NBC Ceramics: Book Cover Mosaics

Book Cover Mosaics

Project Summary: Northern Burlington's Media Center received a grant from the class of 2017 to use toward an art instillation. Intermediate and Advanced ceramics students chose their favorite novel to remake in a book cover mosaic. The students took about a month and a half to draw, transfer to tiles, cut the tiles, fire, glaze, glue, and grout on to their wooden boards. As you can see, the end result added a splash of color in the media center. Hooks and wire were placed on the backs of the mosaics so the boards can be transferred and moved if desired.

What you will need to purchase prior to starting:

Wooden Board: make sure they are treated and sealed so moisture can't get absorbed.*
Clay: This can be any type of ceramic clay as long as it is fired.
Glazes: Glazes are preferred over acrylic paints. The acrylic can come off once grouted.
Tile Grout: If you can get premixed grout, it's more expensive, you should get this. If you don't have this in your budget you can get the powder grout and mix it.
Plastic gloves: Each student will need a pair.
A mask for you to mix grout if you are mixing powder grout.
Glue: You can use tile glue (preferred) or Elmer's: The glue must dry for 24 hours prior to grouting.**
Hooks and wires for hanging.
Mirror/glass/beads for adding different designs to your mosaic.
Ceramic tools: rubber rib, sponge, fettling knife, small loop tool.

Frequently Asked Questions About Making Mosaics.

Ceramics Arts Daily Video on Mosaic Making

Step 1: Choose your book cover.

Step 2: Take a wooden board (that has been pressure treated and sealed) and cover it with plastic. This should be the board you are going to be gluing your tiles to. Since the wooden board is covered with plastic the tiles can be kept on the board and covered with plastic until the construction is complete.

Step 3: Draw your design on paper that is the same size as your board. When you are done tracing/drawing your design you should use another color pen to map out your cut tiles. **Make sure your tiles are geometric in shape. Any tile that interlocks too much with another will warp and not fit after firing.**

Step 4: Number your tiles!

Step 5: Roll out a slab that is the same size as your drawing. Begin to trace your paper on top of your slab with a dull pencil.

Step 6: Use a loop tool to trace over your lines. The lines that are the cut tiles you should use a fettling knife to cut your tiles.

Step 7: On the back of each tile place the assigned number and your initials.

Step 8: Use an elephant ear sponge to smooth the edge of each tile.

Step 9: Let the tiles to dry 100% prior to firing. The bisque tiles can be stacked in the kiln.

Step 10: Glaze the front side of the tile. Be sure to wipe off all of the glaze on the back side so it doesn't stick to the kiln shelf. To get an accurate design, use underglazes and apply 3 layers of clear glaze on top.

Place the tiles in the kiln so they are not touching.

Step 11: Remove the plastic from the wooden board. Put your pieces back together. Separate the tiles on your board so you have about 1/4 of an inch of space between each tile. Use the tile glue to glue the backs down of the tiles. **Be sure to put the boarder tiles up against the edge of the board**

Step 12: Mix your grout. Follow the directions on the bag. **Wear a mask so you are not breathing in the grout dust. Everyone touching the grout must wear disposable gloves.

Step 13: Wipe down your tiles with a wrung out sponge. Keep wiping with a sponge and rinse your sponge in clean water. I had students dump out the water in the grass outside. NO GROUT should go down the drain or it will clog it. Rolls of paper towels were close by to help wipe down the tiles further. This process will take about 45 minutes. (Wipe down the sides of the wood so no clumps of grout are present.)