Another Review at MyShelf.Com

Mosaics
Studio Secrets Series

by Verdiani Marzi and Fabienne Gambrelle

      Watch a modern mosaic master in his studio and learn some of the tricks of the trade. This book is well illustrated with lots of shots of Marzi at work, and it is certainly motivating to see what a truly renowned mosaicist’s workplace looks like, and how he goes about his work. I’ve got quite a few books on making mosaics, and invariably they show somebody having a go in an ordinary home environment, often making something fairly basic. The projects in here are just as step-by-step, but seeing such a very different workplace and contrasting it with one’s own kitchen table/garden shed, etc., can be rather intimidating.

Reading between all this reveals several projects demonstrating the main types of mosaic: direct method, mesh method and reverse mosaic. A large amount of space is devoted to one project to make a brightly colored free standing bird sculpture for the garden, but you can also learn how to make a frieze, how the ancients worked, and make a wall lamp. Discover a brief history of mosaic, how to cut the tiles, see the different materials used for making mosaics, and find out at least some of what you need to buy. I would have preferred Search Press’ usual illustrated list of items all carefully laid out on a table, but much of the information you need is in here somewhere.

The Studio Secrets series (the book on Millinery is also reviewed on this site) show masters at work and contain various staged projects, giving a unique way to learn a subject;, but I would not recommend this book to a beginner with no previous mosaic-making experience. Somebody very used to a large number of craft processes, or anybody who has done a small amount of mosaic work and has the tools and a little (but not much) experience ought to find it useful.

The Book

Search Press
May 2010
Paperback
1844485064 / 9781844485062
How-To Books/Mosaics
More at Amazon.com US || UK
Excerpt
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The Reviewer

Rachel A Hyde
Reviewed 2010
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