Mosaic

• Surface decoration of small coloured components—such as stone, glass, tile, or shell—closely set into an adhesive ground.

-Retrieved Mar. 2011 from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/393310/mosaic

• A picture or design made of tiny pieces (called tesserae) of coloured stone, glass, tile or paper adhered to a surface.

• It is typically decorative work for walls, vaults, ceilings or floors, the tesserae set in plaster or concrete.

• This technique was used by Romans in ancient times to decorate their villas.

-Retrieved Mar. 2011 from www.artlex.com

Mosaics from Ancient Civilizations…

Mosaic floor fragment, stone tesserae from Syria, 6th century ce

Greek pebble mosaic, detail from The Lion Hunt, from Pella, Macedonia, c. 300 bce.

Ancient Mosaics Discovered…

• Accidental Discovery in Israel

Modern Mosaics…

Mosaics using Paper…

Mosaics by Mme Mazerolle’s Gr. 3’s @ FES.

TIP: Start with large, simple shapesin your design!

-mosaice work by Gr. 5 MacDonald @ FES; Feb. 2012

1. Sketches & Ideas… use shapes to create a pattern/design OR use simple shapes to represent something (animal, plant, object…)

2. Plan the background too (either pattern/design, or ground/sky…)

3. Try several ideas before choosing your favourite!

Starting Mosaics…IDEAS & PLANS

Starting Mosaics…1. Sketch Plan LIGHTLY on ‘backer’ paper that will contrast well with your tesserae colours.

2. TesseraeCut small pieces of coloured

paper.

3. Arrange & glue the pieces close together to fill the space, section-by-section.

1. LIGHTLY draw sketch onto construction paper

2. Cut small pieces of coloured paper3. Arrange, section-by-section, and glue into

place

TIPS… Line up edge of tesserae with the outline of your design Position the tesserae close together, but not touching Trim the tesserae, if necessary, to fit into position

Starting Mosaics…