Mosaic Maker Course

Lesson 1 • Mosaic Styles and Traditions

Surveys major stylistic traditions including direct, indirect, and double-indirect methods. Students identify which style suits a given project goal.

Lesson 2 • Core Mosaic Terminology

Defines essential vocabulary including tesserae, andamento, opus styles, and grout. Shared language enables precise communication during all subsequent technical instruction.

Lesson 3 • Design Principles for Mosaic

Applies visual art fundamentals—colour, contrast, balance, and rhythm—specifically to mosaic composition. Students sketch a simple design using these principles.

Lesson 1 • Workspace Safety and Setup

Establishes safe studio practices including PPE, ventilation, dust control, and sharp-material handling. A safe workspace prevents injury and supports consistent productivity.

Lesson 2 • Cutting and Shaping Tools

Introduces tile nippers, wheeled glass cutters, mosaic saws, and scoring tools with their correct applications. Proper tool selection reduces waste and improves precision.

Lesson 3 • Grouting Materials and Types

Distinguishes sanded, unsanded, and epoxy grouts and explains when each is appropriate. Grout choice affects both structural integrity and aesthetic finish.

Lesson 4 • Tesserae Materials Overview

Examines glass, ceramic, stone, smalti, and found-object tesserae, covering properties and best uses. Material choice directly affects cutting technique and final appearance.

Lesson 1 • Quality Control for Cut Pieces

Establishes standards for edge smoothness, size consistency, and shape accuracy before placement. Consistent tesserae quality directly improves finished mosaic appearance.

Lesson 2 • Using a Wet Saw for Precision

Covers wet saw setup, blade selection, feed rate, and safety for straight and angled cuts. Wet saw use expands the range of achievable shapes and reduces breakage.

Lesson 3 • Cutting Smalti and Stone

Addresses the unique hardness and brittleness of smalti and natural stone, requiring adjusted technique and tool selection. Students practice controlled fracture on both materials.

Lesson 4 • Basic Nipping Techniques

Teaches straight cuts, halving, and quartering with wheeled nippers on ceramic and glass. Mastery of basic cuts is the prerequisite for all shaped-tile work.

Lesson 1 • Mixing and Applying Adhesives

Demonstrates correct mixing ratios, open time management, and spreading techniques for thinset and PVA. Adhesive consistency determines bond strength and working time.

Lesson 2 • Curing and Checking Bond Strength

Explains curing times, environmental conditions, and tap-test methods for verifying adhesion. Confirmed bond strength is required before grouting begins.

Lesson 3 • Direct Placement Strategies

Teaches andamento-guided placement, spacing control, and building from focal point outward. Strategic placement creates visual flow and structural stability.

Lesson 4 • Working on Curved Surfaces

Adapts placement technique for spheres, bowls, and architectural curves using flexible mesh and smaller tesserae. Curved surfaces require modified adhesive and tile sizing.

Lesson 1 • Sealing Grout and Tesserae

Explains penetrating and topical sealers, application methods, and resealing schedules for indoor and outdoor work. Sealing protects colour and prevents moisture infiltration.

Lesson 2 • Cleaning and Haze Removal

Teaches staged cleaning with damp sponge, dry buff, and haze remover to reveal tile surfaces. Timely cleaning prevents grout from hardening on tesserae faces.

Lesson 3 • Applying Grout to the Surface

Demonstrates float spreading, diagonal wiping, and joint packing to fill all gaps without air pockets. Thorough application prevents weak joints and future cracking.

Lesson 4 • Evaluating and Correcting the Finish

Provides criteria for assessing grout line consistency, surface levelness, and colour uniformity. Students identify and repair defects before final presentation.

Lesson 1 • Colour Planning and Tesserae Selection

Applies colour theory to select and arrange tesserae samples that match the planned palette. Physical sampling prevents costly colour mismatches during installation.

Lesson 2 • Concept Development and Ideation

Guides students from inspiration sources through thumbnail sketching to a refined concept. A strong concept reduces design revisions during production.

Lesson 3 • Scaling and Grid Methods

Teaches grid transfer, proportional scaling, and projection methods for enlarging designs to full size. Accurate scaling ensures the design fits the substrate precisely.

Lesson 4 • Adapting Designs for Mosaic Constraints

Simplifies complex imagery to suit tile size, grout line width, and cutting limitations. Adaptation skills prevent unworkable designs from reaching production.

Lesson 1 • Setting Indirect Panels in Mortar

Covers mortar bed preparation, panel alignment, embedding pressure, and paper soaking for removal. Correct embedding preserves the design's mirror-image accuracy.

Lesson 2 • Double-Indirect Method Overview

Introduces face-up placement on mesh with permanent adhesive, allowing design review before installation. Double-indirect combines indirect precision with direct visual control.

Lesson 3 • Large-Scale Panel Fabrication

Addresses sectioning large designs, numbering panels, and maintaining grout-line continuity across joins. Large-scale work requires systematic planning to ensure seamless assembly.

Lesson 4 • Indirect Method Fundamentals

Explains face-down placement on kraft paper, adhesive selection, and the reversal process. Indirect method enables off-site fabrication and precise surface leveling.

Lesson 1 • Outdoor and Architectural Installation

Covers freeze-thaw resistance, waterproof adhesives, expansion joints, and substrate anchoring for exterior work. Outdoor installations require stricter material and structural standards.

Lesson 2 • Mixed-Media and Textural Techniques

Integrates non-traditional materials—metal, mirror, glass gems, and relief elements—into mosaic surfaces. Mixed media expands expressive range and differentiates professional work.

Lesson 3 • Project Planning and Scoping

Establishes project briefs, material estimates, timelines, and milestone checkpoints for complex work. Thorough planning prevents scope creep and material shortfalls.

Lesson 4 • Photographing and Documenting Work

Teaches lighting setup, camera angles, and metadata practices for professional mosaic photography. High-quality documentation supports portfolio building and client presentations.