Mosaics in a Weekend

Caxton Editions, 2001. Hardcover. Used: Acceptable. Hardback with D/J in nearly new condition. The ancient art of mosaic is currently undergoing a revival, becoming popular both as a versatile craft and a decorative feature in contemporary design. Appealing to both beginners and more experienced mosaic artists alike, Mosaics in a Weekend features indoor and outdoor mosaics, using a wide range of styles, materials and techniques. Beautifully illustrated with step-by-step instructions and a gallery of finished pieces, this exciting and original book is written with infectious enthusiasm by a leading authority on mosaics. From the Author The best selling book of step by step mosaic projects Surprisingly, the word 'mosaic' has no literal translation. Some scholars have suggested that it means 'crazy', which even if not absolutely accurate, seems to be entirely appropriate at times. Mosaic is certainly enjoying something of a renaissance at the moment. I have been running three-day mosaic courses for five years now and their popularity has grown as the public have slowly realised that they, too, can make beautiful mosaics for themselves. It never fails to amaze me that what appears at first glance to be such an inflexible material, can produce results that are so stylistically different and individual. The Italian master mosaicists had to train for many years before being allowed to tackle big public works. Understandably, they were (and still are) very secretive about their techniques. What they would think of a three-day mosaic course (or this book, which for some projects works on the principle that a weekend can be a 'long weekend' - three days) is not worth repeating , but the fact remains that wonderful things can be, and are achieved in this short space of time. So let's let the mosaics speak for themselves. About The Projects In this Book. The projects in this book have been chosen to show the wide range of styles, materials and techniques available to the modern mosaicist. Choose the projects that suit your temperament - it is unlikely that someone who feels drawn to the 'Gaudiesque' style of using great big chunks of broken pottery is also going to enjoy the painstaking work involved in nibbling fine detail for an intricate design. I strongly recommend that you read the chosen project through carefully before you start. There's nothing more maddening than to have to stop work because you have forgotten a vital piece of equipment. You will also notice that there are times when you will need to wait, say, for glue to dry. It is important to realise this before you begin a project, so that you don't get disappointed when you find you have to wait, for example, a whole week for cement to set. I have tried to choose projects that range from the simple, that can be achieved in a morning (For example a Trivet, and a Shell Number Plate,) to the more advanced, that may take 3 days to complete (For example a Geometric Roman Paving Slab). There are plenty of mosaics for internal and external settings. Mosaic has the added advantage of being able to be wiped clean, so you can hang it in your kitchen or bathroom if you wish. Other mosaics have been chosen simply because they make perfect gifts.