Many of our members have been selling their mosaic art for years at craft shows, through gift shops, galleries and online venues. The following questions have been compiled from these years of experience and have been asked consistently by our customers.

We understand that making any purchase online and not being able to pick it up and touch it can make the decision to buy or not to buy a little bit harder to make. We hope that by taking the time to educate you on our art form and give you some background on the process, you will go into our shops armed with the knowledge to make an informed decision and choose to buy a handmade piece of mosaic art.

~ Are mosaics too heavy to hang on my walls?

Answer: Most mosaics are not as heavy as they appear to be. Mosaic artists keep this in mind when choosing their materials as many mosaic pieces are intended to be hung on the wall. Many mosaic artists will furnish the appropriate hardware to hang your new mosaic.

~ What kinds of materials are used to make a mosaic?

Answer: The list is endless but many mosaics are constructed on a wooden base. Many mosaic artists like to use an existing object and transform this into a mosaic piece. The type of tiles may range from dinnerware plate tiles to expensive imported 24K gold tiles. All types of 3D objects may be used when making a mosaic such as parts of broken china figurines, clay objects, wood, metal, glass shapes and much more. It depends on the style and imagination of the artist.

~ Does a mosaic need special care?

Answer: As a rule, mosaic art does not require special care. However, a nice polish once in awhile will keep your mosaic art as bright and sparkling as it was when you first purchased it.

~ What is that material in between the tiles?

Answer: Usually the mosaic piece is finished with grout, a commercially produced product used in home flooring and baths. Sometimes an artist may choose another material that suits a particular mosaic and will inform you if that material needs special care.

~ How do you attach the mosaic tiles?

Answer: This depends on the type of tile and whether or not the mosaic will be used indoors or installed outdoors. Mosaic artists use a variety of adhesives including very strong glues, silicone and mortar-type products for outdoor mosaics.

~ How long will mosaic art last?

Answer: That depends on the individual artist, the materials used and the actual intent behind the creation of the mosaic. Most artists create mosaics that will last for hundreds of years.

~ I've never seen mosaics before. Is this a new art form?

Answer: Not at all. Mosaics date back over 4,000 years and were primarily used to decorate homes of the wealthy and enormous cathedrals and churches. Very early traces of mosaic art may be found in Asia but the more sophisticated mosaics developed rapidly in ancient Greece, the Roman Empire and the post-Roman Byzantine era. Ancient mosaics may be found in many cultures worldwide.

~ Are mosaics expensive?

Answer: This depends on the individual artist, but as a rule, mosaic art is quite affordable. To a great degree, the price depends upon the materials involved, the time required to make the mosaic and the reputation of the artist. There are many wonderful original mosaics that are in the $50 - $1,000 price range.

~ Are mosaics a collectible form of art?

Answer: As an investment for the future, mosaics are a good investment. Currently there are established mosaic organizations worldwide, mosaics are regularly exhibited in art shows and there are many public art commissions utilizing mosaic artists for city projects.

~ Are there any size limitations for mosaic art?

Answer: Not at all. Mosaic art can be as small or as large as the artist decides it needs to be for a particular project.

~ Do mosaic artists do custom orders?

Answer: It depends on the artist. Most mosaic art is original and never reproduced again by the artist. However, many mosaic artists do offer custom mosaics for their buyers.

~ How much will it cost to have a mosaic shipped to me?

Answer: In the United States there are several methods of shipping. Priority mail, Parcel Post mail and UPS Ground are a few of the shipping options. The cost of shipping depends on which method the seller uses. Quite often, the seller will offer you several shipping options to find the best price for you. Small to medium-sized mosaics can be shipped for approximately $6.00 to $12.00 in most cases.