2 Coat the box with white primer and then leave to dry as instructed on the pot. As well as priming the wood, the white colour will give a greater luminosity to the top coat. If the white looks patch when dry, give the boxa second coat of primer and leave it to dry again.
Paint the box with a coat of the sailor blue paint and leave to dry as instructed. Once again, if the finished blue looks patchy when dry, and not very smooth, give the box a second coat and leave to dry.
Finally, sparingly apply some of the gold and silver paints with a dry brush and then rub it into the top surface with the cloth until you feel satisfied with the effect.
3 Replace the beads and glass tesserae as before, but this time butter each piece with PvA as you position it.
It is important to use sufficient glue to hold the beads and tesserae, but be careful not to use too much or it will squidge out from underneath them and onto the painted areas between. Remember that the finished mosaic is not going to be grouted this time so any excess glue will show.
4 When you have finished the top of the box, put it one side and start on the sides. Don't rush it. It is advisable to allow each side to dry thoroughly for an hour or so before turning the box round to mosaic the adjacent side.
5 In the areas where you know you are going to put glass tesserae, you can, if you wish, run a bead of glue onto the box. Continue in this way unitl you have mosaiced all four sides. Leave to dry for three hours. Fill the bead box with the remaining beads and replace the lid. Your bead box is now finished and ready to use.
GECKO PLAQUE
In hot countries, it is believed that there is a gecko in every happy home and it is regarded as a symbol of good fortune. In Malaysia, for example, where 'chic chic' means 'good luck', it is nicknamed chee cha.
Because a lizard's scaly body looks a bit like a mosaic anyway, they are particularly suitable for this art form. The sensuous movement within their bodies is very appealing and a delight to try and capture. This modern mosaic is tipping a wink at the Romans, who also loved to include lizards in their mosaics.
Size: 40 * 20 cm (16 * 8 in)
Designer : martin cheek
Makers: Alan welcome and martin cheek
YOU WILL NEED
15 mm (5/8 in) thick MDF measuring 40 * 20 cm Face mask
(16 * 8 in) Rubber gloves
Two sheets of A4 carbon paper 450 g (1 lb) of powdered grout
Template Bowl of water
Sharp pencil Mixing board for the grout
Tracing paper Trowel
Sheets of newspaper Plastic grout spreader
Vitreous glass tiles as shown above right Cleaning cloth
Mosaic nippers Liquid floor cleaner
125 ml (4 ft oz) wood adhesive in a dispenser Abrasive cleaning pad
craft knife Pair of 'D' rings or mirror plates and screws
Safety spectacles
1 gold-leafed (2 tiles)
2 black (3 tiles)
3 pale blue (6 ties)
4 blue (4 tiles)
5 pale green (98 tiles)
6 purple (33 tiles)
7 pale green (240 tiles)
8 dark green (66 tiles)
9 mauve (36 tiles)
10 emerald vein (10 tiles)
11 Sorrento blue (6 tiles)
12 lizard green (53 tiles)
1 Using carbon paper laid ink-side down on the surface you are about to mosaic, transfer the gecko design and the background lines onto the MDF board.
2 Begin by mosaic the edge of the board. Place a sheet of paper under the board to protect your work surface. cut some of the green and dark green tesserae in half and run a bead of glue along one side of the board. Fix the tesserae to the side of the board. Fix the tesserae to the side of the board making sure that they adhere firmly. continue on the other three sides and do not move the board as this may dislodge the tesserae and they may come away from the MDF. Leave to dry for about an hour.
3 Now cut the mauve and purple tesserae for the border. The edge tesserae will be standing proud of the surface of the MDF board, but as you complete the mauve and purple border you will see that the tesserae around the edge become flush with it.
4 Cut the tesserae for the gecko, keeping each colour ready to one side on a separate sheet of paper. Start to mosaic the key line of th gecko's tail, back and neck by buttering the ribbed face of each tesserae with glue and fixing it down on the board. Make a clear, flowing line as this will define the entire mosaic. It is rather like a jigsaw puzzle in that you need to select a tessera which fits well. Compare the angle made by the side of the tessera with the outline of the design and select the tile to match that angle. If you can't find a suitable tessera, then nibble one to fit.
5 Continue to mosaic the gecko. When you come to mosaic the toes, nibble a curve onto the tessera. Try to match the design as closely as possible but don't worry if it comes out slightly differently. when finished, cut up a pool of tesserae ready for the background and keep them on one side. Put in the line of background that surrounds the gecko, using the background colour. This opus vermiculatum is very important as it delineates the subject and separates it from the flow of the background. Then mosaic the rest of the background.
Once you have finished, leave the mosaic to dry for at least three hours; then tear off the newspaper and, using a craft knife, cut away any excess glue. Pour out the grout onto a board or into a bowl and add just enough water to make a fairly sloppy 'mud pie' mixture, mixing it thoroughly with the trowel. Put a small quantity in the middle of the plaque. Beginning with the sides, spread out the
grout evenly, pushing it gently into the gaps.
6 Next grout the top of the mosaic, running the grout in all directions to ensure that the gaps are thoroughly filled.
Wipe off with a damp cloth and, if necessary, remove all excess grout with a craft knife and make sure that no part of any tessera is submerged beneath the grout.
Allow to dry for at least two days before cleaning off the surface scum with the liquid floor cleaner and abrasive pad.
'Fix the 'D' rings or mirror plates to the back of the board and hang the mosaic as a picture.
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