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Product Description

A new edition to our Encyclopedia of Art Techniques series, THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MOSAIC TECHNIQUES shares the ancient methods for creating decorative artwork with mosaic tiles. This visual directory helps you transform your pottery, furniture, walls, and floors with fabulous creative mosaics. Learn foolproof techniques for getting colors to work together to create dynamic designs. It needn't be expensive: find out how to work with improvised mosaic tiles, such as pebbles, colored glass, and other found materials.

Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...

3 out of 5 stars

Not for beginners August 21, 2008
The book has very nice pictures, but I didn't liked the organization and I must say that as a begginer I couldn't start any project with this book. Perhaps for advanced learners...

5 out of 5 stars

Great Technique Book January 1, 2008
I have been planning mosiac borders for over my sinks in my bathroom. While I had an idea of what I wanted to do, just scanning this book gave me far more ideas to consider than I would have been able to conceive on my own, especially on the flow and arrangement of individual tiles. While I'm a beginner, what I have come up with is a winner.

3 out of 5 stars

Expected More Content September 7, 2007
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

1. For a novice mosaic artist, the encyclopedic format of techniques might be frustrating. As a resource book, it seems the user would be better served if the info was organized according to categories & sequentially, rather than alphabetically.

2. A more experienced mosaic artist will expect a great deal more content in a book entitled "encyclopedia". I would be willing to pay more for a seriously comprehensive book on this subject.

3. More historical references, with photos of ancient mosaics, would be a logical addition. There were references to these, but only a few examples. In one case, a highly descriptive reference is made to a Roman mosaic of a woman, but no photo? Photos of ancient mosaics are great sources of inspiration for projects.

4.Some of the references to ceramic tile are misleading. This book isn't meant to be a tile encyclopedia, but we should use the correct terms for the tiles used in mosaic art work. For instance; beginning on Types of Tesserae page 28, the mosaic tesserae that are identified throughout the book as Unglazed Ceramic & Glazed Ceramic, are, in fact, Unglazed Porcelain Ceramic and Glazed Porcelain Ceramic, respectively. On the same page, Glazed Ceramic Tile is identified correctly. This could create confusion to those unfamiliar with types of tile and their intended use.

There is a big difference between Porcelain Tile and Ceramic Tile.

Porcelain tile is composed of the same basic elements (clay) as ceramic tile, but has added minerals and slightly different production methods that make it much more dense & durable than ceramic tile. Porcelain tile is produced unglazed or glazed; and is generally used for high traffic and exterior applications because of its durability.

Generally speaking, ceramic tile is made of clay and it is almost always glazed - the "body" of ceramic tile just isn't usually sturdy enough or attractive enough to be left un-glazed. Glazed tiles are often decorative and can be handpainted with glazes, resulting in an endless variety of available designs & colors.

There are misleading statements with regard to the stain resistance of ceramic tile. Glazed Ceramic Tile does not stain (that's one point of the impervious glass glaze), unless the glazed surface is seriously compromised in some manner by age or wear. In this case, staining agents could migrate beneath the glaze through fractures in the glaze and cause staining under the glaze.

Unglazed porcelain mosaic tiles can stain if left unsealed, because they are not protected by a kiln fired glass glaze.

Perhaps some of the confusion is related to cultural differences between the American English and British English languages. British & American terminology on the subject of tile does seem to differ slightly. An American reader could misinterpret.

Always research the tile you plan to use for your projects, especially on commissioned projects. Don't rely on craft "how to" books for your information. Ask the dealer/distributor or manufacturer for product specifications and ask what the features & limitations are for the tile - areas of concern: frost resistance (exterior), water absorption (pools/spas), glazed or unglazed (dirt & oil resistance). This information is available in product brochures and on mfr websites - look for technical data.

5. There is an over abundance of projects using glass - perhaps the authors favorite medium.

6. Photos of finished projects (making templates, etc) in addition to the small step by step photos, would be very useful to help visualize the objective of the project.

4 out of 5 stars

Encyclopedia of Mosaic Techniques review March 28, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

This book is one that should be on the shelf of any and all mosaic artists. More likely, they will be found in use on desktops and workshops. From some basic history of mosaic art to actual technique and fundamental information for creating your own mosaic masterpiece, this book has it all. I loved the many images that were inspirational and informative. Overall, I loved this book and would recommend to artists interested in mosaic.

5 out of 5 stars

Best Basic Mosaic Manual July 31, 2006
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

I found this book to be an excellent primer for the person getting started in mosaics. The various techniques are well illustrated with easy to understand text. I found the designs interesting, colorful, and the type I could put to use. All of this is laid out in a spiral bound book that lays flat for easy reading and reference. I own several books on mosaics, but this one is my favorite.

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