mosaic-yard-art-donna-stern-900

Mosaic Garden Art: Fun Group Projects

Artist Donna Stern recently completed a series of abstract mosaics that are exactly what I think of when someone emails asking for fun project ideas for a group day in the studio.

Series of Smalls

The first thing is that it is a series. More importantly, each element in the series is the same size and shape, allowing the individual mosaics to be arranged into a meta composition or displayed separately with equal ease.

TIP: For the solo artist, a “series of smalls” of uniform size allows the artist to explore and hone their skills in a more rapid way compared to making a series of unrelated compositions of different sizes.

mosaic-yard-art-b-donna-stern
mosaic-yard-art-b-donna-stern

Abstract Mosaic

The second thing I like about this series as a suggestion for a group activity is that it is abstract.

Abstract mosaic offers a range of possibilities that don’t require drawing an object or composing a scene, but neither does it completely rule out representation of physical objects.

That allows the different people in the group or class to choose their own design and level of difficulty and still be able to make pieces that could be assembled or displayed as part of a whole composition.

mosaic-yard-art-a-donna-stern
mosaic-yard-art-a-donna-stern

TIP: The secret of making a group project fun for everyone is to accommodate different skill levels.

Of course, it is also possible to allow different artists or small groups of artists to make their elements in the series their own way with little or no coordination in design or colors or theme.

mosaic-yard-art-d-donna-stern
mosaic-yard-art-d-donna-stern

Those group mosaic compositions can be the visual equivalent of the traditional “crazy quilt” designs in American quilt making.

Manageable Complexity

Notice how these mosaics aren’t overly large in size or overly COMPLEX in design.

None of these mosaics have designs that are significantly more intricate than the others.

This makes the series a great teaching example for showing a class before a one-day mosaic studio session.

Before you divide the class up into individuals or small working groups, remind everyone about the length of the studio session.

You should mention this several times as you demonstrate the basics of cutting tile and arranging and gluing down pieces.

A simple keystoned curve is the best subject for an intro demonstration, in my opinion.

Talk about complexity and level of detail. Make people conscious of this.

Otherwise many first-timers will fall to work and lose themselves in something so intricate that it will take many days to complete.

mosaic-yard-art-c-donna-stern
mosaic-yard-art-c-donna-stern

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13 responses to “Mosaic Garden Art: Fun Group Projects”

  1. Evelyn Lauer Avatar
    Evelyn Lauer

    I’m curious what Donna Stern used as the backing for her mosaic garden art pieces. Thank you.

    1. Joe Moorman Avatar
      Joe Moorman

      The standard materials for outdoor mosaic is a backer of concrete, stone, or foam-core tile backer board.

      Foam-core tile backer boards include Durock, Schluter Kerdi Board, Laticrete Hydroban Board, Johns Manville GoBoard, and Wedi Board.

      You can also make your own backer:

      https://blog.mosaicartsupply.com/making-foam-core-mosaic-backers-for-outdoor-projects/

      The standard “adhesive” for wet and outdoor mosaics is thinset mortar:

      https://mosaicartsupply.com/how-to-use-thinset/

      Although, there are certain situations where you can use Weldbond glue:

      https://blog.mosaicartsupply.com/weldbond-mosaic-tile-adhesive-outdoors/

    2. Donna Stern Avatar
      Donna Stern

      I cut up a strip of 2” x 8”’ aluminum strip from the hardware

  2. Patrizia Ellis Avatar
    Patrizia Ellis

    Beautiful and perfect for my little coffee group did you use cement board as it is for a garden project? Sanded grout but did you put any additives to make it more weather proof? Thank you in advance . I use Weldbond

    1. Joe Moorman Avatar
      Joe Moorman

      Outdoor and wet mosaics should be thoroughly sealed with multiple applications of a tile and grout sealer.

  3. Dianne L Stearns Avatar
    Dianne L Stearns

    Hi Joe,
    We’ve met through mosaics before. I am embarking on another large mosaic. Landscape with large ceramic animal figures.
    I have depicted boulders in the mosaic and wonder if I can use local slate to make them look like landscape boulders?
    Should I seal them first? Do you see a problem with sealing the ceramics before mounting them to mesh followed by adhesion with thinset to waterproof “Go board”? Thank you Guru!!!

    1. Joe Moorman Avatar
      Joe Moorman

      Hi Dianne,

      Yes you can definitely use rocks and slate chips to make landscape boulders.

      You should seal or apply grout release product to any porous object you don’t want stained. The catch is you don’t want to do that to the part of the object where glue or grout will need to adhere, and so it must be done carefully.

  4. Peggy Prynoski Avatar
    Peggy Prynoski

    What is the substrate?

    1. Joe Moorman Avatar
      Joe Moorman

      That’s a problematic question because most of the craft instruction online is more how-I-did-it than the correct standard method for doing the project.

      You can’t rely on a person’s method based on liking the aesthetics of their work.

      The photos of mosaics online are always made soon after the mosaic is completed.

      MANY times these same mosaics look radically different within a few months due to technical problems.

      We know this because we get so many emails from beginner artists that are upset and desperate to fix their art.

      The standard materials for outdoor mosaic is a backer of concrete, stone, or foam-core tile backer board.

      Foam-core tile backer boards include Durock, Schluter Kerdi Board, Laticrete Hydroban Board, Johns Manville GoBoard, and Wedi Board.

      You can also make your own backer:

      https://blog.mosaicartsupply.com/making-foam-core-mosaic-backers-for-outdoor-projects/

      The standard “adhesive” for wet and outdoor mosaics is thinset mortar:

      https://mosaicartsupply.com/how-to-use-thinset/

      Although, there are certain situations where you can use Weldbond glue:

      https://blog.mosaicartsupply.com/weldbond-mosaic-tile-adhesive-outdoors/

  5. Faith Avatar
    Faith

    These are great. Would it be ok to use “liquid nails” for an outdoor installation instead of thinset?

    1. Joe Moorman Avatar
      Joe Moorman

      No. Outdoor adhesives are designed for strong bond strength but not longevity. They aren’t archival but degrade over time.

  6. Katharine Copeland Goray Avatar
    Katharine Copeland Goray

    Hi. I would like to make garden posts with our summer program. I would like to make six foot square poles that are 6” wide each side. What would you recommend as a base. Outdoor in Wisconsin.

    1. Joe Moorman Avatar
      Joe Moorman

      Reinforced concrete is what I would use.

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