Today I’m not going to show you how to make a stone art mosaic with step-by-step instructions. A simple search can do this for you. In this article I intend to illustrate a swift summary on free tools to help you transform your images and patterns, into mosaic designs and patterns. At the end of the day, most mosaic designers are self-taught, and technology today is helping us take more control over our own culture. Ever since I noticed the load of information about mosaic art, I thought of comparing it to the worldwide mosaic community. Although I couldn’t find plenty and I actually knew that our community is very small, but I noticed a passionate extroversion, and fervor to spread the knowledge and love of mosaic around the globe!
In 1994, Venice, California was a different place than it is today. It had a bohemian vibe and it wasn’t necessarily considered upscale, but a place where artists, artisans and all kinds of creatives found their home. Much later, when the tech companies started popping up the city, the population changed, but the town of Venice still preserved much of its charm. Many of the local art projects are preserved and some of them even have a celebrity status, such as the one and unique Mosaic Art Tile House of Cheri Pann and Gonzalo Duran. After having purchased a rather plain little house in 1994, a natural-born artist Cheri Pann wanted to endow it with a new life in color. Ever since she was a little child, she was dedicated to coloring, drawing and creating visual works, and color has always been the most important expressive means of her artistic self. After a Van Gogh show opened her eyes even further, she was set on being an artist. Her path took her to UCLA where she studied printmaking, but also drawing and ceramics at Cal State LA later, earning an MA in Fine Arts. Throughout her artistic career, she exhibited in California and Japan in over 20 solo and over 50 group exhibitions. An avid traveler, she spent months of her adventurous life abroad, in Europe and Asia, but since the mid-nineties, she has only exhibited in her studio in Venice. As a multimedia artist, Cheri Pann is very crafty as she paints in oil, but also creates ceramic vessels, mural installations and most importantly – clay tiles for her life’s work – the house. Mosaic Tile House of Venice – Photo credit atlasobscura The Creativity of the Artist Couple It wasn’t until Cheri Pann got the house and met Gonzalo Duran, her husband, that the idea of a mosaic art house was born. A Mexican-born Los Angeles dweller, Gonzalo, also had an artistic background as a former student of Otis Art Institute and Chouinard Art School. His style was always akin to magic realism and somewhat reminiscent of Chagall, while he shares the love of a bright palette with his wife. It was destiny that brought Ms. Pann to the paint store where Gonzalo worked in the early nineties, starting one of the great romances of Venice and a beautiful story of a monumental and vibrant artwork the couple has been building for over 20 years. Soon after they met, they bonded and embarked on a weekend project that would turn into a lifetime adventure. Originally, the 6,000 square foot lot around the house was meant to be the space for Cheri’s studio, because it was large enough to store her paintings. The two creative minds instantly joined in their visions and continued to develop the colorful dream, covering it with the brightest nuances they could find. Mosaic Tile House of Venice – Photo credit atlasobscura A Tribute to Life and Art The Mosaic Art Tile House today is an ode to art, life, and romance, celebrating the important moments and ideas the couple has lived together. The entire structure, both the interior and the exterior are covered in colorful tiles including the cabinets, shelves, and unexpected household elements, while the small portions that are omitted are painted in contrasting hues and contain large-scale paintings. The most of the tiles are irregular in shape and come in fiery red, yellow and orange colors, balanced out with maritime nuances of blue, turquoise and green. Sheen and mirror particles break the rows of hues, adding to the vibrancy of every surface. Through the working process that involves Cheri making the tiles and Gonzalo breaking and installing them, the result is a spectacular and an utterly unique living space that crosses the boundaries of what a contemporary home might be. Their mosaics are abstract, but associative, pouring out of any sort of imaginable frame directly into the living space. They are not just a part of it, they form it, they are the organic part of the home. The result is an overwhelming mosaic art craze, that can appear as a bit too much for an ordinary spectator. But once you dive into this odd space, the logic of the colors, space, and tiles does seem to pop up. Immersed in this magical environment, a visitor can discover small humorous vignettes around the corners and columns, hidden narratives in unexpected places, and unusual shapes playing roles of supporting buttresses or structures. Everything is twisted in this space, swirling around and moving about the visual field, incorporating the imaginative yard into the artistic plan of the house, with the undulating fence, the ornate gazebo and the strange, yet inviting hot tub. Mosaic Tile House of Venice – Photo credit atlasobscura A Handmade Wonderland What makes the mosaics of the Venice Tile House even more special are the handmade tiles, all created, embossed and glazed by Cheri. Gonzalo’s contribution on tiles comes in the form of paint or wording and leading the cracking process. He also decides to create specific, recognizable forms of tiles from time to time, resembling animals, or household items. The grandeur of the project is reflected in the fact that they have not yet completed it and will need several more years to bring their vision to an end. However, both are aware of the uniqueness and appeal of their home, and this is why they have opened it to the public, guiding tours and welcoming visitors all year round. Visible from the street, the Mosaic Art Tile House in Venice is a real show-stopper. With some of the decorations being visible from the public area, it allures and invites the visitors to come in and explore the mosaic art universe resemblant of the Alice’s Wonderland. Every Saturday from 1 to 4 pm, Cheri opens her doors to the interested crowd, guiding them through this amazing home and instilling their love of mosaic and art into everyone who gets inspired. Finally, it’s important to say that the Venice Mosaic Art House is more than a craft project. It’s a testimony to the uncompromising dedication to art, and a showcase of how mosaic art can penetrate even the most unexpected areas of life. It’s a lifelong homage to the romance of two imaginative artists that share a passion for color and gaudiesque adornment. They were bold enough to create their private Park Güell, allowing the creativity to naturally flow through every aspect of their lives. For this, every art and mosaic lover should thank and applaud the pair. And so do we. The Mosaic Tile House from Nik Kleverov on Vimeo. Mosaic Tile House of Venice – Photo credit atlasobscura Mosaic Tile House of Venice – Photo credit atlasobscura Mosaic Tile House of Venice – Photo credit atlasobscura Mosaic Tile House of Venice – Photo credit atlasobscura
Now fantasy becomes very big important and favorite part of grown-ups’ world. Without any timidity adult boys and girls enjoy fantastic books, movies, games. This breathtaking trend is well represented in coloring books which also have surged in popularity. Topics of Animal Coloring Book Anime Mermaids Steampunk Fantasy Coloring Books for Adult Fantasy fanatics have …
Today I’m not going to show you how to make a stone art mosaic with step-by-step instructions. A simple search can do this for you. In this article I intend to illustrate a swift summary on free tools to help you transform your images and patterns, into mosaic designs and patterns. At the end of the day, most mosaic designers are self-taught, and technology today is helping us take more control over our own culture. Ever since I noticed the load of information about mosaic art, I thought of comparing it to the worldwide mosaic community. Although I couldn’t find plenty and I actually knew that our community is very small, but I noticed a passionate extroversion, and fervor to spread the knowledge and love of mosaic around the globe!
New discoveries of ancient mosaic art continue to fascinate us. As you think about your 2020 mosaic art travel destinations, consider Gaziantep, Turkey. This surprisingly large city of 2 million residents is filled with great cuisine, important history, and is home to the Zeugma Mosaic Art Museum. The relatively new museum (it opened in 2011) is the largest of its kind in the world. Visitors can wander 90,000 sf of mosaic art, most of which was unknown until after 2000! Image Source: TBD Tours Zeugma – Lost In Time? How did a city on the southern Anatolian plains become such a treasure chest of fine mosaic artifacts? Often, when mosaic art emerges from the depths, the Romans were involved. Indeed, this was the case in the old city of Zeugma. Founded by Alexander the Great’s forces in 300BC, strategically located on the Euphrates River, and a military center, it drew the wealthy: businessmen, generals, and officials. Much like Pompeii, it flourished and flaunted vast villas, market squares, public buildings and plenty of opportunities to decorate them with mosaic designs. Natural Factors in Play Earthquakes, general destruction, and disinterest kept the city and its artifacts nearly secret until an upcoming dam project meant that the area would soon be flooded. After much back and forth between archaeologists and looters removing pieces, enough was preserved to begin the museum. Zeugma today Image Source: Wikimedia The significance of the finds, beyond their raw beauty, is in the nuances of daily life they preserved. Zeugma was a melting pot of cultures, a spot along the Silk Road, and the pieces were well-preserved. Extracting the Mosaics To extract the mosaic designs, archaeologists would first cover them with glue, hammering down a layer of gauze on the thousands of tiny tiles to hold them in place. The mosaic art was then cut up into pieces for transportation to the museum. Now, they await visitors in a protected environment. Gods of Water and Sea The finds on display today cover the pantheon of gods, scenes of daily life for wealthy residents, and glimpses of the residents. Aquatic themes were also popular, as one might expect from a port city. Image Source: Pinterest This physical representation of the God of the Euphrates was found at the bottom of an octagonal pool in a villa hallway. Look closely, and you’ll see the river flowing out of the jug he’s resting his elbow upon. He’s wearing a crown of local tree branches. His clothing looks like the flowing waters of the Euphrates, and the plants to his side would have been found on the local river banks. The Goddess of Water The parents of the River God would have been Oceanus and Tethys, and they were also popular in Zeugma mosaic art. Tethys, daughter of Gaia and Uranus, was the goddess of all things water: rain clouds, rivers, springs, and wells. Oceanus, as you might have guessed, was the embodiment of the ocean. Image Source: Hurriyet Daily News This is an enormous piece, but museum visitors can see the details that indicate the identity of the couple. Tethys bears tiny wings of storm clouds on her brow and Oceanus sprouts crab claws. Gods of Prosperity and Gaiety As expected in a city of wealth, the Roman gods of abundance, prosperity, and enjoyment are well represented in the museum. This stunning mosaic art shows Dionysus, the God of Wine, at his marriage to Ariadne. It was a good pairing for Ariadne, who had been abandoned on an island by the hero Theseus. Fortunately for her, her future husband enjoyed the island as a holiday spot, and here you see the happy results. Image Source: Wikimedia Another happy match between Eros, the God of Love, and Psyche, beautiful mortal is celebrated in a large mosaic design. Modern soap operas have much in common with these myths celebrated in Roman art! Handsome Eros, the fairest of the gods, was dispatched by his mother Aphrodite to punish Psyche. Her only fault was having such beauty that she was confused for the Goddess. Image Source: Pinterest Eros, instead, was immediately smitten with the mortal, and they married. Here, they sit side by side, eternally happy. Demeter, Goddess of Agriculture, was also an appropriate choice for a bustling, prosperous port and market city. Depicted in this mosaic, she wears a crown of flowers and wheat ears. Surrounding her, eight axe blades. This odd choice is believed to refer to the months that her daughter Persephone spent with her each year. The other four, of course, were spent with Hades – causing winter to arrive. Image Source: Pinterest A similar layout was used for this depiction of the nine Muses. The preservation of the colors is quite remarkable. As you can see in the photo of the excavation site, this mosaic art was used to decorate the floor of a villa. These can be visited in situ. Image Source: Sci-news Each Muse was represented as a lively portrait. In a household that celebrated the arts, this could be a source of inspiration in a room dedicated to performance or discussion. Here is Thalia, the Muse of Idyllic Poetry and Comedy. Image Source: Sci-news Small and Wonderful Details Image Source: Turkey.com The preservation of the Zeugma mosaics lets visitors see precious details. Visiting the museum and seeing them in person lets one focus on them, unlike in small photos. There are bits of daily life preserved, like this young man bearing items on a tray. His looks are distinctive. Image Source: Pinterest Women at Breakfast aka the “Drama Group” mosaic. It’s unknown if this is meant to be a scene from a play, a depiction of actors at practice, or merely just a scene of diners. Their expressions are lifelike and compelling. Image Source: Wikimedia Image Source: Pinterest Moreover, one can also focus on mosaic patterns that are used as borders, or sometimes in large, non-figural glass mosaic wall art. Image Source: pbase.com Image Source: Helen Miller Image source: turkeyculturaltour.com The newest addition to the museum complex displays mosaics from the 4th and 5th centuries. The artifacts in the section mostly have animal figures. Image Source: Flickr Image Source: Helen Miller Show Stoppers Some pieces at the museum have become famous on their own, such as the Gypsy Girl. Named for her wild eyes, it is believed that she might be a depiction of the goddess Gaea. As she would have been the mother of the popular Oceanus and Tethys, this seems likely. Image Source: Hurriyet Daily News The strangely modern look of this mosaic piece celebrating Achilles is another mosaic art piece that brings crowds. Image Source: Wikimedia Part of the draw of the museum is the use of advanced technology to recreate missing parts of the mosaics. Also, there are light shows, interactive mosaic panels, three-dimensional film shows, and a virtual reality system that allows visitors to see the fish swimming in the lake. A glass-fronted workshop allows a peek at the process of the restorations. Image Source: Trip Advisor What’s the most intriguing part of a visit to Zeugma Mosaic Museum? It really has something for everyone – from kids fascinated with the technology, to history buffs and art majors. Moreover, walking among the mosaic wall art that the residents of Zeugma must have grown up with is a rare glimpse into the past. Imagine the thought that went into commissioning these pieces, and deciding on what part of the house they would occupy. What would you choose today? Perhaps the answer is right here in the Mozaico mosaic designs catalog!
Revered Spanish architect Antonio Gaudí has been in the news in recent years. You’ve likely heard about the ongoing work at Barcelona’s La Sagrada Familia cathedral – scheduled for completion in 2026. Sagrada Família – Image Source: Archdaily You’re also likely to associate his works with mosaic art. As a master architect, Gaudí was known for his attention to the smallest of details. Everything, he believed, could be both functional and beautiful – indoors and outdoors. His use of mosaic pattern was sometimes subtle, sometimes flamboyant. He used single colors to emphasize some architectural features and shapes. Others varied size and color to create effects like being underwater or scales on a lizard. Gaudí favored the trencadis technique of mosaic art, which used irregular pieces of ceramic, glass or marble tiles. According to biographers, this began with a trip to a ceramics workshop where Lluís Bru was working on a commission. Impatient with the slow progress of the glass mosaic designs, place, Gaudí seized a tile and broke it into pieces, telling the artist: “We have to put them on by the handful, like this, or we’ll never finish!” Image Source: Pinterest We’ll be visiting some of his beautiful designs in our blog, letting you travel to them safely! Although much of his work was on building exteriors, we’ll also see some public parks and mosaic designs in building interiors. 1. Casa Batllo, Barcelona This marine-inspired former residence is a good introduction to Gaudí’s modernist, Art Nouveau style. When he took on the transformation of this home for new owners, the new, non-linear design elements worked well with mosaic designs. Image Source: Pinterest Outside, the facade of the structure known to locals as the “Casa dels ossos”, or House of Bones, has recently been restored. Image Source: Pinterest Gaudí’s mosaic patterns are a key part of the whole theme. Through their use, the exterior seems to ripple with movement. There’s also a tribute to St. George built into the structure. See how the back of the dragon he slew curves along the rooftop? Image Source: Pinterest You can tour this wonderful landmark virtually right now, by visiting this Casa Battlo virtual tour. 2. La Pedrera, Barcelona Image Source: Archdaily Designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, this expansive structure hides its mosaic magic on the rooftop. Its name means “The Quarry”, which describes the way the building seems to have sprouted and grown from stone. With nine levels, including a garage, apartments, and a sculpture terrace, it was controversial in 1912 – but a popular tourist attraction today. On the roof, functional elements like skylights and staircase exits, chimneys, and vents became art. Image Source: Viator Today, nighttime events light up the mosaic artwork in an audiovisual display. We think Gaudí might approve of this lively use of technology. Image Source: Viator 3. Parc Güell, Barcelona Image Source: My Modern Met The lovely Parc Güell opened in 1926. Here, Gaudí was able to explore his ideas about organic shapes, geometry, and color. Fantastic shapes and joyful colors predominate. You’ll see Gaudí mosaics everywhere here. Benches, columns, rooftop spires and fountains all glisten with glass mosaic art and ceramic tiles. The architect liked to sprinkle symbolism into his mosaic art embellishments. While strolling around the gardens, visitors can hunt for signs of religious imagery, puzzles, mythology, history, and politics of the time. Image Source: Pinterest 4. El Capricho, Comillas, Cantabria, Spain Image Source: My Modern Met Early in his career, the 31-year old Gaudí experimented with Orientalist inspiration. Here, at one of his few commissions outside his native Catalonia, he built a summer home for one Máximo Díaz de Quijano. The Capricho, named after the freely styled music of the time, has a tiled tower that resembles a minaret. The color scheme is quite different from most of Gaudí’s work. In this setting, surrounded by the hills of Northern Spain, he added green to the oranges and reds of the tiles. Other than the happy color scheme, he chose sunflowers as the main motif for the villa. Image Source: My Modern Met 5. Güell Pavilion, Barcelona, Spain You’ll see the name of count Eusebi Güell pop up frequently in association with Gaudí. He was the architect’s best patron. For this project, he remodeled a home on an estate that was located in Sarria – which is now part of modern Barcelona. The remaining structures are related to the count’s equestrian pursuits. The architect proposed a design inspired by Mudejar art – the Islamic-influenced style that was popular at the time. Image Source: Wikipedia The ornate style can still be seen on the remaining gates and above the walls. The dome over the lunging ring (used for training horses) is richly embellished with small tiles and glass mosaic. Across the property, ventilators in the style of chimneys are adorned with mosaic patterns in both glass and ceramic tiles. Image Source: Wikipedia Today this site is the site of the Royal Gaudí Chair, a part of the Barcelona Polytechnic University. 6. Church of Sant Pacià, Barcelona, Spain Image Source: Wikipedia As a student of the architect Joan Torras i Guardiola, the young Gaudí was responsible for the mosaic design of the floors in this church. It’s located in Sant Andreu del Palomar, a quiet part of Barcelona, and the marble mosaic art is not usually on the larger tours that visit his buildings. Image Source: arquitecturadeGaudí It’s believed that Gaudí was inspired by the Romanesque church Sant Pau del Camp when designing the floors. It’s interesting to see his early work and the influences that continued throughout his life. 7. Casa Vicens, Barcelona, Spain Now a museum, the Casa Vicens was Gaudí’s first house commission. Done in the Neo-Mudejar style, it’s a showcase for his use of mosaic tile, along with bright color, iron ornamentation, and concrete… Image Source: Casa Vicens Gaudi Visitors can see extensive use of mosaic tile inside and outside the former summer house, all painstakingly restored. Gaudí’s clients didn’t shy away from ornamentation or flamboyance. Image Source: Curbed 9. Church of Colònia Güell Image Source: Pinterest Another commission from his patron Güell saw Gaudí building a church for workers at Güell’s textile factory. The design was intended to harmonize with the architecture of the workers’ homes already there, as well as with nature. Gaudí responded with this stone structure. The interplay of mosaic patterns and raw basaltic stone is a wonderful contrast. Although the church was never completed to his plans, the use of mosaic and the overall structure is definitely echoed in his iconic Sagrada Familia. Image Source: Pinterest 10. Basilica Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain Gaudí’s penultimate project was this massive church. Although he died nearly a century before its anticipated completion, he will be forever linked to it. As in all his works, mosaic art is a key part of the ornamentation. Image Source: Wikipedia Towering over the city at 170 m in the air, the mosaic touches begin in the sky, and continue downwards. Image Source: Sagrada Famila Each of the eight bell towers are decorated with mosaic art. Image Source: Pinterest Image Source: Pinterest Each nave is adorned with mosaic fruit, representing seasons of the year. Image Source: Pinterest Here, the wheat and grapes represent the sacrament. Image Source: Pinterest If you’re putting off your trip to Spain this year, don’t forget that you can enjoy Gaudí-inspired beauty with some of our favorite mosaic wall art selections. Bring a touch of Barcelona to your home or garden with colorful geometric designs that resemble the Church of Sant Pacià floors, or with a basket of glowing glass mosaic fruits. Otherworldly Fruits by Mozaico Octavia by Mozaico Or perhaps one of Gaudí’s beloved dragons. Colorful Chinese Dragon by Mozaico Please visit our extensive catalog of mosaic art designs for more inspiration and ideas to customize your own mosaic decorations!
Today I’m not going to show you how to make a stone art mosaic with step-by-step instructions. A simple search can do this for you. In this article I intend to illustrate a swift summary on free tools to help you transform your images and patterns, into mosaic designs and patterns. At the end of the day, most mosaic designers are self-taught, and technology today is helping us take more control over our own culture. Ever since I noticed the load of information about mosaic art, I thought of comparing it to the worldwide mosaic community. Although I couldn’t find plenty and I actually knew that our community is very small, but I noticed a passionate extroversion, and fervor to spread the knowledge and love of mosaic around the globe!
In the painstakingly detailed canvases of Nidhi Mariam Jacob, myriad flowers and fronds bloom together in a vibrant visual symphony.
Memorial window, Louis Comfort Tiffany circa mid 1920s
The mental disorder is characterized by distortions of thinking and perception.
Learn how to repurpose your discarded and unfinished art, creating beautifully dimensional Inchie Mosaics.
Download the Collection of vector cartoon style magic fantasy mushrooms glowing in the dark, isolated on white background. For web, video games, user interface, design printing. 5663099 royalty-free Vector from Vecteezy for your project and explore over a million other vectors, icons and clipart graphics!
The Nautilus, designer Javier Senosiain’s bizarre, snail-shaped dwelling, is a mind-bending union of artistic experimentation and simplified living. Inspired by the work of Gaudí and Frank Lloyd Wright, Senosiain has brought to Mexico City another sparkling
This fantasy painting is now available as A3 (40x30cm) sized giclee print. Prints are not signed or limited. Bigger sizes are available on request. Prints also available at £39 on shop.estemacleod.com ***PRINT GIVEAWAY*** To go into the draw for the giveaway find the animals (and insects) in this artwork, leave a message with the total in this blog page or on my Facebook page. Winner announced 14 September!
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Whether attending a class or working en plein air, it can be advantageous to have a smaller downsized palette instead of trying to transport an entire studio. But, with so many pastels to choose from (mind you, I’m not complaining), it can be a difficult task to narrow it down. All artists’ palettes need to [...]
Today I’m not going to show you how to make a stone art mosaic with step-by-step instructions. A simple search can do this for you. In this article I intend to illustrate a swift summary on free tools to help you transform your images and patterns, into mosaic designs and patterns. At the end of the day, most mosaic designers are self-taught, and technology today is helping us take more control over our own culture. Ever since I noticed the load of information about mosaic art, I thought of comparing it to the worldwide mosaic community. Although I couldn’t find plenty and I actually knew that our community is very small, but I noticed a passionate extroversion, and fervor to spread the knowledge and love of mosaic around the globe!
All ages colouring book. May help with calming and relaxation when things are getting a bit overwhelming. Part of our Health section in KHW.
