Purchase Guide: Glass & Tile Art

About Glass and Tile Art

Glass and tile art encompasses a vast array of artistic forms and media, including stained glass, mosaics, etching, interior design, and more. Glass and tile art is unique in that its techniques are simple enough to be mastered by beginners and children yet versatile enough to create complex, extraordinary works of art. The possibilities are nearly endless in terms of designs, materials, and uses of glass and tile art, both for decorative pieces as well as architectural features. More artists every day are being turned on to how satisfying and expressive glass and tile art can be.

MisterArt.com has everything you need to begin a glass or tile art project! Use this guide as a resource to familiarize yourself with glass and tile art and then be sure to check out our everyday discounts on top-quality glass and tile art supplies.

History of Glass and Tile Art

Glass and tile art was a widely popular art form in times of classical antiquity all the way through the Middle Ages. Especially popular were uses of glass and tile art for domestic design—Brilliant mosaics were popular decorations in ancient Macedonian palaces and Roman dwellings alike. Although both periods produced staggering works of glass and tile art, the medium was largely a luxury of the wealthy upper classes. In ancient times, only those who could afford to commission works in what was an expensive medium were able to enjoy it up close. During the Middle Ages, great pieces of glass and tile art were typically the domain of the church. The fact that so many pieces of glass and tile art from these periods in history have survived to the present is a testament to the durable nature of the medium.

In the 19th century, artists' and consumers' attitudes towards glass and tile art began to change. Improving means of production made glass and tile art cheaper to make, putting the art form within the grasp of more artists and buyers. Though previously heavily indebted to the techniques and style of painting, glass and tile art began to take on a more industrial and commercial appeal. By the middle of the 20th century, mass production had lowered the cost of materials such that the market was virtually flooded by cheap and uninspired works of glass and tile art, giving the medium an air of kitschiness. Nevertheless, the possibilities for modern glass and tile décor and design remain even more limitless today than they were 1,000 years ago.

Getting Started

For artists interested in glass and tile art, there are many techniques and materials from which to choose. In addition to mosaics, glass and tile art can include stained glass, etching, blown glass, murals, and even masonry. In order to choose the best medium for your vision, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the tools and techniques you might need.

MisterArt.com offers a large selection of books at discounted prices that cover a wide range of techniques, materials, and ideas to inspire your glass and tile art.

Etching

Etching is a technique that allows the artist to create designs and patterns on the surface of glass by applying abrasive, caustic, or acidic materials. Glass etching can be achieved through the use of rotary tools equipped with diamond-point bits as well as glass etching cream, which typically consist of compounds such as sodium fluoride and hydrogen fluoride. Etching creates an opaque, frosted look on glass.

Glass etching is a great glass and tile art technique to add art to glassware, mirrors, fishbowls, votives, and all manner of glass objects. You can find everyday discount prices on etching tools and materials at MisterArt.com!

Stained Glass

Stained glass is glass that has been colored by the addition of metallic salts during its manufacturing process. Stained glass can be cut and arranged into gorgeous, light-catching mosaics, as seen most famously in the windows of cathedrals and houses of worship the world over. Painted details and yellow stain are commonly utilized to enhance the colored glass designs, as well.

Stained glass projects are usually assembled by arranging the cut pieces of glass and wrapping the edges with special foil or wire to be soldered together. Stained glass projects require a variety of tools, including colored glass, a glass cutter, soldering iron, solder wire or foil, and other glass and tile art materials. You can buy stained glass supplies at discounted prices at MisterArt.com.

Glass Markers

Markers can be a fun, easy way to decorate your glass and tile art, but not just any markers will do. MisterArt.com carries an array of durable, permanent-ink markers that are as suitable for use on glass as they are on paper. Oil-based paint markers are also a good choice to provide glass and tile art with colorful splashes and details. They're also great for laying out patterns for mosaic tiles.

MisterArt.com also carries some markers intended for use on glass that are erasable and washable, enabling artists to turn virtually any glass surface into a temporary masterpiece!

Mosaics

Although the results can be spectacular, the process of creating a mosaic is actually surprisingly simple. The technique has remained virtually unchanged for a millennium and is easily learned. Most mosaics require the use of a few basic accessories and tools, namely:

• Tile Nippers: These are tile cutters that are especially useful for halving or quartering tiles (or tesserae) or for "nibbling" them into precise shapes for your mosaic.
• Tile Adhesive: Affix tiles to wood, cement, metal, or other surfaces in the pattern of your choice to build your mosaic.
• Tile Grout: Grout is the mortar most often used to set a finished mosaic. Grouts come in a variety of grains and colors—the best grout for your project depends largely on the color and distance apart of your tiles.

Mosaic tiles themselves, also known as tesserae, also come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Ceramic, stone, and glass tiles are the most common, and each type of tile lends a different character to your glass and tile art. Tiles can be purchased from MisterArt.com in sets of both solid and multicolored tesserae!

Painting

If your tile and glass art isn't complete without a little more color, there are many different kinds of glass and tile paint available at discount prices from MisterArt.com. Use glossy paint or glitter to give your mosaic extra shine, or use frosted glass finish to make your glass etching really stand out!

Tile Nippers

These are tile cutters that are especially useful for halving or quartering tiles (or tesserae) or for "nibbling" them into precise shapes for your mosaic.

Tile Adhesive

Affix tiles to wood, cement, metal, or other surfaces in the pattern of your choice to build your mosaic.

Tile Grout

Grout is the mortar most often used to set a finished mosaic. Grouts come in a variety of grains and colors—the best grout for your project depends largely on the color and distance apart of your tiles.

Mosaic tiles themselves, also known as tesserae, also come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Ceramic, stones, and glass tiles are the most common, and each type of tile lends a different character to your glass and tile art.