The Mosaic Process
Mosaic is an art form that entails a process of putting together pieces (tesserea) to create a design. It has been around for thousands of years and has been used on floors, walls, ceilings and furniture. Contemporary artists are creating mosaic patterns on the surface of just about any kind of object you can imagine and using a wide variety of tesserea.
The mosaics that we create are almost always attached to a cementious surface, (e.g., a concrete bench, block wall, or tile backer board) therefore we use a cement dry-set mortar with polymer additives (thinset) to adhere the mosaic pieces to the base and a sanded grout to complete the project. The following is a description of the basic process of how to design and create mixed media mosaics, with an emphasis on ceramic.
General process:
1. Design: Make a sketch of the idea you wish to create, and consider your scale. If you are creating a stepping stone, you can trace around the shape of the stepping stone on a piece of paper and draw your ideas on the paper shape. Consider your choices of mosaic materials you have available and use design and composition to guide you.(e.g. focal point, balance, symmetry, line, shape, pattern, contrast, and color theory). If you are new to the mosaic process, a simple design is helpful. The grout color can be very important to the success of your project. Also, consider the site where the piece will be installed and how the design would relate to its surroundings. Some pieces may be designed around a theme or idea. For mosaic design ideas visit or mosaics project gallery.
2. Collect materials and tools:
a) Mosaic materials can include handmade clay pieces, commercial (field) tile, stone, rocks, glass, shells, jewelry, and old dishes.
b) Latex modified thinset is my choice of adhesive. Latex modified sanded grout is my choice for grout.
c) Buckets, mixing containers, sponges, rubber gloves, safety glasses (if you are breaking or nipping pieces), mixing tools (spatula, margin trowel, or stick), cutting or breaking tools (tile nippers and hammer), grout float, rags, utility knife, sanding stone, pencil and paper.
3. Basic techniques:
a) Creating pieces. You can create pieces of tile or glass from a larger piece by using tile nippers, a hammer, or tile saw. Always protect your eyes and place a towel over the piece to be hammered to lessen the chance of flying debris. If the edges are very sharp use a rubbing stone to sand and smooth out the edge.
b) Attaching to base: The direct method most commonly used is to adhere the tesserea to the base, face up. Sometimes this technique means that the thinset is smeared onto the base and the pieces are pushed into the thinset, remembering to maintain the margins between the pieces at about a 3/16 inch. You can also draw your design onto the base, however it will be important to apply the thinset to the back of each piece (back-buttering) and then attach it to the base so that your pattern is not hidden by the thinset.
c) Mixing thinset: Follow instructions on the bag for mixing. For small quantities, the approximate ratio of water to thinset is 1:2. Pour the powder into a container and slowly add water and mix thoroughly until it resembles the consistency of peanut butter. (If too thin add more powder, if to thick add more water) Let sit for 10-15 minutes then remix. (this is referred to as “slaking”).
d) Applying thinset: Apply thinset to base with a trowel or spatula. Spread it so that it feels like it is adhering to the base. Drag a notched trowel (1/4 inch is usually sufficient) through the thinset to create grooves. Make sure the entire surface is covered with an even thickness. If you are applying to the back of the individual pieces, apply just enough that when pressed onto base a suction is created. (Check by wiggling the piece and pull upwards to see if bond has been established).Gently remove any thinset that appears to be higher then the height of the tesserea.( WE WANT TO FILL THESE SPACES WITH COLORED GROUT TO ENSURE THE THINSET DOES NOT SHOW THROUGH) Try not to disturb pieces that you have attached after 10 minutes. If a piece comes loose, remove old thinset, reapply new thinset and reset. Allow thinset to cure for 12-24 hours before grouting. Thinset on top of tesserea can be removed with a damp sponge before grouting, double checking the joints for excess thinset at this time and gently scrape out with a utility knife or similar object.
e) Applying grout. Mix the grout according to the instructions on the bag. A general ratio for water and grout is 1:4. Let slake for 5-10 minutes and remix. Wearing rubber gloves, apply grout with grout float to the surface of the mosaic. Push grout in all directions (up, down, diagonally) ensuring the grout lines are full. Scrape off excess grout using the edge of the grout float. Allow to sit for a few minutes, until grout is firm to the touch. You will need a large bucket of water and a sponge to do the following: (there are sponges made for grouting) Wet a large sponge and squeeze out excess water. Using a circular motion begin to smooth and fill the joints. Rinse the sponge often. Continue until all joints are smooth and even. Let sit for a few minutes and lightly wipe with clean water. Allow to sit overnight and polish of any remaining residue with a soft cloth.
f) Clean-up. Dispose of leftover thinset and grout in a trash container. Wash tools immediately. You can pour water from clean-up bucket onto ground (some grout does stain so pick an inconspicuous place) but put the sludge into a trash container. DO NOT POUR INTO SINK AS IT CAN CLOG.
Maintenance:
Mosaics are extremely durable and will require little to no maintenance outdoors. Occasional cleaning with mild soap and water will remove dust and dirt. Heavy duty cleaning can be addressed with commercial tile cleaners.Visit our online store for a wide selection of mosaic tiles that you can use for your next project. Buy mosaic tiles online.