Product Description

Great crossover potential--introduces a fresh creative medium and process for mixed-media, collage, assemblage, polymer clay and mosaic tile artists.

Project variety--along with more familiar surfaces (like tables and mirrors), mosaic work is introduced in refreshingly new formats, such as jewelry and shrines.

Features an extensive techniques section and 18 step-by-step demos designed to be accessible to all skill levels.

Mixed Media Mosaics uses polymer-clay, mosaic-tile work as a new and exciting platform for mixed-media/collage artists. Readers will learn to craft highly textural and vividly colored icons, boxes, tables, items of personal adornment and more, using a combination of manufactured tiles and handmade tiles. Techniques for creating the tiles include painting and glazing, stamping, embedding items like beads and buttons, mixing pigments and mica powders with clay, adding metallic leaf, creating molds, combining the handcrafted tiles with traditional mosaic tile, grout alternatives and more. In addition to learning techniques for making their own tiles, readers will discover helpful processes for working inspiration (such as an homage to a loved one or a memorable getaway) into their tile-work, using personalization techniques such as stamping words or adding personal ephemera and found objects.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7332 in Books
• Published on: 2007-07-06
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

About the Author
Laurie Mika’s work employs her unique handmade tiles with mosaics, beads and jewelry to create “contemporary icons” (a blend of Byzantine art, Illuminated Manuscripts and Mexican folk art). Laurie was published in the premier issue of Expressions magazine and has had work published in Somerset Studio, Somerset Wedding 2, Haute Handbags and Somerset Gallery 5, as well as the books 400 Polymer Clay Designs (Lark, 2004: 1579904602), New Techniques for Wearable Art (Quarry, 2004: 1592530753) and JoAnn Locktov’s Mosaic Art and Style: Designs for Living Environments (Quarry, 2005: 1592531458). Mika has also appeared on HGTV’s Crafters Coast to Coast and the DIY network’s Craft Lab, and has taught workshops at Artfest in Port Townsend, Washington, Art Unraveled in Phoenix, Arizona, and Art and Soul in Dallas. She will also be teaching at Art and Soul in Portland in 2006 and at Hacienda Mosaico in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico, in 2007.

Customer Reviews

Inspiring and beautiful book
I absolutely love this artist and her book - the photos and instructions are beautiful and clearly detailed - I am embarking on a new journey into the art of making clay tile and assemblages, and the ideas presented in this book have been fantastic - I have already started ordering supplies from the recommended vendors and am so excited about incorporating these ideas and techniques into my own creations!

A Different Refreshing Book that Lives Up to It's Title
This is one of the few inspiring and how-to books I've come across in a while. Many have claims and teasers on the outside but this one actually gives the reader the complete background and foundation with which to springboard the techniques for use in the artist's work. Highly recommended!

Beautiful finished project, easy to follow directions
I purchased this book to make a mirror for a 6th grade class project. I've never worked with polymer clay before so I was a little nervous. The directions were easy to follow and the end result was amazing. Our family plans on doing a mirror at our next family reunion for the grandparents. It was fun, easy and once you start you'll want to keep making more and trying different techniques.