Mosaics

Goal:  The student will create their own, original, idea and present it via the mosaic medium.

Materials:

      9” X 12” newsprint         pencil            crayons    
      9” X 12” white paper       scissors          construction paper
      white glue                    student provided miscellaneous papers

Steps:

1.    Design 4 to 5 ORIGINAL thumbnail sketches, quickly, to get started.  Design an idea that is both creative and pleasing to the eye.  Be sure to include bold imagery.

                              Keep the design simple!

                  NO LETTERS OR NUMERALS ARE ALLOWED, PERIOD!!

2.      Remember that a tessera is an individual mosaic tile and that the plural is tesserae.  Divide each area into tesserae, keeping them about 1/2 inch in size.  Then color the design lightly. 

Pictured below are artisans making stone mosaics.  Notice that it takes much patience to carefully size the tessera and to then place it carefully.

3.    DO NOT EVER DRAW ON YOUR WHITE PAPER!!  Carefully refer to the demonstration, in your mind, as you select the main subject’s colored paper. 

The first area to start with is the picture’s center of interest.  That means that you will begin cutting your most important subject.  I ask you to do this because you may not have time to do everything and you might as well have your subject done!

Special note:

*From your sketch trace onto the colored construction paper ONLY the main shape. 
*Now cut out only the main shape.
*You will need to cut along one side and then along the other side of each pencil line.  Cut all the way, stopping just before the line separates the piece.  This way the shape will maintain its size while offering a negative space between each tessera AND at the same time organize your pieces.
*The contour lines that define each tessera on your design paper should be made no larger than about 1/2 inch in size.  Some will be smaller, of course.  These are cut one at a time making sure to cut away the negative space so the the main shape does not lose its proportion.

AS EACH PIECE IS CUT OFF, CUSTOM TRIM IT AND GLUE IT NOW.

 CUT, AND GLUE . . . CUT, AND GLUE . . . CUT, AND GLUE . . . CUT, AND GLUE . . . CUT, AND GLUE . . .  CUT, AND GLUE . . . CUT, AND GLUE . . .  CUT, AND GLUE . . .

Since what you see below is made of tiles, our goal is to mimic that out of paper.  The "cut 1, glue 1" rout is a proven way to achieve success.  Look at the examples posted on the wall in our room to see what kids your age can do!  I expect success from you too.  : )

You are required to put in a background.  The bull below right fails to meet those criteria, whereas the flower/fruit basket below left succeeds.  Note how many different colors are used for the shapes in these two mosaics.  The bull's hide of many hues, leaves, fruit and basket of just as many too.  It is this attention to detail that makes these mosaics beautiful.  And to think that they are both well over 1,500 years old!

4.    Once the center of interest is completed, it is time to do the background.  Select a fairly large piece of paper and cut it following the contours in your sketch.  Custom fit each piece.  This step “makes or breaks” your entire visual appearance and grade, so be careful!
Since each tessera is cut one at a time, you can see to any special modifications that will be necessary as you approach an already glued up area.  All of the places where there are already tesserae glued this background's paper will be tossed away.  It is a small price to pay for a beautiful finished product.

Ideas to keep in mind are:

 Be original

    Keep the pieces about 1/2" in size

        Keep a consistent negative space

             Keep it neat and clean

                   Keep colors highly contrasting

                          No outlines

                                  No pencil should show

                                           No overlapping
 

Planning now, and doing it as Demonstrated,

Saves you time and your sanity!

*Don’t forget to put your first and then last name, date, and period number on the lower, back, right-hand corner to EARN your full grade!!

Want to go to a terrific site that has many photos of real mosaic work done?  Well then, try this: http://www.hannacroismosaics.com/ 

I have not been to all of the links listed, nor to those links' links, but I am pretty sure you will find only quality art work there.  Be sure to contact me should there be any improper examples.

Grading Rubric:

      Keep in mind that the grading criteria below is a guide to help you become a successful student.  Remember that the absence of a sketch can cause one full grade to be deducted.

A         Both the sketch and mosaic are turned in and complete.  The tesserae shown are neat and crisp with fairly consistent negative spaces between them.  Originality of design is apparent.  An “A” is an excellent grade!  This means that you understand the goals desired and have done them well.  You have used your time wisely and understand the project so well that you are probably able to help others to succeed as well.

B          Any one area noted here may cause an “A” work to become a “B”. The work turned in is correctly done but may be a bit sloppy on the shapes of the tesserae and/or negative spaces may be inconsistent.  A “B” is a good grade, but a few areas do need additional work.  You are probably able to help others to achieve “A” quality work even if you yourself have not.

C         The work shows not just ONE but several areas of concern as noted above.  The general quality of the tesserae are very rough and/or are intermittent.  (That last italicized word means “some is, and some isn’t”,  in this case it means that the edges of the tesserae, or shapes, or negative spaces are inconsistent.)  A “C” is an average grade, not great, but not poor either.  Try to do better next time.  You probably aren’t sure how to improve your work and will need to talk to others to see how it can be improved or may even have to try to talk to the teacher, don't be afraid to come after school for one-on-one assistance.

D         This grade means that the work does NOT show much control with the materials and/or the negative spaces.  This probably means that the tesserae are very poorly cut, shaped, and/or glued, the paper isn’t covered, the mosaic isn’t finished, or that the work is NOT original.  Maybe even ALL of these areas are present in your work.  A “D” is a below average grade and should not be earned by you!  You haven’t done enough work on this, keep going, finish this as soon as you can.  You probably haven't given up though, so that is a good sign.

F          This means that you have NOT done enough to pass; you have FAILED to do as asked.  You haven't done enough for your self.  You are living your life, so take charge!  If you check the directions again and follow the steps in the order listed you will not earn this low of a grade.  Please note that an “F” is a failing grade.  You have earned NO CREDIT for this assignment.  Come after school or at lunch for additional assistance.

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