Mosaics

Historical / Cultural Significance

The mosaic was first used as a way to create decorative and durable floors and walls, about 3000 BC. Mosaics became extremely popular when the Romans began to use the technique, from the 6th to 9th Centuries AD.

Principles and Elements of Design

Mosaic depends on value, for example, a light background with a dard subject, a dark background with a light subject, or an outlined object. Choose colors for your mosaic keeping value in mind.

Technique/Methodology:

Begin by making a sketch of your design. The sketch, called the cartoon, should fill the whole page and should be a simple design. Flowers, birds, tropical fish, faces, and fruit work well, but you can make whatever you want. The pieces you glue onto your paper are called the tesserae, and can be anything from paper, to ceramic tiles, to pebbles, to broken crockery. Small spaces between the tesserae create the distinct mosaic look.

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