Mosaic Art

The Mosaic is truly one of the world's great art forms, in terms of both longevity and durability it must be near the top. Archaeologist are are still today periodically unearthing beautifully preserved and intact Roman Mosaic throughout Europe.
The technique of Mosaic is so simple that it was most likely developed independently in many different cultures around the world. The instinctive nature of mosaic , placing one tile after another is quite reminiscent of building work, placing one brick on top of another. However there is certainly a greater delicacy required when creating a mosaic. From the ancient Greeks  to the Romans, Mosaics became the norm for the wealthy, decorating floors, walls, bathing areas and even temples and public buildings.
A well designed, coloured and highly finished mosaic would certainly have been a sign of power and prestige in Roman times. Some of the larger ones would have literally thousands of pieces of tile or hand cut 'tessera' within them. Many hours of preparation work and labour would have gone into  producing each and every mosaic.
The power of the art form has certainly lasted up until the present day. Contemporary mosacists use almost exactly the same techniques as the ancient Romans would have done. The only difference are the advances in tool technology and the wider choice of materials to use.
Today, mosaics can be made of such exotic materials as coloured ceramics, polished stones from around the world and even stained glass. It is to be seen whether contemporary mosaics will last quite as long as those of the ancient Romans. Generally, the Mosaic Arts patterns are created by arranging Tiles or Glass Pieces in a creative way. A simple picture or even a photograph can also be used to create Mosaic Tile patterns.
As mentioned above, Mosaic is a form of Tiling, which is used to create art pieces such as, Mosaic Table Tops, Mosaic Pools, or in homes. In modern times, digital images are used to create Mosaic Art, an art form known as Photographic Mosaic. In a Photographic Mosaic or Photo mosaic, each Pixel is an image and several such Pixels make up one large image. An individual Tile or Pixel in a Mosaic is known as Tessera. Mosaic Tiles are available in several Shapes, Sizes, Forms, Textures, Layouts, and Colors, which make them customizable and a lot of variety can be achieved with the artistic capabilities of these tiles.
Making a Mosaic Art is not as difficult as it sounds. There are two main methods, each having same preparation namely, Direct Method and Indirect Method. The difference between them lies in the way the Mosaic Tiles are distributed. Following are the steps for making a Mosaic Art:
Preparation:
• Decide on the pattern of your Mosaic.
• Photocopy the design or pattern so that it can be traced easily onto the Mosaic platform.
• Choose the suitable Tile for the Mosaic depending on the design.
Direct Method:
• Using an adhesive, fixes the Mosaic Tiles straight to the Mosaic Floor.
• Grout the Tile after the adhesive dries out.
This method is suitable for small projects. Direct Method is also easier as compared to the Indirect Method. In this method, the Mosaic is visible therefore; adjustments to the Tiles can easily be made. This method however, is not suitable for large projects.
Indirect Method:
• Create a Mosaic on a sheet of Brown Paper. The Mosaic should be made upside down.
• Apply the Mosaic Tile face down onto the paper, using adhesive.
• Transfer it onto the walls, floors, or craft projects.
This method is generally used in the case of Glass Tiles and Pebbles, but can be difficult with Ceramic Tiles having same surface underneath. The Indirect Method is used mostly for large projects, which have continuous elements or areas needing particular shape.