Shards that Tell Your Story: Crafting Timeless Mosaics with Modern Creativity

Are you someone who misses physical photographs that you can hold in your hands?
There’s something especially beautiful about art that you are able to examine in person. It is evidence that someone created something that is here to stay. I’m talking about physical forms of art that cannot be stored on a hard drive—or deleted by accident. Art with a sense of permanence that will last a very long time, and tell a story to anyone who wishes to embrace it!

The great thing about art is that it doesn’t have to be fancy; it just has to make you feel something. Today we’re exploring the captivating and accessible world of Mosaic art, a medium where no two works are alike, because each piece is as unique as the artist and materials from which they came.

Let’s learn more about Mosaics, and how you can leave your stamp on the world by making your own!

You’ve seen them in historic architecture, gardens, and galleries…but what are Mosaics?

So glad you asked! A mosaic is an artistic technique that uses tiny parts to create a whole image or object. Traditionally, mosaics are made from many small pieces of glass or tile, set into place, and held together by a clay-like grout.

Mosaics were first discovered in ancient Mesopotamia, but it wasn’t until the ancient Greeks and Romans that mosaics began to depict real-life scenes, patterns, and symbols.

Archeologists have found mosaics throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East, but there is a special place in Italy that is most known for their rich history of mosaic art. ¹

The city of Ravenna is known as “the city of mosaics”, and it’s home to some of the most elaborate displays of mosaic art in the world. Back in the 4th, 5th, and 6th centuries, Ravenna was the capital city of the Western Roman Empire. It was the center of society, so authorities issued many high-level commissions to beautify the city. The buildings in Ravenna are purposefully rather bland on the exterior, but once you step inside…prepare to be wowed!

This short video by Great Big Story gives us a quick tour of Ravenna’s mosaics so you can see it for yourself!

Have you ever seen anything like it?! Mosaics as grand in size as the ones in the buildings of Ravenna are a great example of being able to view art from varied perspectives. Up close, you see all the little chips and pieces, but you don’t get the full scope of its beauty until you zoom out and look at the full picture with fresh eyes. Surely there is a metaphor hiding in there somewhere that we can all apply to our own lives!

Telling your own story with a mosaic…

Mosaics don’t always need to be large enough to cover a ceiling, or necessarily made from tile and glass. Use what you’ve got! One of the most freeing things about mosaic art is that they require a certain amount of experimentation and interpretation when creating them.

Is there a little piece of something shiny that you found during a walk in the woods that you’ve been saving because it caught your eye? Got shells that you gathered on a recent beach vacation? Put those treasures to use in your mosaic!

There are countless reclaimed materials you can use to create your mosaic masterpiece. And even more possibilities when it comes to what you make out of it.

Mosaic artist Katy Galbraith has made a career out of turning broken bits into truly jaw-dropping works of art. Watch how she transforms pieces of unwanted rubbish into gorgeous mosaics.

Feeling inspired yet? If you’re yearning for more, you can see more of Katy Galbraith’s work on her Instagram!

Now that we’ve tapped your interest, here is a step-by-step guide to get you started!

Mosaics are a wonderful way to beautify your indoor and outdoor spaces. But since we’re beginners here, let’s cover the how-to’s of making an indoor flat-surface mosaic.

Consider where you want to display your mosaic and gather your materials.
You’ll want a flat surface to start, so something like a plank of wood or rigid art canvas would make a good base. Grab a putty knife or butter knife- something you can use to spread the grout mixture into all the nooks and crannies. Of course, you’ll need glue, and your embellishments (craft tiles, sea glass, pebbles, and other random bits and bobs will do nicely). And finally, you may need to make a run to your local craft or hardware store to purchase mosaic grout, and clippers if you want to create specific shapes out of glass or ceramic.

Plan out your design without glue, first.
Once you have placed your pieces in a pleasing arrangement, glue them down to your flat base, starting from top to bottom or left to right (your preference). Tap each piece into place, and make sure to leave a small amount of space between all of your pieces for the grout!

Allow the glue to dry, and then grout the thing!
Mix your grout powder with water according to the instructions. You’ll want it to be the consistency of creamy peanut butter. Use your knife to spread grout into the spaces between your tiles/embellishments. You will need to work quickly, the grout dries fast! Don’t stress if you get grout on your tiles or pebbles, you can wipe it off with a wet towel or sponge. It works best to wipe off the excess before it has fully dried.

Let the grout dry for a day or so, and VOILA!
You just made your very first mosaic. How do you feel? If you loved this first round and want to try something bigger and perhaps more challenging, here are some tutorials on different mosaic methods for larger-scale projects like garden walls or murals.

There are so many ways we could be beautifying our spaces with mosaics. There are even people out there turning potholes into mosaics!

Nothing bad ever came from a day spent playing and being creative.

Historians believe that the term mosaic is derived from the Greek word “mousa” which translates to “muse”. I find this play on words delightful, because no two mosaics in existence have ever been exactly the same. Does the artist find inspiration in the materials or the subject matter? The “muse” is likely different for everyone. ⁴

Maybe your muse is someone who would appreciate a mosaic as a gift? Perhaps you’re beating yourself up a little bit for breaking Grandma’s favorite tea cup—I bet she would love to see it take another form. Or say you lost one of your favorite earrings and still kept its brother… There are a million-and-one lost little trinkets in the world just begging for a second chance. So get out there and use ‘em!

I challenge you, dear reader, to go out there and make something this week. No matter what type of art you decide to create, make it permanent. Something that will keep telling a story long after ours has ended.

Keep dreaming, and notice the beauty around you!
~Renee

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