Working with ceramic tiles that are but a mere 1/8 inch on a side can be seen as either challenging or exhilarating. For this artist, using these tiny bits of glazed ceramic is like painting with tiles. They are small enough to give freedom of movement within the design. The larger tiles I use, about 1/4 of an inch square, give interest and allow for tile cutting. They can be cut on the angle to make great triangular pieces, or cut in thin rectangular pieces and those necessary "bits" that fill spaces that just seem to need it.
This photo is my third mosaic piece titled "Tulip Tree Mandala Mosaic." It is a very abstracted tree design with a full sun just behind the trunk, all set in a bright blue sky.
I use two basic shapes in these pieces, squares and ovals. Tiny Tile Mosaics, the online company from which I purchase my supplies, carries several shapes, and I love using the ovals in the foliage areas of the trees. Sally Kinsey, owner of Tiny Tile Mosaics, says of these tiles: "...these tiles are made and glazed by hand. They are imperfect to a certain degree, and will have variations in color intensity. This is their charming and desired quality!..." Sally is so correct. I find that these "imperfections" add just enough color and texture variations to increase the visual excitement.
The mandala designs I'm executing with these tiles are tiles alone...by this I mean that I have chosen not to grout them. Typically mosaics are grouted - filling in the spaces between tiles. However I didn't want anything to compete visually with the tiles or their colors. I place them close enough together that grout isn't needed; also I wanted light to be able to bounce off the edges of the tiles.
My work has been primarily in the medium of paint and I'm finding it gratifying and rewarding to feel as though I'm completing these designs in a painterly way. What's next? I'm working on an abstract tree design that I'm titling, "Cactus Tree Mandala Mosaic;" this one will feature some metallic glazed tiles along with other colors...it is proving exciting!
Hi Erica...I don't use any grout or grout replacement at all. I don't fill the space between the tiles for two reasons: 1) grout, not matter how neutral its color, is still a color and I don't want anything to mute the colors of the tiles; and 2) I like to allow light to hit the edges of the tiles. Without grout, the surface of the support [in this case the wooden plate] becomes a much more integral part of the overall mosaic. - Thank you for the kind comments!
Posted by: Linda C Smith | 08/25/2010 at 12:56 PM
You have very creative and intriguing mosaic creations. I really love it! Some imperfections on things can be valuable to other creation. That's art. I will on visiting your inspiring blog. So what did you used instead of grout?
Posted by: Erica | 08/19/2010 at 03:53 AM