Encyclopedia Of Mosaic Techniques: A Step-by-step Visual Directory, With An Inspirational Gallery Of Finished Works (Encyclopedia of Art Techniques) [Hardcover]

Emma Biggs (Author)

Book Description

Series: Encyclopedia of Art Techniques | Publication Date: December 4, 1996

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.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is a handy guide to the materials and techniques of designing and laying mosaic tiles in both indoor and outdoor settings. Well illustrated with color photographs throughout, the "A to Z of Techniques" section has step-by-step instructions. Finished mosaics are pictured in the "Gallery" section. Workshop set-up and safety tips are included. A good basic reference for public libraries.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Running Press (December 4, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762404442
• ISBN-13: 978-0762404445
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #401,355 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

177 of 178 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Superb resource for new/intermediate mosaicists, October 8, 2000

By 

Lynnsey Skliros (Johannesburg, South Africa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Encyclopedia Of Mosaic Techniques: A Step-by-step Visual Directory, With An Inspirational Gallery Of Finished Works (Encyclopedia of Art Techniques) (Hardcover)

Emma Biggs has used the "Encyclopedia of Mosaic Techniques" to share her wealth of knowledge and experience with us.

It doesn't fit the standard (and effective) format for beginner mosaic books (history, gallery, techniques/materials and projects). In fact there are no projects at all. Instead, the book is broken up into different topics. Here are a few selected at random to show how broad the scope of the book is: "Design Sources" (getting inspiration from tropical fish, fabrics, etc), "Colour in Mosaics", "Workshop Setup", "Cutting Techniques", "Borders", "Central Motifs", "Common Mistakes", "Indirect Method on Paper" (one of the many techniques covered), "Finishing and Fixing" (how to get a professional finish), "Gallery" (finished works with an analysis of what makes each one work, eg use of colour, contrast, light effects, realism).

Because there are no set projects, this is not the easiest book to start with. Unless you're really confident I would recommend Leslie Dierks' "Making Mosaics" instead. However, once you've tried a few of the step-by-step projects in that (or a similar book), this should be your next purchase. It will teach you to create your own projects instead of following someone else's.

The only think I really didn't like about this book is the way the topics were grouped alphabetically instead by theme. I imagine this is the standard for the "Encyclopaedia of..." series, but it doesn't work for me. If you're going through the book sequentially you go from "Double Reverse Method" to "Finishing and Fixing" to "Glass and Silicone" to "Grouting" to "Indirect Method on Paper".

I would have preferred to see all the methods grouped, all the material-related topics grouped, all the design-related topics grouped, etc. But this is a fairly minor niggle given the high quality of the book.

Highly recommended!

80 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Belongs in a mosaicist's library, April 14, 2002

By 

S. Brand "sandra807" (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Encyclopedia Of Mosaic Techniques: A Step-by-step Visual Directory, With An Inspirational Gallery Of Finished Works (Encyclopedia of Art Techniques) (Hardcover)

This book, as it's title suggests, is more of an encyclopedia than a project book. I would not recommend it to a beginner because it doesn't take you through a number of projects step by step as many mosaic books do. But I HIGHLY recommend this book for someone who has started doing mosaic and wants to increase skills and knowledge. I learned a lot about design, in particular: using colors effectively, including the grout colors, and how to place tiles in the design and in the background in directions that affect the flow of the design. An eye-opening section showed common mistakes, which if one studies before starting a project, can be avoided. There are a few projects that are given to demonstrate certain techniques, and there are photos of many incredibly beautiful works. The patterns are not given for them, so you'd have to attempt to draw them yourself, or let them serve as inspiration. The materials and equipment section is very extensive and helpful. This is a great book you would study to become a better mosaicist, but not use as a project guide.

55 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST book. Look no further, March 6, 2000

By 

sfil "sfil" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Encyclopedia Of Mosaic Techniques: A Step-by-step Visual Directory, With An Inspirational Gallery Of Finished Works (Encyclopedia of Art Techniques) (Hardcover)

In all seriousness, this is the best mosaic book out there that I have found. It explains materials, techniques and EVERYTHING you need to work on mosaics.

Wish I had found this before I bought other books.