Free Mosaic Pattern Crowing Rooster fits the 6×6-inch mosaic backer board we sell and can be transferred onto the board using these instructions in our blog article. Carbon transfer paper may be easier than coating the entire back of the pattern with charcoal because there are so many lines to be transferred.
The more closely you attempt to fit the tile together, the more tile you will have to scrap because they don’t always cut exactly as desired. It is easier and more efficient to leave a grout gap. You need a grout gap to properly seal out water.
These numbers are inflated to account for cutting scrap. In theory, you can cover the entire pattern in 144 UNCUT tiles with barely a gap. These numbers at their high end add up to 288 tiles, and 216 tiles at their low end. It’s better to have tile left over for other projects, especially if you aren’t sure how steady your cuts will be.
REMEMBER THAT YOU CAN USE DIFFERENT COLORS FROM THESE.
No Partial Bags Sold
We cannot sell partial bags of tile. Of course you will have many tiles left over if the color is only used in 2 or 20 tiles! That is a good thing. You build a library of materials at home that you can be used for other mosaics, hopefully your own designs. We plan to offer kits soon that include the quantities listed above, but until time permits that work, please do not email us asking for partial bags.
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Free Mosaic Pattern
Free Mosaic Patterns are available as PDF downloads for customers who checkout using the normal shopping cart checkout process. Other materials do not have to be ordered.
Mosaic Art Edges
This pattern mounted on the 6×6-inch backer board produces a mosaic where the tiles extend all the way to the edge of the board so that edge of the mosaic looks like what it is (an authentic mosaic).
However, the tile needs to stop at the edge of the backer and not stick out. If unframed, the outer edges of the glass tile need to be smoothed by rubbing with a fine-grain stone of moderate hardness, which can be found on the ground or streets most places, or by using the fine-grain sides of a ceramic marble file or a dual-grit rubbing stone. Rub finished mosaics with care and practice first by rubbing sharp tiles before you glue them down. (I have used ordinary found stones for this purpose -JM)
Fits In Standard Frame
A finished 6×6-inch mosaic made with glass tile on our backer boards should have the same dimensions and thickness as a 6×6-inch stretched canvas painting, and so it can fit in a standard 6×6-inch gallery frame meant for paintings.
Displaying Mosaics Unframed
Many books and authorities recommend NOT extending the tiles all the way to the edge of a backer because it makes those tiles vulnerable to damage by impact and by leaning the mosaic on its edge. We have observed that the 6×6-inch size is small and light enough to be handled without these types of damage being as much of an issue provided the mosaic is handled with care. Also, we think the raw mosaic edge is a vital part of the look and feel when displaying the finished artwork. The make great objects d’art when displayed unframed in the easels used for displaying china plates.
Nitrile Gloves Disposable 9.5-Inch Medium 1 Pair are powder-free, latex-free 4 mil thick examination gloves for detailed work with thinset mortar and Weldbond adhesive. These are more durable than the latex gloves we used to sell and allow the wearer more dexterity than our heavy-duty grouting gloves.
Nitrile Gloves Disposable 1 Pair
material: nitrile
1 pair
size: medium 9.5 inch
weight/gauge: 4 mil
color: blue
powder-free
latex-free
When To Use These Gloves
These gloves can keep your hands and fingertips clean when working with thinset mortar for an extended period, but they are thin and fragile and will not protect the hands from cuts. For that reason, you would NOT use these gloves for grouting, which involves a lot of rubbing and wiping over the surface of the mosaic and exposes the hands to sharp edges. For grouting, we recommend the Heavy-Duty Grouting Gloves, but even those can be sliced by a jagged piece of mosaic tile. Tip: It is better to keep grout gaps fairly narrow to make grouting easier and prevent fingertips from getting in between tile where they can be cut.
We use these gloves at our studio for making found-object mosaics from artifacts and thinset mortar, which involves a lot of careful positioning of small objects in concrete. The gloves are thin enough to not interfere with dexterity, yet they still keep the mildly caustic mortar from contacting the skin and drying it out. Some people also wear these gloves for working with Weldbond adhesive, but that is merely based on preference and not safety. We have never observed any problems with Weldbond on the skin, even when in contact for long hours day after day. Weldbond is a water-based adhesive and was selected by NASA for use in space because it is non-toxic.
Tip: Talcum powder can be used to help get the gloves on and off. We keep a dispenser of baby powder in our studio for applying to our hands before inserting them into gloves. Without the powder, the sweat from the hand makes getting the glove off a lot more difficult.
How To Make Mosaics
For more advice on designing your mosaic project or mounting, cutting, and grouting tile, please see our page of Mosaic Frequently Asked Questions or our Mosaic Information Guide, which lists instructional pages described by topic. We also post new articles about making mosaics at our How to Mosaic Blog.
If your order has a deadline, place the order and e-mail us immediately at [email protected] so that we can work with you to ensure your order arrives on time.
Weekend orders cannot ship before Monday.
Most orders ship within 1 to 2 business days. Large or special orders may take longer.
UPS Next Day orders placed after 2pm Eastern Time cannot ship before the following weekday.
UPS Next Day and 2nd Day mean business days, not counting weekend days.
We cannot cancel orders after they ship.
European Union
Information Regarding Directive 2011/83/EU
All products listed on the website have detailed product descriptions provided.
Business information including address is listed at the bottom of each page.
All customer service interactions are handled via e-mail: [email protected]
Delivery to the EU can take multiple weeks and is subject to Customs delays. EU customers are encouraged to e-mail us before ordering for transit time information.
Reimbursement will be made for the original cost of the order, or as applicable, partial cost if only some of the materials are returned.
Pursuant to Article 14(1), the customer is responsible for the price of return shipping.
European Union information concerning the exercise of the right of withdrawal
Right of withdrawal
You have the right to withdraw from a sales contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you
acquires, physical possession of the goods.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, you must inform us by e-mail to [email protected] of your decision to withdraw from the sales contract by an
unequivocal statement in the e-mail.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your e-mail concerning your exercise of the
right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from a sales contract, we shall reimburse to you all payments received from you for that particular order, including the costs of
delivery (with the exception of the supplementary costs resulting from your choice of Priority Mail Express International, or any other type of delivery other than the
least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us, which for almost all international orders is Priority Mail International), without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from
the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from the sales contract. We will carry out such
reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly
agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement
You shall send back the goods to Mosaic Art Supply, 2964 Alcove Dr, Scottdale, GA 30079 USA without undue delay and in any
event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to
us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired.
You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods.
You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is
necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
All Customers
When will my order ship?
Mosaic Art Supply, LLC ships all orders from Scottdale, Georgia, which is in the US Eastern Standard Time Zone.
Orders are shipped on weekdays only.
Most orders ship within 1 to 2 business days. Large or special orders may take longer.
We do not ship orders on US postal holidays. For a list of postal holidays please click here.
Orders placed after 4 PM EST cannot be mailed until at least the next business day.
Orders can’t be cancelled after they ship.
When will my order arrive? (United States)
When your order will arrive depends upon which shipping option you choose! If you choose “USPS Ground Advantage” – usually the cheapest option – it should be no surprise that it is also the slowest! As of March 2025, we are seeing USPS Ground Advantage packages take an average of 5 days, if not more. If you have any kind of timeframe, deadline, need-by-date, etc for your project, please e-mail us right now to let us know! You’re not going to want USPS Ground Advantage it will take too long.
For most orders, USPS Priority Mail will be the second-cheapest option. It is also usually the faster than USPS Ground Advantage.
USPS Priority Mail usually delivers within the lower 48 states within 3 or 4 days.
USPS Priority Mail does NOT guarantee a specific delivery date.
UPS Ground is usually the cheapest option for large and bulky items such as 3 litre Weldbond jugs or full rolls of mosaic mesh.
UPS Ground does NOT guarantee a specific gelivery date.
If your address is incorrect in any way (ZIP, street, apt number, etc.), then UPS’s additional fee of $13 for address corrections will be charged to your credit card.
We reserve the right to use UPS Ground for orders containing multiple sheets of stained glass or other products that we determine may get broken in Priority Mail flat-rate boxes.
Can I get a guaranteed delivery date?
If you absolutely need your order by a certain date please e-mail us right now at [email protected] so we can work with you.
UPS offers 2nd-Day Air and Next-Day Air delivery, which you can select during checkout.
UPS 2nd-Day Air and Next-Day Air services refer to business days only, they do NOT include weekends or US federal holidays.
Orders ship only on weekdays (not including postal holidays) from Scottdale, Georgia, and must be placed before 2 PM EST in order to go out on the same business day.
We strongly encourage you to e-mail us as soon as possible at [email protected] so that we can let you know what your options are.
UPS Saturday Delivery is an extra charge and is very expensive. Our website does not quote Saturday Delivery as a shipping option.
When will my order arrive? (Outside of the USA)
As of March 2025, we are seeing 3-4 weeks MINIMUM for ALL international destinations.
We are seeing 4+ weeks for packages even to Canada, which historically was the fastest.
Packages to all other destinations, including the European Union, are likely to take even longer.
Do not order from us if you have a hard deadline and you are outside the USA.
Please remember that your country’s customs agency can delay a package for any reason, and they may elect to charge you duty on the value of the goods.
Can I get a guaranteed delivery date outside of the United States?
No, international customs bureaucracies will take time to inspect your package, and can cause delays.
Priority Mail Express International is the fastest international service we offer.
If you order PMEI we need to have the order before 1 PM EST (13h00) and we need you to e-mail us at [email protected] in order for your order to ship the same day.
Simply copy-and paste the following text then change it to include your order number:
I just placed a Priority Mail Express International order, the order is #XXXXX, please ship as soon as possible.
Can you mail a package outside the USA with a service other than USPS?
No, UPS will charge you a hefty customs brokerage fee when you receive your package.
We don’t have relationships with any other international carriers.
You are responsible for paying your country’s taxes and duties, if applicable.
My package is missing items. What should I do?
Please e-mail us immediately at [email protected] so that we can fix the problem. If you wait until your deadline is near to report the problem, we may not be able to help. We cannot ship replacement items by express shipping methods if you wait to report the problem.
My package never showed up, or it was delivered opened or damaged. What should I do?
Please e-mail us immediately at [email protected] so that we can file a missing package inquiry or a claim with USPS or UPS as soon as possible.
Damaged package claims must be reported to us as soon as possible or else USPS or UPS may deny the claim.
US Postal Insurance does not cover theft of packages after they are delivered.
Please follow the tracking information we email you and make sure you retrieve packages from porches and mailboxes quickly and report problems in a timely manner.
We do not assume liability for thefts occurring at your home.
USPS insurance does not cover theft from your porch, and we cannot reimburse orders stolen after delivery to your address. Ship to your work address if needed to be safe.
United States and Other Countries
Sales and Retail Prices
By placing an order from our website, you agree that:
Mosaic Art Supply, LLC is entitled to keep the calculated retail price displayed with the sale price as long as desired.
Displaying the calculated price is absolutely necessary in this market to avoid artists designing projects over a long time frame (multiple years) being surprised that they may need a quantity that requires a new factory order at the calculated retail price.
You will not seek damages from any perceived or actual violations of any law including but not limited to any limitations on how long a sale price can remain in place along with the calculated retail price.
How can I return an item?
Please send us an e-mail at [email protected] to request a return authorization.
Authorization may be granted if you had ordered samples before ordering large quantities and the return is made within 2 weeks.
Please tell us your order number and tell us what product(s) you’d like to return and the reason for the return.
We can’t refund shipping costs for obvious reasons.
We can’t accept returns if you haven’t e-mailed us first and we have not authorized the return.
We can’t accept returns of broken or damaged items or opened containers of Weldbond, Grout, Thinset, or Cutting Oil.
ATTENTION CONTRACTORS: Do not order large quantities if you are not sure about the products you need.
Please e-mail us at [email protected] to ask about Sample Boards or for help selecting the tiles you need.
Our Mosaic Art Glass Assortment includes 2-lbs of American-made stained glass pieces for making mosaic artwork. With opaque mosaic work surfaces in mind, we choose pieces for pigment density and opacity. These assortments offer a great way to sample a wide variety of stained glass types and colors. We also sell individual colors of stained glass in 6-inch sheets if you need an individual color. Piece size varies, but we try to cut pieces 2 to 3 inches wide, so there should be fewer pieces measuring 1 inch or less. Cutting Scrap will have smaller pieces.
Black White Gray – grayscale stained glass mix
Blue – variety of dark-to-light blue stained glass
Designer Neutrals and Foggy Grays – unusual odds-and-ends, muted and variegated pieces, landscape tones
Glass on Glass Mix Translucents and Transparents – foggy, cloudy, see-through multicolored mix**
Golden Amber Brown – variety of brown-beige stained glass
Green – variety of dark-to-light green stained glass
Iridized – all-iridescent multicolored mix**
Premium – rainbow+ assortment with red-orange-yellow, pink-purple, blue-green, brown, black and white
Sunset – warm gradient mix of red-orange-yellow and pink-purple
*All mixes may include one Ripple/textured piece. **All mixes emphasize opacity except Glass on Glass Mix, and Iridized may include clear iridescents.
Product Coverage
Each two-pound bag is approximately 1.25 square feet of stained glass. If you cut these pieces into mosaic tiles of about 3/4 inch or less and use a grout gap of 1/16 inch, then the bag could cover 1.5 square feet.
Compatibility
Stained glass is approximately 1/8 inch thick and therefore nominally the same as most of the glass mosaic tile we sell. We also have 3/4-inch stained glass tiles.
Cutting Art Glass
Mosaic Art Glass cuts quickly with minimal force using our Mosaic Glass Cutters. Caution: Stained glass is usually sharper than regular molded glass mosaic tile. Extra care must be used in cutting, handling, and grouting to ensure that sharp edges are not left exposed. One technique to knock off the razor slivers from freshly-cut stained glass edges (called flash or groze) is to swirl pieces around in a plastic bucket with a little water. The Rubbing Stone and Marble File we sell are useful for smoothing sharp edges and are recommended when the mosaic is for a wall or architectural element.
The traditional stained glass artists’ tool for smoothing edges is the Grozing Pliers, but the Rubbing Stones and Marble Files produce smoother edges and can round off sharp points and corners.
Mosaic Art Glass Assortment 2-lbs
Material: untumbled stained glass with sharp edges.
Piece size: varies, but most should be ABOUT 2 to 3 inches.
Thickness is nominally 1/8 inch but varies considerably, typically around +/- 1/32 inch.
Coverage: a 2-pound bag covers about 1.25 square feet.
American made.
Pigments: colorfast metal oxide.
Suitable for indoor/outdoor use.
Frost-proof and impermeable to liquid.
Not recommended for floors.
Colors vary based on availability, but we keep it colorful with an emphasis on brighter, stronger colors.
Individual Colors Available As 6-Inch Sheets
If you need an individual color or found one you especially liked in an assortment, see our 6-inch stained glass sheet selection.
If you click on the small picture of an item, you can read details about the item including its dimensions.
If you are having trouble updating products or editing your cart, email us for assistance. We answer emails throughout the afternoon and late night M-F and occasionally most weekends. Click here for URGENT ORDERS
First time buying online? We have some simple instructions for how to shop online at the bottom of this page.
Checkout Problems
Don’t panic if your credit card is rejected. Sometimes the banks can’t verify your billing address due to technical issues, but that’s no problem. Our website keeps a record of your invoice and payment information, and WE CAN VERIFY YOUR CARD and complete the credit charge for you manually.
If your card is rejected, email us, and we will take care of it. Never email you credit card number for security reasons. We already have the credit card number from your attempt at checking out if you:
Make sure you click all the way to the end of the checkout pages and click the “submit order” button.
Shopping Online: Basic Instructions
Click the “Add to Cart” or “Buy now” button to place an item in the shopping basket.
After a product is added to the shopping basket, you can click the “View or Edit Cart” links to update quantities or remove products from the basket
Once you have the products and quantities finalized, you can click the “Checkout” link
Next, complete the required Billing, Shipping and Payment information.
Finally, click the Submit Order button to complete the order.
Once the order has been shipped a confirmation email will be sent.
We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, PayPal and money orders.
PayPal is a secure service that allows customers to send payments from credit cards (including American Express) without giving your credit card number to each merchant. You pay no fee to send payments. The small service fee is deducted from the money that merchants receive.
We don’t accept phone orders because we want our customers to be happy and successful, and talking on the phone is never a substitute for reading product descriptions.
Mosaic Art Supply does not share or sell customer data, and our credit card processing is encrypted and done using the bank’s server instead of our website server. Our entire website including checkout uses 256-bit encryption. Read more about security and privacy at Mosaic Art Supply.
Make sure that your antivirus software has been updated and periodically run scans of your computer. Remember, credit card theft is much more likely on a customer’s own unprotected computer than it is on a merchant’s website.
UPS Next Day Air orders placed after 2pm eastern cannot ship before the following weekday. The reason is simple: UPS picks up between 4 and 4:30pm eastern.
Most orders will ship within 1 to 2 business days. Large or special orders may take longer.
UPS Next-Day Air, 2nd Day Air and 3-Day Select refer to business days (M-F) and do NOT count weekends and holidays. That is UPS policy, not ours.
If you need something urgently, go ahead and place the order instead of waiting for us to reply to an email. If you are concerned if it will arrive by your deadline, then paste the following message in the Special Instructions during checkout: “Cancel this order if it won’t arrive by day/date.”
Do not put any other questions or conditions on an urgent order. That is a sure way to have your order held up in the warehouse.
The cost of shipping orders in the US is based on weight and ZIP code.
Orders ship from our warehouse in Scottdale, Georgia 30079.
Customers choose their method of shipping during checkout.
We only ship orders Monday-Friday. If you have to have your order rushed please e-mail us at [email protected] to let us know.
Methods of shipping include UPS Ground, Next-Day Air, 2nd Day Air, and Priority Mail.
The flat-rate boxes by USPS cost less and are usually faster, especially for the West Coasty. All carriers are experiencing erratic delays due to the pandemic and the global shipping crisis and labor shortages.
The cheapest shipping option for most orders is USPS Priority Mail. The map below shows expected transit times for USPS Priority Mail orders. If your order is a rush please mail us at [email protected] as soon as possible to let us know.
Expected delivery times for USPS Priority Mail mailed from our post office at zip code 30030. An interactive map can be viewed here. “Exceptions apply and delivery time is not guaranteed.”
Very small orders (less than 11 ounces) can ship using UPS First-Class Mail.
Mosaic Art Supply ships around the globe using USPS Priority Mail and USPS Express Mail.
During checkout, the website will show you the cost of shipping your order based on its weight.
There are special rates for Mexico and Canada. All International flat-rate boxes are limited to 20 lbs (9 kgs). See current international rates at USPS.
The boxes are relatively small, so buy tile and avoid things like grout and glue that can be purchased locally.
Please remember that your country may charge you a customs duty or tax when you receive the package, and this fee is not included in our shipping charge.
Except for manufacturer defects on tools only within 30 days, all sales are final and cannot be refunded.
However, we occasionally grant exceptions on a very limited basis, IF the customer has done the following:
Read product descriptions, including dimensions, before ordering
Ordered samples first if unsure about colors, especially if you are trying to match colors to walls, carpets, etc. at home and needing more than a few square feet of any particular color.
Unauthorized returns will not be credited or refunded.
We cannot refund the shipping on refused shipments, so please email us promptly if you change your mind, and we will try to stop the package before it leaves the warehouse. Keep in mind that most orders ship within 24 – 48 hours.
We do take POs. Our only requirement is that you place an unofficial website order and select MONEY ORDER as the payment method. In the Order Notes during checkout, please paste the following:
“For estimation purposes only. Not an official order. Wait for possible PO.”
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU CLICK ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE CHECKOUT AND SUBMIT THE ORDER, ELSE THERE IS NO RECORD OF IT ON OUR END.
An unofficial website order is REQUIRED because:
It makes sure that all items are available and aren’t being purchased by someone else.
It allows you to fill out your PO correctly, including shipping charges.
We need the unofficial website order for tax, inventory, and accounting reasons.
You can e-mail or Fax your PO to us at 404-795-0444. Make sure you write the invoice number from our website on your PO because we get MANY school orders and repeat orders.
Sales Tax Certificate or Business License required. $500 per order minimum. Applications usually processed within a few hours. If you are a mosaic professional with a valid business license, e-mail us to apply. No one-time buyers please. This is a professional artist and contractor discount.
No. Mosaic Art Supply’s warehouse in Scottdale is not open to the public for walk-in retail sales.
Our insurance policy and our manufacturing activities do not allow uninvited visitors.
Contractor pickup is available for ONLINE orders over $500. Do not show up without first placing an order online. Our employees will not allow you to enter without your 5-digit invoice number.
Items marked “Clearance” are items we do not plan to re-stock. When applicable, we will provide additional context on the product information page, such as noting if the item was discontinued by the factory, or if they can no longer be imported due to new customs restrictions.
We don’t have a printed catalog. By not using printed materials, our prices are about 15% cheaper than they would be. E-mail us if you have questions about individual items.
No warranty is implied by any instructions posted on our websites or emailed to individuals. Use at your own risk. Read manufacturer safety instructions for grout, adhesives and tools. Wear goggles when cutting mosaic materials or mixing grout. Mosaic materials are often sharp. Keep out of reach of children. Do not overload patio tables with mosaic materials so that the table becomes unstable (top heavy). You should also make sure that the table frame can support the overall weight.
Mosaic Art Supply, LLC and Joe Moorman make no warranties express or implied about our mosaic instructions, our websites, the materials sold therein or the suitability of either the website, the mosaic instructions or the materials for any purpose.
Customers assume all risk of loss or damage for materials in transit once they leave our Atlanta facility.
However, orders shipped via UPS are automatically insured for their value up to $99.
This website, including text, images, layout and design, are copyright 2003, 2011, 2015 J.E. Moorman. All rights reserved. No part of this website is to be modified, reproduced or distributed without express permission.
Mosaic master artist Frederic Lecut poses with students at the end of the Opus Pixellatum class he taught at the Mosaic Art Supply warehouse in March 2017.
Mosaic classes are listed here by geographic area with links to the artists and organizations offering the classes.
Mosaic Art Supply, LLC, makes no recommendation or guarantee for any of these classes. Looking at the instructor’s artwork can be a good way to tell if their class is for you. If you teach mosaic classes and would like to be added to this directory, please apply by sending an email to us: [email protected]
Hot Springs, AR [email protected]
Mosaic Maddess offers classes throughout the state of Arkansas in conjunction with Spread Your Wings Mosaics. These “Mobile Madness” classes can be ongoing (weekly or monthly), or a one-time project. Classes are tailored to the participants, and range in difficulty accordingly. 501-321-1110
CALIFORNIA
Kim Emerson
San Diego Mosaic School
San Diego, CA www.kimemersonmosaics.com
The mission at the San Diego Mosaic School is to educate and inspire everyone about the medium of mosaics as a fine art. Every level of mosaic experience is welcome. All you need is a passion for color, texture, an openness for creativity, and originality. We focus on cutting, placement of “tesserae”, compositional design, and comparing ancient Roman mosaics to the contemporary while using many different types of beautiful materials. We are located in the Normal Heights community of San Diego, California, USA.
Katherine England
Katherine’s Studio
Orange County, CA www.katherineengland.com
Katherine has classes for beginners and more advanced students covering basic mosaic techniques, mosaic garden sculptures, soldering stained glass, and fused glass. She also offers drawing and painting instruction.
Nancy Howells
Painted Chair Studio
Santa Cruz, CA www.paintedchairstudio.com
Nancy has been teaching mosaics at her studio in Santa Cruz, Ca for the past 20 years. She offers a variety of mosaic classes that include working in tiles, plates, ceramics, stained and fused glass. They are designed not only for beginners but also mastering more complicated sculptural projects. Nancy also makes a line of ceramic pieces that can be included in the mosaic projects. The large indoor studio and garden provide a relaxing and creative space, just a few blocks from the beaches in Santa Cruz.
Love Apple Farms
Love Apple Farms Gardening and Cooking Educational Center
Santa Cruz, CA www.growbetterveggies.com
The Love Apple Farms Educational Center offers classes for making a pique assiette garden stepping stone from your own broken china, crockery, tile, etc. Advance registration is required. Classes are held rain or shine.
Michael Kruzich
Michael Kruzich
San Francisco, CA www.mkmosaics.com
Mosaics are making a comeback as artists all over the world are rediscovering ancient techniques and stretching those to new and modern expressions. I invite you to explore this timeless art-form by studying classical principles and techniques handed down through the centuries by mosaic masters. From these ancient core techniques the student/artist develops a solid, yet ever-expanding knowledge from which to move forward into more contemporary applications if they choose. I hope to welcome you to one of my classes or workshops in this marvelous and meticulous art-form.
Tami Macala
Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art
Santa Barbara, CA www.santabarbaraschoolofmosaicart.com
Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art was founded in 2009 by mosaic artist Tami Macala. Tami has over 15 years experience as a professional mosaic artist and shares her knowledge and expertise with every workshop. SBSMA is located in beautiful Santa Barbara, California, and hosts many talented artists from all over the world as guest instructors. SBSMA offers weekend workshops in a variety of mosaic art styles.
Fred and Donnell Pasion
Passiflora Mosaics
Grover Beach, CA www.passifloramosaics.com
Since 2004 Fred and Donnell Pasion have taught hundreds of hands-on workshops, introducing thousands to mosaic art and concrete styrofoam sculpture. Whichever workshop you choose, you will discover why these weekend workshops held in their spacious studio have become so popular! Ideal for all skill levels from first-timers to seasoned hobbyists and professionals who want to refine their skills. Choose a project and you will be guided through the mosaic-making process from start to finish.
Karen Stilton
Mosaic Morphosis
Woodland Hills, CA www.mosaicmorphosis.com
Karen Silton is a SAMA member at the Professional level and a professional ceramic tile and mosaic artist for 15 years. She offers high quality mosaic classes for children and adults from beginner through advanced levels in a very supportive environment. A large variety of materials including handmade ceramics, glass fusions, mirror, smalti, gold, vitreous glass and millefiori are available as well. Individual interests encouraged. Classes are small. Private instruction available also.
COLORADO
Lily Russo
Lily Russo
Durango, CO lilymosaics.com
Lily Russo is a mosaic artist with over 12 years experience. She offers beginner through advanced classes on stained glass and tile mosaics in Durango, Colorado and Tepoztlan, Mexico.
CONNECTICUT
Cynthia Fisher
Cynthia Fisher
Charlemont, MA www.bigbangmosaics.com
I teach the basics of the indirect method with vitreous glass. I love to teach and am eager to help others discover the pleasures of working in mosaic. Beginners to advanced, classes and one-on-one workshops. I teach at various art centers in New England, including the Worcester Art Museum, MA, Snow Farm Craft Center, MA, Brookfield Craft Center, CT and in my studio in Charlemont, MA.
FLORIDA
MIY Ceramics
MIY Ceramics
Hollywood, FL miyceramics.com
MIY Ceramics offers classes in mosaic, pottery, glass fusing, and painting. Craft parties and children’s classes are available.
Laure Norton
Beach Life Mosaics
Jacksonville, FL www.beachlifemosaics.com
Mosaic artist Laure Norton offers a variety of instructional formats including private mosaic parties and children’s classes.
Heather Richardson
Safety Harbor Art and Music Center
Safety Harbor, FL safetyharborartandmusiccenter.com
Create your own mosaic panel with mosaic artist Heather Richardson in this day-long workshop that will give a crash course to newbies and teach seasoned mosaic artists a few new tricks. All materials included, please bring safety glasses/goggles and rubber gloves.
Private classes or private smaller group classes are available please contact Heather for more information
[email protected] or call 727-424-2576
Susanne Vernon
Susanne Vernon Mosaics
Gulfport, FL www.susannevernon.com
Susanne Vernon Mosaics offers project based mosaic classes for beginner, intermediate and advanced students. Projects vary as do material, so please check the classes page on our website for current workshops. Children’s classes and individual instruction are also available.
GEORGIA
Callanwolde
Callanwolde
Atlanta, GA www.callanwolde.org
This organization has offered mosaic classes in the past, and may still offer them from time to time.
Spruill Arts Center
Spruill Arts Center
Atlanta, GA www.spruillarts.org
This organization has offered mosaic classes in the past, and may still offer them from time to time.
ILLINOIS
The Chicago Mosaic School
The Chicago Mosaic School
Chicago, IL www.chicagomosaicschool.com
Providing an arts education and fostering the creation of Mosaic Art using both ancient and contemporary techniques.
INDIANA
Maren Bell
The Art Lab
Carmel, Indiana [email protected]
Teaches introductory mosaics workshops and offers workshops to create
mosaic coasters and small frames at our location and local breweries in
the area. Classes use a variety of glass tiles, millefiori and metallic
shapes.
KENTUCKY
Pamela McGlone
Glass With Sass
Flemingsburg, Kentucky pammcglone.com
Pamela has multiple project-oriented classes available, including a stained glass mosaic window class, and a class for garden stepping stones. She can also schedule group project classes, such as team building exercises or classes for church groups.
LOUISIANA
Laurel True
True Mosaics Studio
New Orleans, LA www.truemosaics.com
Laurel True teaches mosaic classes for all levels at the New Orleans School of Art and Craft.
MASSACHUSETTS
Cheryl Cohen
Cheryl Cohen Mosaics Art Center
Holliston, MA www.cherylcohenmosaics.com
Cheryl Cohen Mosaics, for beginners and master artists alike, is a combination of great art, expert instruction and a fun and supportive community. Our 800+ square foot studio a mosaic artist’s dream, filled to the brim with plates to smash, stained glass to cut, and charms, beads, costume jewelry, shells, rocks and more, to create something small like coasters or picture frames for your home, or a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Multiple weekly classes are available for adults and children.
Cynthia Fisher
Big Bang Mosaics
Charlemont, MA www.bigbangmosaics.com
I teach the basics of the indirect method with vitreous glass. I love to teach and am eager to help others discover the pleasures of working in mosaic. Beginners to advanced, classes and one-on-one workshops. I teach at various art centers in New England, including the Worcester Art Museum, MA, Snow Farm Craft Center, MA, Brookfield Craft Center, CT and in my studio in Charlemont, MA.
Caren Fishman
Caren Zane Fishman Workshops
Allston, MA carenzanefishman.com
Students learn about the process of creating mosaics; from the use of color and placement of tile to composition, and technical aspects of grouting and completing the piece. Students will learn while doing, through demonstrations and lots of hands on time.
Bette Ann Libby
Bette Ann Libby Mosaics and Ceramic Sculpture
Chestnut Hill, MA betteannlibby.com
Bette Ann gives classes around 6 times a year with a focus on ceramic shard mosaics and sculpture. [email protected] 617-327-5171
Suzanne Baratta Owayda
Mosaic Oasis Studio & Supply
Arlington, MA www.mosaicoasis.com
On-going introductory classes (5 different sessions per week) that will prepare students to start their own project in a bright and cheerful studio. Also offers more involved workshops.
MICHIGAN
Adam Begley
Adam Begley Mosaic Design at the Grand Traverse Art Center
Traverse City, MI www.adambegleymosaics.com
This basic instructional workshop offers the beginner a solid foundation in the materials and methods necessary for doing traditional mosaic artwork. Please call or e-mail as we always arrange courses on a personal basis.
MINNESOTA
Sheryl Tourila
Sheryl Tourila Artist
Minneapolis, MN www.sheryltuorila.com
Small classes ensure a relaxed, fun, no pressure atmosphere for students to explore and develop their own individual creativity. A complete overview of mosaics including hands-on experience as students create one-of-a-kind custom wall panels. Explore the wide variety of mosaic materials in this class: ceramic tile, stained
glass, china, and found objects. Introduction to adhesives, sources for materials and substrates. All materials included but students are encouraged to bring treasures of their own. Work outside of class may be necessary.
MISSOURI
Laura Rendlen
Kansas City Mosaics
925 West 17th St.
Kansas City MO www.KansasCityMosaics.com
3 Hour Basic Mosaics
This class is aimed at playing with the materials, learning the tools and adhesives. The first step in finding out that this is the most addictive art form ever.
Monthly 2nd and 4th Saturdays
MONTANA
Patty Franklin
Patty Franklin Mosaics
Hamilton, Montana www.pattyfranklinmosaics.com
Patty’s highly personalized style of instruction is a great beginning to learning the basics of making a direct method, stained glass, mosaic. You will learn about the wide variety of materials and where to purchase them, the various cutting tools and how to use them, which adhesive to use for what substrates, how to design a cartoon that will translate into a mosaic, the correct way to place the glass for a beautiful flow and, you’ll receive written directions for grouting (which color and how to mix, apply, and clean up). You’ll also get the all-important dos and don’ts that Patty has accumulated over a 15 – year career in contemporary mosaic arts. This is a relaxed, fun, no pressure, hands-on 3 hour session that allows you to explore a wonderfully meditative art form. Included in the fee are all of the materials needed to do a 10” by 10” mosaic design. (Students are encouraged to bring their own treasures.)
NEW JERSEY
Eleanor
Designs by Eleanor
Towaco, NJ www.designsbyeleanor.com
Eleanor teaches how to create a mosaic art classes for kids and adults in Towaco, New Jersey.
Wendy Erdmann
Dune Grass Mosaics
Whitehouse Station, NJ dunegrassmosaics.com
Accepts students at all levels, from beginner to advanced. All materials provided. Students learn the art of mosaics, how to design a project, how to cut and set tile, grouting and clean-up. Each student leaves with a beautiful finished product.
NEW MEXICO
Jill Gatwood
Miraflores Mosaics
Albuquerque, NM www.mirafloresmosaics.com
Jill is a prolific mosaic artist. She has been teaching mosaic classes for many years, and has more classes coming up in 2023. Most of Jill’s classes are project-based, and she has a variety of project classes to choose from. [email protected]
NEW YORK
Angele and Yakov Hanansen
Unicorn Art Studio, Inc.
New York, NY www.mosaicmaster.com
Unicorn Art Studio, Inc. has been offering mosaics classes in New York City for over 15 years. Classes are for people of all ages, beginners and those with some experience. Variety of mosaic techniques are explored in full depth. A wide range of materials is available for use in class: glass, smalti, ceramic tiles, china, stone. You are welcome to visit the studio prior to signing up! No previous mosaic making experience is required in order to take a class!
Mosaic Workshop at Union Square Art Studio
Union Square Art Studio
New York, NY www.newyorkartworld.com
Beginners and advanced students welcome. Workshops offered on Wednesday afternoons and evenings.
NORTH CAROLINA
Linda Pannullo
Linda Pannullo Mosaics
Ashville, NC www.lindapannullomosaics.com
Linda offers workshops with visiting mosaic artists of note in beautiful Ashville, NC.
OREGON
Denny Nkemontoh
Denny’s Workshop at Helvetia Farms
Hillsboro, OR www.dennys-workshop.com
Denny offers beginning mosaic classes — including glass on glass, ceramic, and polymer clay. In addition, she periodicaly hosts special classes featuring guest instructors such as Kelley Knickerbocker and Christian Peres Gibaut. The studio sometimes offers open hours, as listed on the website.
PENNSYLVANIA
Carol Shelkin
Carol Shelkin Mosaics
Philadelphia, PA www.carolshelkinmosaics.com
A variety of mosaic techniques and materials are explored. Carol has been teaching art for over 25 years and has fine art professional training. She offers mosaic workshops, private lessons on all levels throughout the Philadelphia area and specialty workshops nationwide and worldwide including: Canada, Costa Rica, Australia and Mexico.
TEXAS
Michele Patrick
Mosaics by Michele Studio
Houston, TX www.mosaicsbymichele.com
Monthly basic and intermediate classes offered. Wide range of materials used, students learn basic and intermediate design, setting, cutting, grouting techniques. Tools and material provided.
VERMONT
Burlington Community Glass Studio
Burlington Community Glass Studio
Burlington, VT www.burlingtonglass.net
We offer a variety of stained glass design and mosaic design classses. Classes vary from 15 week 3 credit college level class to 3 hour workshops. Please call or e-mail for dates and times of upcoming classes 802-324-4019.
Bette Ann Libby
Bette Ann Libby Mosaics and Ceramic Sculpture
Waitsfield, VT
betteannlibby.com
Bette Ann has a studio in Vermont where she gives mosaic workshops in the summer during the Vermont Festival of the Arts. [email protected] 802-496-3639
VIRGINIA
Anita Bucsay Damron
Anita Bucsay Damron Fine Art
Reston, VA www.anitadamron.com
Anita is a prolific working artist showing at multiple galleries, and she offers mosaic classes at The Reston Community Center,
The Art League School (Torpedo Factory) Madison Street Annex, and The Workhouse Art Center (Lorton).
During COVID-19 Anita has also added LIVE online classes to her offerings.
Bonnie Fitzgerald
Maverick Mosaics
Vienna, VA www.maverickmosaics.com
Maverick Mosaics specializes in unique learning experiences and creating beautiful art. Our educational focus is to Open Doors to your Creativity and help you Discover your Artistic Voice. We are dedicated to nurturing and expanding creative expression through the art and community of mosaic. Maverick Mosaics offers a variety of workshops and learning opportunities for all ages and skill levels, and we’re honored to host the region’s broadest schedule of acclaimed mosaic artists from around the world who share their talent and masterful techniques. We host art retreats and International travel adventures.
WASHINGTON
Kelley Knickerbocker
Rivenworks Mosaics
Seattle, WA www.rivenworksmosaics.com
Kelley offers multilevel classes in glass mosaic, including her signature textured glass and stacked glass techniques. Kelley also offers one-on-one instruction tailored to specific interests, from design and cutting to architectural applications. Volunteers interested in gaining experience by assisting with commissions in the studio are welcome.
Jennifer Kuhns
JK Mosaics
Southwest WA jkmosaic.com
Jennifer Kuhns has installed architectural mosaic throughout the U.S., for private, corporate and public clients. She also creates some portable artwork and garden mosaic, and she offers classes in techniques ranging from beginner to advanced levels. Jennifer’s specialties are precision glass scoring and techniques for mosaic installation, including exterior considerations.
Classes Outside the U.S.
ITALY
Lucio Orsoni and Antonella Gallenda
Orsoni Smalti Veneziani
Venice, Italy www.orsoni.com
Orsoni offers two-week thematic courses in micro-mosaic and portraiture as well as a Master in Mosaic course which is offered as either a 1 week, 2 week, or 3 day workshop. The Master course is accredited through the International Interior Design Association and a Master certificate is awarded to those who complete the 1 or 2
week course.
MEXICO
Nancy Shelby
Hacienda Mosaico
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico www.haciendamosaico.com
Shelby Glass Studio of California in conjunction with Hacienda Mosaico offers a weeklong workshop for beginners and intermediate levels in wonderful Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. This workshop includes highly personalized instruction in a non competitive, creative atmosphere. Included in the tuition are all materials, a beautiful room and breakfast and lunch prepared by our own chef. This year Shelby is offering a Mosaic Mask Workshop: A Mixed Media Event! Contact Shelby at [email protected] for more information.
Nina Di Giovanni
Nina Di Giovanni Mosaics
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico www.ninadigiovanni.com
Offers 3-5 day workshops in contemporary, Byzantine, and Pre-Columbian mosaics. Nina is an award-winning mosaic artist and educator, Ravenna trained with over 20 years experience in contemporary and traditional mosaic. Classes are located in a beautiful historical artist’s paradise – San Miguel de Allende – a safe and welcoming place in the heart of Mexico.
NEW ZEALAND
Peter Smith
Waiohiki Art Centre
Hawkes Bay, New Zealand www.waiohikiartsvillage.com
Artist Peter Smith teaches mosaic classes at the Waiohiki Art Centre in Hawkes Bay.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Selina Royce
Dubai, U.A.E Mosaic Art By Selina
Selina has been doing mosaic art over a decade and participated in various exhibitions in U.A.E.
UNITED KINGDOM
Concetta Perot
Glittering Shards
London, UK www.glitteringshards.com
Evening Workshops, weekday Mosaic Maker Drop-In’s and one-to-one classes in South London. weekly evening mosaic workshops in 7 week blocks. Each evening runs from 8-10pm at the studio of mosaic artist, Concetta Perot, in Tooting, London SW17. The course is suitable for all levels and small classes ensure lots of individual attention. During the course you can expect to make a small mosaic and gain knowledge about the variety of mosaic materials, tools, techniques, glues, suppliers, different mosaic methods and various do’s and don’ts. Concetta also runs Mosaic Maker Drop-In’s on Thursday mornings: you can come whenever you are able and take advantage of learning, resources and being exposed to the work of others for inspiration.
Davie Davidson
DRAW (Drumchapel Arts Workshop)
Glasgow, Lanarkshire & Scotland, UK www.draw.org.uk
The class covers a brief history and styles of mosaics with step by step help planning and creating your mosaic art piece.
[email protected] is the fastest way to get help with your order or mosaic project.
We respond to e-mails faster than any other type of inquiry!
Mosaic Art Supply, LLC (warehouse)
2964 Alcove Drive
Scottdale, GA 30079 [email protected]
We do all of our customer service via email. We answer all emails very quickly, and email allows us to understand and answer your questions with much better clarity than you’d ever get from a call center. When you email us, you always talk to a real human who can help you right away.
We’ll never give you a run-around – you’re emails are always answered by our employees right here in the warehouse. The same ones picking, packing and shipping your order.
Email has the added benefit of allowing us to offer project advice, share photos, and links to helpful pages and specific products.
If you have trouble sending to the email address above, please email Joe Moorman at the gallery [email protected]
Phone Orders
Placing order via our website is more secure than placing an order over telephone for this reason: When you pay with a credit card on our website, that information is given directly to the payment processor via a safe, encrypted channel. We don’t retain any credit card information at all, so your information is secure in that regard. This is much, much more secure than sending us your payment information over telephone or other means.
When we put in the payment info for you, we are transmitting it on the same encrypted channel that is used when you check out. Because of this, it is actually faster to place your order online.
Phone
404-371-4070
Please use email and help us keep your prices low. Our phone is for delivery drivers, and is not regularly monitored. Usually we have a very detailed answer posted online, and we can email you the link in a snap.
The following issues are best resolved by email:
tracking numbers
where is my order?
damaged or missing packages
clarification of colors
errors in your order
returns
project advice
grout disasters
how to order
shipping time
Fax
404-795-0444
If you are faxing us a PO order, then please create an order at our website and select MONEY ORDER as the payment option. An order in our website makes sure that your items are not sold to other customers and that the shipping/insurance cost for your PO are correct.
Warehouse Address
Mosaic Art Supply’s warehouse in Scottdale is NOT open to the public for walk-in retail sales.Our insurance policy and our manufacturing activities do not allow uninvited visitors.
Contractor pickup is available for ONLINE orders over $500. Please do not show up without first placing an order online. Our employees cannot allow you to enter without your invoice number.
Warehouse address (no public access):
Mosaic Art Supply, LLC
2964 Alcove Drive
Scottdale, Georgia 30079
Picking the correct adhesive or glue is a very important decision when starting a mosaic, possibly the most important. If you choose the wrong one, your mosaic will not last as long as it should.
The best way to make a decision is to understand the different choices of adhesives and which ones works better with certain surfaces and tesserae. The primary deciding factor will be where the mosaic will live once it is complete: indoors or outdoors.
Indoor mosaic glue
Most mosaics intended for indoor use such as this mirror can be made using Weldbond and sanded grout.
Weldbond Adhesive 160ml (5.4oz) the best mosaic glue made.
Weldbond is the best. It’s a water based PVA glue, has no fumes, dries clear and water resistant, bonds to most any surface, is non-toxic and cleans up easily. We’ve extensively tested it, which you can read about here. However, I prefer to use thinset bonding mortar for floors. It gives a more stable and durable walking surface and better resists water seepage when cleaning the floors.
Outdoor mosaic glue
Thinset is the best adhesive for outdoor mosaics such as this garden stone.
In choosing adhesive for outdoor mosaics, it’s probably best to avoid adhesives altogether and use thinset mortar (a sticky concrete with added polymers) instead. To use thinset, you should read and follow the instructions on the package for mixing, handling and disposal. We also have a guide to using thinset. In brief, thinset is like grout and other concrete products. This means that the best place to mix them up is outside, and you should wear a dust mask if have trouble mixing it up without creating a lot of dust. (Our artists merely stand upwind and mist it with a spray bottle until they get it mixed up.)
I usually mix up about 1 or 2 pounds at a time and smear it on the wall with a small trowel or putty knife. I spread it out to about 1/8″ to 1/4″ thick and press my mixed materials directly into the concrete. I wear rubber examination gloves and keep a damp rag so I can wipe away any excess that squeezes up to the face of the tiles. If you keep the concrete in the bucket covered so that it doesn’t dry out, then it should stay workable for several hours. I made the mosaic columns at the gallery using thinset mortar in this way. I always keep a small bucket with a little water and rag to clean my hands from time to time and a dry rag in my lap.
Marbles and round stones can be a challenge. Unless they are being pressed into cement face-up on a horizontal surface like stepping stones, the right adhesive choice is important. You may be able to use a thick cosntruction adhesive for this purpose, though it isn’t recommended to do this for outdoor mosaics. It is probably best to use thinset in these cases.
Understanding Different Types of Mosaic Adhesives
PVA Glues
PVA glues like Welbond are water soluble adhesives that will clean up with water. PVA glues should not be used on any outdoor project. Even if it isn’t exposed to rain, humidity can also loosen the bond. When working in the indirect method, PVA glue can be used to adhere tiles to fiberglass mesh. It also bonds well with any type of tile and wooden or acrylic surfaces. Again, Weldbond is the best and it dries clear.
Thinset Mortar
Thinset is a sticky cement which can be messy to work with, but it is necessary for outdoor projects if you want them to hold up. It can be found at any hardware store, and is often only sold in large quantities. The best surfaces for thinset are porous, such as cement, cement backerboard, and wood and terracotta. To use with non-porous surfaces like glass, the thinset has to be mixed with admixes instead of water, which are either latex or acrylic liquids that make the thinset sticky. Premixed thinset is not as good as dry mix.
Stained glass was glued with clear silicone to square pieces of clear glass to make these sun catchers.Silicone
Silicone is used most often on glass surfaces because it comes in transparent varieties. It usually comes in a caulking tube and can take some time to get used to. It is difficult to remove and if you apply too much, it will come up between the tiles and make grouting more difficult and incomplete. When used under larger sheets, the areas towards the inside may never cure completely.
Epoxy
Epoxy is used on metal surfaces, but works on wood and glass also. It can hold up outdoors in ideal conditions, but it is very difficult to use and has a noxious odor. Once it is mixed, it must be used quickly. But when it is used successfully and correctly, it is a very strong adhesive and it dries clear.
Other Glues
In speaking with other mosaic artists, you will likely find that everyone has their own preferences for adhesives and that they are used in different ways from artist to artist. Understanding the characteristics of each type of adhesive will help you in finding the best solution for you in your various projects. When working with a new glue, be sure it is what you need for your project. Is it for interior or exterior, is it toxic, and will it work with your surface? Other than Welbond, the most popular brands for mosaics are Liquid Nails, MacGlue, and Gorilla Glue. Once you’ve experimented with several types of adhesives, you will get a feel for what you prefer and what works best.
NOTE
Always clean up excess glue before you grout. After water soluble glue has dried for a day or two, I come back and mist the mosaic with water. After about 10 minutes, any traces of glue that are sticking up on the sides of the tile will start to turn white. I then take a razor knife like a box cutter or exacto knife and trim away the excess glue. This cleaning step ensures that there will be no glue sticking up and not covered by grout.
An example of how to design, tile and grout an outdoor mosaic on a cement backer.
The following is a case study of an outdoor mosaic by David Cater, using work-in-progress photos taken by the artist. We have a separate page which summarizes our general instructions for outdoor mosaics, but the example below gives lots of insight.
I was deeply touched by David’s project, especially how he hand set each tile. My first mosaic was made almost in a trance state where I had no concern for efficiency or how much work it took. I hand chipped broken china with an ordinary claw hammer and didn’t even take the time to get a tile nipper, even though that tool would have save me hours and hours. It really was a labor of love, and I see that in David’s project too.
In the text below, I explain how David executed his project, but I also make comments on how the mosaic could have been made with less labor.
David’s initial sketch
Laying out the tiles beforehand
Complete layout
Concept Sketch
Like most mosaic projects, David’s sidewalk mosaic started as a concept sketch where the street number of his house is incorporated with a cardinal and dogwood design. Note how the red cardinal matches the red of the border, which helps to integrate the picture with the design as a whole. Note how the blue sky and the white dogwood make good contrasts with the red.
Choosing Colors
Color choices are as important as the composition.
To save frustration, get your color choices worked out before you attach the first tile. Sometimes it helps just to play with tile laid out on the surface to be mosaiced. I like to draw my cartoon (outline) on the surface and lay the tile in the different areas of the cartoon.
Design tools like color wheels are great for picking out initial choices, but colors usually have to be laid side by side before you can be absolutely certain they work together. This is particularly true when using different shades of each color
Initial Layout
David laid out his design on a sheet of plywood as a temporary surface. Note that David screwed a frame around his work area to define the size of the mosaic and provide a stop for straight edges.
To speed the placement of tile, an outline of the design could have been sketched onto the plywood. Most people have difficulty doing this because they aren’t experienced with drawing. The good news is that you don’t have to be.
Easy Method to Transfer and Enlarge Drawings
Simply use a ruler to draw a grid on your sketch. Then draw another grid on your larger surface. Notice that each square of the grid on the drawing contains just a little part of the drawing, usually just a few curved lines. Draw these same curved lines in same square of the large grid. You don’t even have to think about what you are drawing. Just copy what’s in each square, one square at a time. This makes it easy to enlarge and transfer outlines.
Complete Layout
In the above photo, we see that David has his design completely laid out and all tiles positioned, which represents many hours of labor.
At this point, clear contact paper could have been pressed onto the face of the tile to pick the entire mosaic up at once, which would allow the mosaic to be installed rapidly by pressing into thinset mortar. However, one problem with using clear contact paper to pick a mosaic up like this is that individual tile can get out of position while the contact paper is being pressed down. This problem can be minimized by laying out the tile on a nonslip surface, such as a sheet of rubber. That way the tiles can’t easily slip out of place when the contact paper is applied.
Another labor-saving method would have been to lay the mosaic out upside down on brown mosaic paper such as the kind we sell. In that method, the tiles are temporarily glued face-down on paper using a water-soluable glue like Elmer’s Glue. The sheet of mosaic is then pressed into cement, which allowed to harden over night. Then the paper is misted with water and peeled off.
The area to be mosaiced
Surface Preparation
David poured some new concrete approximately 4 inches thick for his mosaic. Note that the concrete is slightly lower than the surrounding brick so that the surface of the mosaic will be flush with the brick. You can put mosaics on existing cement, but you should use a wire brush to scour the surface to remove any loose sediments and invisible sealers, which could interfere with bonding.
David transferred the tiles one by one onto the new surface
Mounting Mosaic Tile
David manually transferred each tile from his temporary tray and mounted the individual tile using
thinset mortar.
Note that this means David had to manually position each tile twice: once in the tray when he laid up his design
and then once again when he sets each individual tile in mortar.
That is why using contact paper or mosaic mounting paper to pick the entire mosaic up at once for rapid
installation saves an enormous amount of work.
Another technique for speeding the work is to lay the mosaic up on 1/2″ concrete backer board and then cement the entire concrete board in place using thinset mortar. The only caveat would be to make sure the edges of the board aren’t damaged and crumbly. The edges of concrete backer board can be repaired and reinforced using thinset mortar.
Grouting after all tiles are down
Grouting the Mosaic
Grouting is done by smearing grout across the face of the mosaic and pressing the grout into the gaps between the tile. Indoor mosaics do not require grouting and the tile can be pressed tightly together. Outdoor mosaics must be grouted because the grout keeps water from penetrating between the tile, which is disastrous especially when the water freezes.
Make sure that you press the grout between the tile very thoroughly so that there are no voids or bubbles beneath a thin veneer of grout. This takes some repeated rubbing and pressing on the tile, and this is why you should never grout before the cement or adhesive has been allowed to harden for several days.
Note that a thin haze of grout can be buffed off after the grout has hardened, but most of this excess grout should be removed while still wet. The mosaic in the photo still needs some wiping. Make sure your sponge is damp but not so wet that drops of water could squeeze out and damage the wet grout. Keep your mosaic covered with plastic as it cures or otherwise keep it from drying out. Otherwise the grout will be soft and crumbly. Remember grout and concrete harden by binding water, not by dehydration.
David’s completed mosaic
Seal Thoroughly
I should also note that outdoor mosaics on horizontal surfaces are particularly vulnerable to moisture and freeze damage because horizontal surfaces allow water to pool. (Keep in mind that the mosaics of the ancient Greeks and Romans lasted for millennia because the Mediterranean is a warm dry climate.) One thing that can be done to minimize this risk is to slightly tilt the otherwise flat surface or to make it slightly round. For example, the seat of a concrete bench can be rounded slightly using a small amount of concrete mortar to build up the center of the seat by approximately 1/2″ and gently sloping down to the edges. Of course, this would need to be done at least a few days before attaching tile.
Regardless of the orientation, all outdoor mosaics should be sealed thoroughly with a tile and grout sealer, taking special care to seal the edges. Multiple applications should be made to ensure that all of the tiny pores in the grout and concrete are sealed. For added strength and stain resistance, you can use a concrete sealer instead of an ordinary tile and grout sealer. Again, the most important points are to take special care to seal the edges and use multiple coats to ensure complete coverage.
