glass mosaic tile art studio of william j enslen jr
Home | Gallery | Contact | eBook Table of Contents | Sample Chapter 6 | Sample Chapter 7 | Order and Download the eBook Now | Mosaic Tables
| Home Accessories |
Here, you'll find a variety of information from various resources that will help you on your exciting journey to decorating your home with beautiful home accessories
as well as lovely glass mosaic tile art.
as well as lovely glass mosaic tile art.
| Thank you for your patience as I build my list of preferred home accessories resources. My website is new and I'm working to update this page. |
| Copyright © 2008-2009 by William J. Enslen, Jr. All rights reserved. Any use - including the reproduction, modification, distribution, transmission, republication, or display - of the content (text and illustrations) is strictly prohibited. |
| Remember, creating beautiful glass mosaic tile art is easy. You can do it! My eBook teaches you all the details that other books and websites don't. Start your fun and exciting journey into the wonderful world of glass mosaic tile art today! |
| Download Now! No Waiting! The eBbook is only $9.95. Use your credit card...it's easy, fast, safe, and secure! |
 |
Order the eBook Now!
How to Make Glass Mosaic Tile Art: Andamento
Andamento (the Italian word for “flow”) is the visual movement of a mosaic piece that you create by positioning tesserae in specific patterns to
achieve the desired image and feel for the mosaic (also known as “coursing” your mosaic).
Opus (the Latin word for “work of art or literary work”), in terms of art, refers to how we arrange our tesserae in the mosaic. "Opera" is the plural of
opus. Different opera will result in different visual flows. When you understand the different kinds of opera, you can properly plan your mosaic to
achieve the desired look and feel. In other words, you know in advance how to lay your tesserae instead of simply winging it.
I suspect that not many people, including me, can remember three minutes after reading the Latin names of the various types of opera what each
word means. That's okay, it doesn't matter. And it doesn't matter what we call each opera. For example, instead of calling it “Opus Regulatum,”
you can call it “my little squares all lined up like a brick wall.” The point is to understand the types of opera so you can plan which types give you
the results you want. You can then make your mosaic accordingly.
Don’t get hung up on the names of each opus. Instead, become aware of the various styles and how your eyes react to each style. Then, when it's
time to start your mosaic, plan your work to give the desired flow and effect (i.e., look and feel). I'm not going to try to explain in silly art-speak the
effect that your eyes see in each opus because your eyes may interpret something differently than mine. Find several online mosaic artists,
observe and study their work, and take note of the flow of their tesserae. Pay attention to how each type of flow makes you feel, or if you feel
anything at all. Associate the flows with the feelings that they stimulate in you. Then, plan your own work using the flows for the feelings you hope
to evoke in others. Try mixing several types of opera into your mosaic. For example, try using Opus Regulatum for the border, Opus Palladianum
for the background, and Opus Sectile for the focal point.
The basic andamento types are as follows (more exist, but these are the basic ones):
Opus Tesselatum is a square or rectangle pattern with grout lines aligned, such as a checkerboard.
Opus Regulatum is also a square or rectangle pattern but with grout lines staggered like a brick wall.
Note: You’ll find inconsistencies with the definitions of tesselatum and regulatum. Some think they’re reversed. Those who believe as I do have
sound justification. For example, the Latin “tessella” means “small square piece of stone.” The Latin “tessellatim” means “in a checkered or
tessellated form.” The modern “tessellate” means “arrange in a checkered pattern.” Therefore, I’m comfortable being in the group that defines the
two terms as noted above. However, there’s another discrepancy, which is with the spelling of “tesselatum.” Does it have one “l” or two? I use
one "l" to stay consistent with the other “...latum” opera described below. As noted above, it doesn’t matter what you call them or how you spell
them as long as you understand that the two styles exist and they each can arouse different feelings when used in mosaics.
Opus Reticulatum is like opus regulatum or tesselatum but with slanted lines.
Opus Sectile is either a tessera piece cut to one specific shape or several tesserae of different sizes cut to shapes that fit together like puzzle
pieces.
Opus Vermiculatum is usually a single row of tesserae following the outline of a focal point of the mosaic. Sometimes, several rows are used to
create the halo effect and add emphasis to the focal point. The background is usually done with a contrasting opus, such as opus regulatum.
“Vermis” is Latin for worm, so think of opus vermiculatum as a worm going around your focal point.
Opus Musivum is opus vermiculatum extended out to fill the background, either all the way to the borders or to secondary focal points.
Opus Classicum combines opus vermiculatum with opus regulatum or opus tesselatum.
Opus Palladianum uses similar shapes laid in an irregular pattern. In my opinion, triangle like shapes with relatively equal grout spacing works
best for this opus.
Opus Circumtactum uses interlocking fan like patterns for the background.
Andamento (the Italian word for “flow”) is the visual movement of a mosaic piece that you create by positioning tesserae in specific patterns to
achieve the desired image and feel for the mosaic (also known as “coursing” your mosaic).
Opus (the Latin word for “work of art or literary work”), in terms of art, refers to how we arrange our tesserae in the mosaic. "Opera" is the plural of
opus. Different opera will result in different visual flows. When you understand the different kinds of opera, you can properly plan your mosaic to
achieve the desired look and feel. In other words, you know in advance how to lay your tesserae instead of simply winging it.
I suspect that not many people, including me, can remember three minutes after reading the Latin names of the various types of opera what each
word means. That's okay, it doesn't matter. And it doesn't matter what we call each opera. For example, instead of calling it “Opus Regulatum,”
you can call it “my little squares all lined up like a brick wall.” The point is to understand the types of opera so you can plan which types give you
the results you want. You can then make your mosaic accordingly.
Don’t get hung up on the names of each opus. Instead, become aware of the various styles and how your eyes react to each style. Then, when it's
time to start your mosaic, plan your work to give the desired flow and effect (i.e., look and feel). I'm not going to try to explain in silly art-speak the
effect that your eyes see in each opus because your eyes may interpret something differently than mine. Find several online mosaic artists,
observe and study their work, and take note of the flow of their tesserae. Pay attention to how each type of flow makes you feel, or if you feel
anything at all. Associate the flows with the feelings that they stimulate in you. Then, plan your own work using the flows for the feelings you hope
to evoke in others. Try mixing several types of opera into your mosaic. For example, try using Opus Regulatum for the border, Opus Palladianum
for the background, and Opus Sectile for the focal point.
The basic andamento types are as follows (more exist, but these are the basic ones):
Opus Tesselatum is a square or rectangle pattern with grout lines aligned, such as a checkerboard.
Opus Regulatum is also a square or rectangle pattern but with grout lines staggered like a brick wall.
Note: You’ll find inconsistencies with the definitions of tesselatum and regulatum. Some think they’re reversed. Those who believe as I do have
sound justification. For example, the Latin “tessella” means “small square piece of stone.” The Latin “tessellatim” means “in a checkered or
tessellated form.” The modern “tessellate” means “arrange in a checkered pattern.” Therefore, I’m comfortable being in the group that defines the
two terms as noted above. However, there’s another discrepancy, which is with the spelling of “tesselatum.” Does it have one “l” or two? I use
one "l" to stay consistent with the other “...latum” opera described below. As noted above, it doesn’t matter what you call them or how you spell
them as long as you understand that the two styles exist and they each can arouse different feelings when used in mosaics.
Opus Reticulatum is like opus regulatum or tesselatum but with slanted lines.
Opus Sectile is either a tessera piece cut to one specific shape or several tesserae of different sizes cut to shapes that fit together like puzzle
pieces.
Opus Vermiculatum is usually a single row of tesserae following the outline of a focal point of the mosaic. Sometimes, several rows are used to
create the halo effect and add emphasis to the focal point. The background is usually done with a contrasting opus, such as opus regulatum.
“Vermis” is Latin for worm, so think of opus vermiculatum as a worm going around your focal point.
Opus Musivum is opus vermiculatum extended out to fill the background, either all the way to the borders or to secondary focal points.
Opus Classicum combines opus vermiculatum with opus regulatum or opus tesselatum.
Opus Palladianum uses similar shapes laid in an irregular pattern. In my opinion, triangle like shapes with relatively equal grout spacing works
best for this opus.
Opus Circumtactum uses interlocking fan like patterns for the background.