There is so much to learn about the craft of
making handmade tiles and mosaics that it would be impossible to cover
everything on this webpage! Below I've provided some basic information
about how AMATRIX Studio Art Tile and Mosaics are crafted, as well as, listed a
few books and periodicals which I highly recommend.
Design
The question I am most often asked is "Where do you get
your design ideas from?" It's a difficult question to answer because
I draw inspiration from many different sources. Sometimes I create tile
art to express an emotion. Other times, my
work is an visual representation of an idea which I think warrants
expression. Many times I create a piece just to test my skills as a
ceramic artist. I like to experiment with the materials to get a better
understanding of how they react to certain kinds of manipulation. Once I
feel I've mastered one technique, I set new goals for myself and see if I can
expand on the skills and knowledge I've gained.
Mold Making
AMATRIX Studio Art Tiles are pressed from hand carved
plaster molds. A great book for easy, step by step instructions on mold
making is
The Clay Lover's Guide to Making Molds by Pierce Clayton. This book is
a great resource for anyone who would like to learn the basics of mold making.
Pressing Tiles
Instructions for building and using a tile press like the one
pictured to the right can be found in the book Handmade Tiles by Frank
Giorgini. This is the tile press I use in my studio. It took me two
days to build and costs about $50 in materials. The instructions were very
easy to follow and the project was not too difficult. One person could
complete the project on his/her own but an extra set of hands is always
helpful.
After using it a few times, I did find that it was
necessary to slightly modify the design. The plunging pipe did not fit
snuggly enough in the pipe wall and would therefore sometimes press down at an
angle which would result in tiles which were not a consistent depth. However, the
problem was easy to fix. To keep the plunging pipe steady, I added another
tie down strap from the plunger board to the back of the tile press. The extra
strap corrected the problem. ... This homemade tile press meets my current needs
and works quite well.
Drying
Clay tiles can take a few weeks to air dry
indoors. I cover freshly pressed tiles with a thin sheet of plastic
and let them dry a few days until they are stiff enough to handle. To
speed up the drying process, weather permitting, I then place them outside to
dry in the sun.
Mosaics
AMATRIX Studio mosaics are made by either assembling
pressed tiles or puzzle like tile pieces which have been hand cut from a large
slabs of clay - or a combination of both types of tiles.
Setting
AMATRIX Studio mosaics are set on Hardibacker® using a
thinset mortar which is mixed with a latex additive for extra bonding
strength. Hardibacker® is a water resistant
fiber-cement board.
Although weather resistant materials are used in the
construction, AMATRIX Studio fine art mosaics should not be hung outdoors and
directly exposed to the elements.
Hanging
Mosaics are hung with picture wire which is tied to
either screws or d-rings located on the back of the mosaics. Since the mosaics are
set on Hardibacker®, screws cannot be directly threaded into the back of the
mosaic. Instead, the screws must be threaded into zero pronged tee-nuts. A
tee-nut looks like a washer with a shaft attached to it and it comes in many
different sizes. Washers are sometimes used when it's necessary to
provide a tighter fit between the screw and the backer board. This hanging
system is used on mosaics which weigh 30 pounds or less. Most of the hardware
and supplies mentioned can be found at major hardware stores such as Home Depot
and Lowe's.
D. Franchi
Recommended Reading
Art History
American Art Tile 1876-1941, Norman Karlson, ISBN0-8478-2098-x.
History of Art, H.W. Janson, ISBN 0-13-389388.
Symbolism, Michael Gibson, 3-8228-7030-7.
Take a Look: An Introduction to the Experience of Art, Rosemary Davidson,
ISBN 0-670-84478-0.
The History of Art from Ancient to Modern Times, Claudio Merlo, ISBN
0-87226-531-5.
The Painter's Eye: Learning to Look at Contemporary American Art, Jan
Greenberg and Sandra Jordan, ISBN 0-385-30319-x.
Tiles: 1,000 Years of Architectural Decoration, Hans Van Lemmen,
0-8109-3867-7.l
Art Therapy
The Art of Art Therapy, Judith Aron Rubin, ISBN 0-87630-371-8.
The Art Therapy Sourcebook, Cathy A. Malchiodi, M.A., A.T.R., L.P.A.T.,
L.P.C.C., ISBN 1-56565-884-1.
Creative Healing: How to Heal Yourself by Tapping Your Hidden Creativity,
Michael Samuels, M.D. and Mary Rockwood Lane, R.N., M.S.N., ISBN0-06-251518-7.
The Craft
Clay and Glazes for the Potter, Daniel Rhodes, ISBN 0-87341-863-8.
Clay Times: The Journal of Ceramic Trends and Techniques, ISSN
1087-7614.
Crafting as a Business, Wendy Rosen, ISBN 0-8069-8553-4.
Handmade Tiles, Frank Giorgini, ISBN 0-937274-76-3.
Henry Chapman Mercer and the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works, Cleota Reed,
ISBN 0-8122-1601-6.
Illustrated Dictionary of Practical Pottery, 4th Ed., Robert Fournier, ISBN
0-7136-49577.
Mosaic Techniques & Traditions: Projects & Designs from
Around the World,
Sawdust Firing (The Complete Potter), Karin Hessenberg, ISBN 0-8122-3301-8.
Setting Tile , Michael Byrne, ISBN 1-56158-080-5.
The Art of Handmade Tile: Complete Instructions for Carving, Casting
& Glazing, Kristin Peck.
The Clay Lover's Guide to Making Molds, Pierce Clayton, ISBN 1-57990-186-7.
The Complete Guide to Ceramic & Stone Tile, Black & Decker, ISBN
1-58923-094-9.
The Complete Pebble Mosaic Handbook, Maggy Howarth, ISBN 1-55297-784-6.
The Potter's Guide to Ceramic Surfaces, Jo Connell, ISBN 0-87349-359-1.
The Practical Potter: A Step-by-Step Handbook, Josie Warshaw, ISBN
1-84309-206-9.
What Every Potter Should Know, Jeff Zamek, ISBN 0-87341-721-6.
Find the many of the books listed above at Amazon.com
