a pasty consistency. A perfect grout mix is the one that has toothpaste consistency. Apply this paste all over the surface and cover the gaps. Remember to use your rubber gloves while working with the grout paste on the sharp glass edges.

Photo of step 5 of mosaic art

    1. Let it rest for 15 minutes, Now clean the surface with a cloth and then with a paper towel to remove any extra grout sticking to the surface. Using a sponge you could wipe some white vinegar at the end. This gives a great shine to your work. Your Mosaic art is ready.

Photo of step 4 of mosaic art

Here are pictures of a few more designs created using the mosaic technique.

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