Introduction to Mosaic Artwork

Mosaic artwork is one of the oldest art forms in history. Dating back to several thousands of years ago, the mosaics have been built throughout Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece. This intricate artwork continues to be popular today, and renowned mosaic artist, Gary Dostle is here to teach you how to create this traditional piece of artwork.

In this Domestika course, discover how to bring to life a colorful mosaic of a koi pond—with the option to transform it into a table-top if you choose. Gary guides you step-by-step through the detailed, yet fascinating process.

Begin by getting to know Gary. He shares his artistic journey and shows you some of his remarkable commissioned work. Hear about the artists and artwork that have inspired him and have shaped his work.

Dive into mosaic-making by learning a bit of history and exploring different techniques. For your course project, the reverse onto paper technique, also known as the paper-face technique, will be used. Gary covers the safety rules to follow when making your mosaic before going over how to work with cement and setting up your workspace.

Design your mosaic by looking at koi pond image references, and choose the one that inspires you most. Gary guides you through the process of making a rough sketch of your design, and shares tips on drawing water effects and creating depth with shadow and perspective. Then, learn how to finalize your design by drawing it in full scale and in color.

Start making your mosaic by selecting your tesserae (mosaic pieces) and cutting them correctly. Explore how to lay your tesserae uniformly and harmoniously using the andamento technique. Learn how to make a basic yet effective glue before applying the tesserae onto your paper design. Next, see how to carefully cut the different sections of the mosaic into manageable pieces.

Discover how to safely make cement before mounting your mosaic pieces together. Gary guides you step-by-step on how to carefully assemble and mount your pieces on a board or table-top with cement. Add the final touches to your mosaic by learning how to grout and clean your piece. Wrap up the course by seeing how to transform your mosaic into a table-top, if you choose this option.

Create a koi pond mosaic from scratch, with the option to transform it into a table-top.

Anyone interested in learning how to create mosaic artwork.

No previous experience is necessary.

To take this course, you need a variety of materials. For the design stage, you need paper, drawing and color pencils, a marker, and a ruler. For the mosaic, you need mosaic pieces, materials to make glue (salt, flour, water, sauce pan and access to a cooker). For the table, you need a backer board, a trowel, cement, grout, a sponge, a bucket, and a cotton rag. Garry explains in-detail each item in the second unit, and gives recommendations on what to get.