Modern Mosaics

Since ancient times, artists have used many different types of tesserae (small pieces) to create beautiful mosaic art. Combine new technology with geometric skills to create beautiful mosaics!

• 1.

  As long as 4,000 years ago, people incorporated many small pieces of terracotta stones and pebbles into soft surfaces of clay and dirt to create beautiful patterns and pictures on surfaces. Many artists today still use this basic method to create mosaic art.

• 2.

  Choose a subject with an interesting design for your artwork. Sketch it on paper with Crayola® Erasable Colored Pencils. Change it until you’re happy with the design.

• 3.

  Lay this paper on top of the black side of Crayola Color Explosion paper. Trace over your lines with a pencil. Press hard enough for a slight impression to be made on the surface of the Color Explosion paper.

• 4.

  Trace your outline on Color Explosion paper with the Color Explosion marker. Choose basic geometric shapes to fill your design. Draw these shapes inside one section of your outline, leaving black space between the shapes. Repeat, maybe changing shapes in each part of your picture, until your outline is filled.

• 5.

  Decide if and how you’d like to add extra interest inside the shapes you just created. Try patterns of dots, lines, or swirls. The explosions of color from the paper make these designs even more interesting!

• 6.

  If you have extra space around the outline, use more geometric shapes to create a background for your picture! Enjoy your modern mosaic!

Benefits

• Students research history of mosaic art in different cultures and time periods.
• Students determine an interesting pattern that will lend itself well to a mosaic style.
• Students demonstrate their knowledge of and adapt basic geometric shapes to complete their mosaic design.

Adaptations

• Create a relief (3-D) version of your drawing in a traditional mosaic medium.
• Display your mosaics in natural settings. For example, if you drew a lizard, construct a desert or rainforest.
• Incorporate this assignment into a unit on reptiles, architecture, history, or natural resources. Create other art to reflect growing understandings of the topic.
• Assessment: Students will be successful if they have looked carefully at mosaic examples and incorporated the basic design to a drawing that incorporates an outline with app