The Art of Mosaic Design: A Collection of Contemporary Artists [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Leslie Plummer Clagett (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Contemporary mosaic art has an almost limitless variety of style and form, ranging from flat surfaces to three-dimensional objects. This album displays the work of 45 international artists with brief descriptions of their lives and artistic philosophies. As a source of ideas, it is similar to Martin Cheek's Mosaics Design Sourcebook (LJ 10/15/98), with a broader range of styles and motifs. There are no projects, but the mosaic works are beautifully photographed with detailed close-ups as well as views of entire pieces, many of which are outdoors or are architectural features in buildings. Recommended for arts and crafts collections.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Glass mosaicists take note and check out this book. Authors Locktov and Clagett have put together an impressive portfolio of artists working with mosaics in glass, ceramic, stone, and mixed media. Despite the varied materials, the section of "Mosaic Design" devoted to glass and mixed media mosaics is so rich in inspiring works, it will drive home even further the notion that the resurgence of mosaics is the most exciting thing happening in flat glass today. The group of glass artist featured includes Erin Adams (whose work is featured on page 6 in this issue), Ellen Blakely, whose preferred medium is shattered safety glass salvaged from vandalized bus shelters and store windows, Felice Nittolo of Ravenna, Italy, who works in Byzantine styled mosaics, Lucio Orsoni of the Orsoni factory who specializes in the use of smalti (small, glass mosaic elements) and Diana Maria Rossi, whose highly faceted surfaces have a strong emotional impact. The artists whose works employ other media offer plenty in the way of inspiration, making, this handsome volume a valuable resource for today's mosaic movement. -- Glass Craftsman Magazine, December 1998

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Quarry Books; illustrated edition edition (November 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564964205
• ISBN-13: 978-1564964205
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 32 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #614,689 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gallery of exceptional mosaics, October 15, 2001

By A Customer

Are you tired of the usual instructional, how-to book on simplistic, hobby-style mosaic art? Are you looking for a book on quality mosaic art that will captivate and inspire you? Well, this book is like visiting an art gallery totally devoted to exceptional mosaic art. It is especially good for the experienced mosaic artist as it is filled with inspirational and diverse mosaic masterpieces. If you have ever wanted a book on mosaics that passes on the instruction, but thoroughly inspires you with unbounded creativity, this is the book for you!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this is not a how to book, August 10, 2000

By	jc (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

Finally, a contemporary book of just beautiful mosaics from around the country and some from around the world. This is an art book and an inspiration to the artist and appreciater alike. Great for the price.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An inspiring collection, December 17, 2002

By	Bron Mitchell "bronm" (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Art of Mosaic Design: A Collection of Contemporary Artists (Paperback)

This is an interesting, inspiring and beautifully presented book of work from mosaic artists around the world. There is so much variety in terms of style, technique, materials, and colour, and I very much like the fact that there are many photos of works in their entirety as well as pieces showing closeups of the same work in detail. There are generally between four and six pages for each artist, showcasing their work and talking a little bit about their artistic background, their technique used for certain pieces and their inspirations, all of which I found fascinating and brought me to a greater understanding of how the piece was created.

I admit that not everything in the book is to my own personal tastes: my preferences lean towards the more colourful. Among my favourite mosaicists in this collection are Erin Adams, whose compositions are based on intricately patterned oriental rugs; Gary Stephens, whose weird and wonderful designs feature brightly coloured fruit, fish, frogs, and ukelele-playing mermen (!); Linda Beaumont, especially for the assortment of objects she incorporates into mosaics; and Candace Bahouth, who I feel has a great eye for colour and shape. Nonetheless, there is a lot of creativity and enthusiasm evident in all the work in the book, whatever your tastes.

It also has possibly the best introduction I have ever read in a book about mosaic: "Mosaic design is a fascinating art based on paradoxes that must be embraced. Among these are the pieces, multiple objects of simplicity fused into a singular, complex wholeness; the irregularity that springs from deliberation; and, more often than not, the creation that is wrought from destruction. Such paradoxes are put into context by the mosaicist when the principles of other visual arts are applied. By shaping tesserae like a sculptor, choosing colors like a painter, and weaving patterns like a fiber artist, the mosaicist presents his or her vision."

What a wonderful way to introduce what mosaic is all about! I also feel that there is just the right balance between text and photographs - enough to enhance understanding, but not so much as to detract from the art itself. I recommend this book to all lovers of art, not just of mosaic.