Art & Design 2200Landscape Mosaic

Mosaics have been around for a long time and have been part of many cultures around the world. Some of the earliest mosaics can be traced back to the Greeks and Romans in the fourth

century B.C.E., where they often adorned floors in palaces, as well as houses of the rich. Examples of mosaics can also be found in Byzantine, Christian, and Islamic cultures.

Tessera (tesserae, plural) refers to the individual pieces or tiles used to create a mosaic.You will create an image of a landscape using small pieces of magazine as your tesserae.

-You will design a landscape mosaic, which will include both a foreground (where the viewer is standing, which should be large and detailed) and a background (hills, sky, etc. which is further

away). - Your tesserae must not be bigger than a thumbnail. - You must use a variety of values (no flat colours). - You must cover your entire page.

Autumn Sunset by Leena Nio Unknown Artist

Artist Unknown

To begin: Decide which type of landscape you would like to do, and create a sketch of your scene in your sketchbook. Plan out your colours and add them to your sketch. Remember to use texture and shadows/highlights.

Once your sketch is complete, speak to your teacher to get paper. You will sketch your shapes onto the base before cutting and gluing your tesserae.

Next: Look through the magazines provided and find the various colours you need for your mosaic. Hint: If you’re looking for a colour (blue for example), try searching for a few different shades of blue instead of repeating the same one shade over and over again. The more shades you add, the more depth your mosaic will have.

Cutting: Decide which effect you like best - cut paper or torn paper. Begin cutting or tearing up your colours into small pieces.

Cut Paper - Sharp, Clean Edges Torn Paper - Rough, Ragged Edges

Using a glue stick or white glue, start filling in your line drawing with the magazine pieces. Work until the white of the paper is completely covered.

* Use the plastic bags from the felting unit to keep your magazine pieces safe. Place the bags inside the cardboard box until next class.