Contemporary Fine Art Mosaic Techniques

In some archeological sites, remains of mosaic-like works have been excavated. The remains dated back as early as 4th millennium BC. It was from the Sumerians living in South Mesopotamia.

The mosaic-like work consisted of clay, onyx, and cockleshells and it was found in the temple of Ouruk. In the Greek area of west Asia Minor, rubble floors were also found. It shows that the Greeks somehow knew about the art.

Another area in Greece, in Olinthos, natural pebbles was used to decorate the drawings. Such drawings were inspired by the ancient myths. A floor mosaic was found which dates back to 432-348 BC which shows Bellerophon slaying Chimaira while riding a Pegasus.

In Macedonia Greece, another floor mosaic was found but this time, it was made from glass pieces. According to experts, the mosaic was created in the 4th century BC.

The 2th century also showed mosaic pieces of glass, marble, and stone but this time, the mosaics were of different designs and colors.

From the Greeks, mosaics were spread to Italy, specifically in Rome and Pompeii. You can find mosaics in their baths, temples, and houses but it only utilized a certain technique called monochrome. During the Byzantine era, the mosaic artists became top quality artists. Most of the time, walls and floors were used as base for many mosaic arts. The palaces, temples, and vaults were also decorated with mosaic work and the artists also used natural stones, marble, gold, silver, and colored glass.

The artists used a variety of themes. Some of them used ancient myths, faces of emperors and empresses, hunting scenes, religion, belief, and many other designs.

The Greek’s favorite tesserae were pebbles especially for their floors. The Macedonians used polychrome pebbles for buildings and other prominent structures.

If you happen to be in Greece, don’t forget to check out Chios. It offers a magnificent historical attraction – Nea Moni. It is only about 11 kilometers away from the main city of Chios. According to written history, the monastery was founded by hermit monks. These monks found a Virgin icon and they persuaded Constantine IX to build a church and monastery. Its ecclesiastical architecture has attracted many people from different parts of the world, especially those who love mosaic art. The mosaics in Chios are highly regarded.

For other works of art, you can visit Palace of Ioustiniani, the Byzantine Museum, and the Maritime Museum. While enjoying the amazing mosaics in Greece, you can also check out the traditional festivals there. Even tourists can participate in the festivals which showcase traditional dances, drinks, and foods. You can witness these festivals on the month of August. From May to October, Greece is a great place to visit because of its fair weather. Summer vacation in Greece can be fun as you explore many interesting places. Visit the museums in the area and see the beautiful mosaic works from the ancient times.

The Greeks played an important role in the development of mosaic. The ancient people were already creative and used their imagination to create fantastic works of art which stood the test of time. For centuries, the ancient mosaics were buried underground and yet, when they were finally uncovered, most of the mosaics were still in good condition.

Truly the works of the ancient people were among the best. Visit Greece and don’t forget to check out the mosaics.

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Mosaics are creative images from the assemblage of stones, glass, and other small pieces of materials. It is also considered as a     decorative art technique and an important facet of interior design. Mosaic arts can be of spiritual and cultural significance. Have you seen mosaics in the cathedrals? These are great examples of mosaics with spiritual significance. Pictures and patterns are created by using pottery fragments (also called tesserae/tessellae) and small tiles or colored/clear glass.

The pattern or picture created varies depending on the design of the artist. Most mosaic artists make use of china, shells, mirror,   pebbles, ceramics, and glass. Each piece is called tessera while the spaces in between where grout is placed are called interstices. The flow or movement of the tesserae is called andamento. These are some of the terms that you should be familiar with if you’re working with mosaics. There are various ways of cutting the pieces used in mosaic and this is called ‘opus’ which means ‘work’. The following are the various cuts and positioning of the materials:

• The tesserae are laid out in regular brick-like straight lines (opus tessellatum)

• Horizontal and vertical lines in a regular grid (opus regulatum)

• Flowing/wriggling lines on the surface (opus vermiculatum)

• Vermiculatum with background and image (opus musivum)

• Crazy-paving appearance because of the irregular shapes being used (opus palladianum)

There are three methods being used in mosaics. The first one is the direct method. As the word suggests, the pieces are directly placed or glued to the surface. This method is best used in vases and other transportable objects. The mosaic is visible enough to allow adjustments. There is a disadvantage in using this method because you need to work on the actual surface immediately. Sometimes, the surface becomes uneven. This method is not suitable for large projects.

The other method is the indirect and this is often used for large projects. The tiles are first placed on backing papers with the use of adhesive and later on, it is transferred to the craft projects, floors, or walls. This gives the artist to rework certain areas. The result is an even and smoother surface. Some examples of mosaics using the indirect method are tabletops, benches, and murals.

Another method is the double indirect. In this method, the complete work can be see even during the process of its creation, hence the term double indirect. The tessarae pieces are placed over a certain medium, faced up. The medium is turned over and removed; then the indirect procedure is followed. This method is fussy and at times, the work is damaged.

Tessellation is the mathematics of mosaics. Each of the tessarae is placed mathematically to ensure the preciseness and beauty of the work. Today, digital imaging is also being used, thanks to the advanced technology. For example, an image is chosen for a floor and the image is broken down into pixels that appear like ceramic tiles like that of the pool of University of Toronto. Different themes can be created using digital imaging.

Mosaics have gone a long way ever since it was first introduced in the art scene. Many people today are quite interested in this work of art.  If you want to learn mosaic, you simply need to enroll in a class for a certain fee.

Mosaics created by Giulio Menossi

I taught my first mosaic class 20 years ago, in a district of my city, because I wanted to transmit a thousand-year art to people, art that might be at risk to be lost.

Today I have the same determination: to offer my knowledge and my skills to those who would like to approach mosaic art.

I like teaching and I hope I can “donate” what I learned from my “Maestro” to everyone who wants to learn mosaics.

http://www.menossimosaicschool.com

“I believe that the slow painstaking mosaic process exposes our personal stories. The obstacles of the journey accompany the lines of the glass - each tessera symbolizes a fresh encounter, where hues and shades come together peacefully to create a fresh color. Where the shapes, too close to our noses don’t allow us to recognize the vision as a whole, which we only discover by taking several steps backward and looking with fresh eyes.

Creating a mosaic is a process of pairing, shaping, adding and removing tessera after tessera, until the work is complete. Each piece needs to be chosen not only according to the one that precedes it, but also taking into consideration the ones that will follow. deliberate construction where the most important element is passion.”

Menossi is a truly gifted master at the utilization of glass tiles to begin the development of a stunning piece of fine art work. style and a variety of materials from glass tile to found objects and stone. Viewing the fine art mosaic of Menossi is similar to taking a walk through a candy store. The magnificent detail and superb quality of each piece is breathtaking, a rare find to ones heart, mind, and eyes.

Mosaic art which start him on the journey to what he now terms his “dynamic mosaics”. While he is most recognized for his fine art Portraiture, he is winning awards for his creative contemporary art mosaic abstract. The glass tile fine art mosaic portraiture in the hands of the Maestro is a truly amazing, exciting and passionate piece of art. Through the use of a traditional technique and tools such as the hardi and the hammer. glass is skillfully cut and shaped to create a face filled with expression, accuracy, and perspective. Mosaics that grace homes as wall art, in spas, pools and in public buildings.

He is traveling a new path in and creating a new road for mosaic art, with the advent of his “dynamic mosaics’, the contemporary abstract fine art mosaics. The 3D sculptural mosaics are beautiful, stunning, and have a wide array of types and kinds of material and are so impressive. What the viewer might think would be the boundaries of design causing the person viewing the mosaic to move and flow with the design, actually the shapes often times explode past. causing the viewer to search among the glass tiles in order to see the hidden objects.

The voice with the most strength comes from the total mastery of what has come before us, right up to the time before discovering our personal voice and style as a master. If one doesn’t value the explorations of the past, before becoming independent, there will always be a void when trying to become a master of work. Before he would break away and develop his outstanding career, Maestro Menossi learned and mastered all the fundamentals during his apprenticeship with Maestro Domenico Colledani of Milan. Now he invites you to join this ancient tradition, by working with him, through direct study and his guidance, as a way of fully developing your own unique style.

Maestro Menossi believes that it would be disastrous to the students that come to him to learn if he give anything less to the students he is teaching would denigrate and diminish the rich and ancient traditions of mosaic art. The basic skills which are necessary to make stunning mosaics are also need to make figural work, portraits, interpretations, abstract works and the distinct designs that are born from an artist’s heart and mind.

Maestro Menossi will establish within you as a student, the deepest roots upon which to build your own unique style, while following tradition in classes on offer in 2010. In workshops Menossi presents you will definitely find your own style and voice.

In 2010, Maestro Menossi has two classes for two weeks. During initial course from May 16 -28 he will be teaching his portraiture techniques using the Venetian double indirect method, while in subsequent course from May 30 – June 11 he will teach the direct method as a way discover a reinterpretation of a Klimt painting.

What reason could there possibly be not to study and work with one of the truly gifted mosaic artists of our time, seize the opportunity… one who mixes concrete traditions with the extensive, stable roots of times long ago in Italy, where they actually were expressed.

It is awesome to get information right from the great Maestro in our time, Maestro Giulio Menossi.

Join in the wonderful mosaic art classes with legendary Maestro Giulio Menossi and feel the inspiration flow through you. http://www.menossimosaicschool.com