I already feel nostalgic about Ravenna. I just got home one week ago (I went to Vietnam after I finished my courses in Ravenna). Now I've ordered some mosaic supplies and hope to get into it soon.
Thanks Helen, that was great. I am also nostalgic for Ravenna. I did manage to source some lime putty here in Australia bit it is a bit sloppier so I had to let it dry out a bit before I used it. I might give it another try.
I haven't tried the lime putty method back here in Scotland. There are just too many fiddly stages but I love using clay as a temporary base. Hope all is well with you down yonder! 😀
hello thank you for videos, i'm new to mosaics and it's so refreshing to see such detailed videos explained with patience and grace. i wanted to ask about the frame people use to hang their clay. excuse my english i'm french educated. i see mosaics exposed in galleries for example and i don't know what is the base they used to have this finished like a frame without a frame. i don't know if it's clay or cement? i would to know more about
Good question Andrina. I would say that the clay can be kept soft for two to three weeks if it is carefully wrapped at the end of each session and if you spray it periodically as you are working but it depends on the climate and humidity in the air. Sorry for the late reply!
Which glue could be used as an alternative? I don't use animal-edrived materials nor ingredients for ethical reasons, so in order to try this what could I use?
I am sorry to say that I don't think there is an alternative. Rabbit skin glue is unique in the fact that it is extremely strong but also can be washed off
The purpose is that the clay allows you to make changes/corrections AND to use tesserae which are of different heights. The paper method is really only used for flat tesserae which are the same colour on both sides.
@@HelenMilesMosaics i see, thanks a lot for explaining! True that some of the tesseræ have plane white ceramic back and on paper this would spoil a view of the progress of the work. Maybe paper is mostly for mosaics people will walk on. I notice on these (more Byzantine rather than Roman /Greek) glass styles without spacing they use a lot different heights and cutting the face on an angle.
@@RosssRoyce Yes, the paper method is mostly used for walking on because it gives you a completely smooth surface whereas the Byzantine mosaics were made directly into mortar as you say so that they could make the most of the reflexivity of the glass by angling it.
I already feel nostalgic about Ravenna. I just got home one week ago (I went to Vietnam after I finished my courses in Ravenna). Now I've ordered some mosaic supplies and hope to get into it soon.
Did you have an amazing time? I am so jealous that you had the option of staying there so long!
Good to see a new video from you especially this one
Thanks Helen, that was great. I am also nostalgic for Ravenna. I did manage to source some lime putty here in Australia bit it is a bit sloppier so I had to let it dry out a bit before I used it. I might give it another try.
I haven't tried the lime putty method back here in Scotland. There are just too many fiddly stages but I love using clay as a temporary base. Hope all is well with you down yonder! 😀
hello thank you for videos, i'm new to mosaics and it's so refreshing to see such detailed videos explained with patience and grace.
i wanted to ask about the frame people use to hang their clay. excuse my english i'm french educated. i see mosaics exposed in galleries for example and i don't know what is the base they used to have this finished like a frame without a frame. i don't know if it's clay or cement? i would to know more about
What you are talking about is probably self levelling concrete. I haven't done a video on that yet, but I will definitely be doing one in the future!
Thanks for the clear and detailed instructions ! How long can the clay be kept soft for longer projects ? I look forward to more films!
Good question Andrina. I would say that the clay can be kept soft for two to three weeks if it is carefully wrapped at the end of each session and if you spray it periodically as you are working but it depends on the climate and humidity in the air. Sorry for the late reply!
I didn’t know that with smalti you could trim the tops like that to make them even 😀 How interesting!!
Yes, I had no idea either before I did it! 😀
What is the point of applying the marble dust on the back before applying adhesive?
It stops the adhesive from squishing up to the surface of the mosaic.
Which glue could be used as an alternative? I don't use animal-edrived materials nor ingredients for ethical reasons, so in order to try this what could I use?
I am sorry to say that I don't think there is an alternative. Rabbit skin glue is unique in the fact that it is extremely strong but also can be washed off
I don’t see the purpose of the clay stage of their method? Sticking them directly to a paper with the design would have been easier.
The purpose is that the clay allows you to make changes/corrections AND to use tesserae which are of different heights. The paper method is really only used for flat tesserae which are the same colour on both sides.
@@HelenMilesMosaics i see, thanks a lot for explaining! True that some of the tesseræ have plane white ceramic back and on paper this would spoil a view of the progress of the work. Maybe paper is mostly for mosaics people will walk on. I notice on these (more Byzantine rather than Roman /Greek) glass styles without spacing they use a lot different heights and cutting the face on an angle.
@@RosssRoyce Yes, the paper method is mostly used for walking on because it gives you a completely smooth surface whereas the Byzantine mosaics were made directly into mortar as you say so that they could make the most of the reflexivity of the glass by angling it.