Ceramic artists can use tile to create a world of interesting murals and designs on walls, floors or furniture. Making original tile designs opens up both decorative and narrative possibilities for ceramicists.
Planning the Ceramic Tile Design
Creating tile for mosaics requires attention to some specific details. First, artists must assemble the proper tools for this project. Make sure to have to following tools and supplies on hand before starting:
- dowel rods
- rolling pin
- wedging board
- stoneware clay
- ceramic kiln
- glaze
- paint brushes
- knife
- spray bottle with water
- wax
- an old hotplate
- sketch book and pencil
Before forming the tiles, take some time to sketch ideas for the larger mosaic design. Think of tile shapes, colors and sizes. Remember that tiles shrink by about one-third of their size during the firing process. Consider the sketch as a loose blueprint for the final mosaic design.
Creating the Ceramic Tiles for Mosaic Designs
Mosaic tiles must all measure the same width to create a smooth and even design. This can easily be accomplished by placing dowel rods of equal width on either side of the clay as it is being rolled out. Use the same size of dowel rods when rolling out clay for any new mosaic tiles to produce a uniform width for the mosaic.
To make the tiles, use a rolling pin to roll a homogeneous moist clay body onto a wedging board. Make sure the clay is free from air bubbles and imperfections. Once the clay is smooth and even, use a knife to cut out tile designs. To create numerous tiles in the same shape and size, create a paper template that can be laid on top of the clay and serve as a guide when cutting out the tile.
Do not pull up the tile after cutting. Instead, cut all of the tiles and then pull up the excess clay surrounding the tiles. Use the spray bottle to lightly moisten the clay and smooth out rough edges with a finger. Then carefully pick up the tiles and transfer them to a drying rack.
Wedge or knead the remaining clay and then roll it out again. Continue until all of the tiles have been created.
Firing the Stoneware Tiles in a Ceramic Kiln
Once the tiles have dried to a bone dry stage, they can be bisque fired to prepare them for glazing. Make sure that tiles are laid flat in the kiln and clear the kiln shelves of any debris. This will keep the tiles from warping during the firing process.
Once the tiles have been bisque fired and have cooled, they can be coated with glaze. Glaze tiles by either dipping or painting. When dipping, make sure to coat the back of the tiles in melted wax. The wax acts as a resist so that glaze will not coat the back of the tile. The back of the tile needs to be glaze-free to prevent firing problems and provide a better surface onto which mortar can adhere. Heat wax in an old hotplate and dip each tile before glazing. When painting, remember to follow glaze directions and paint in numerous directions to prevent visible brush marks.
After the tiles are glazed, fire them again in the ceramic kiln. Adjust the firing temperature based on the glaze directions. Allow ample time for ceramics to cool before removing them from the kiln. Removing ceramics too early will result in cracking and imperfections. Once the tiles have been removed, they are ready to be used for mosaics.
Create Original Designs with Handmade Ceramic Tiles
Though time consuming, ceramic tiles can be easy and fun to create. By making tiles, artists can create one-of-a-kind mosaics to enhance furniture and interior design. Just by following some simple tips, anyone can find endless creative opportunities using ceramic tile.
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- Creating a Ceramic Tile Kitchen Backsplash – How to create a tile mural for a kitchen backsplash.
- Garden Craft Ideas – Information on garden craft projects such as mosaic stepping stones.
Elizabeth Beeson - Elizabeth spends most of her time wielding a torch and creating original wearable art for her jewelry line: Quite Clever Jewelry. She also ...
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