YOUR FIRST MOSAIC.

A few tiles, a little colour and a design you chose yourself. What is it really like to try mosaic making for the first time?

EXPLORE THE GUIDE ↓

01 / GETTING STARTED

FROM LARGER TILES TO YOUR FIRST IDEA.

At your first workshop, you'll get to know the technique, materials and tools. Then comes your first creative decision: choosing a design you'd like to make.

Larger pieces of tile are cut into smaller ones, shaped to fit your chosen design and gradually arranged into a complete composition. That's how your first mosaic begins to take shape.

This is how Miroslav Bušić describes the beginning of a workshop. A self-taught mosaic maker, he has been working with the technique for more than ten years.

Workshop participants arranging small tiles and making mosaics. — Mosaic making at a workshop — photograph provided for MOVE&TRY.

Your first mosaic isn't a test of artistic talent. It's a chance to discover a new material and see what you can make from small pieces.

02 / DO YOU NEED EXPERIENCE?

YOU DON'T NEED TO KNOW HOW TO DRAW.

No specific knowledge or previous mosaic-making experience is required. Miroslav says a little sense of space and colour coordination is helpful, but he's happy to guide beginners with that too.

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

Curiosity, a willingness to try something new and a little patience while the pieces find their place.

WHAT DON'T YOU NEED?

Art training, drawing experience or a perfectly planned result.

You'll be introduced to the materials and tools during the workshop. Before attending, check the organiser's information to find out what's included and whether you need to bring anything.

03 / CHOOSING YOUR DESIGN

START WITH SOMETHING SIMPLE.

A flower, a simple ornament, a stylised fish or a butterfly. These are the kinds of designs Miroslav recommends to first-time mosaic makers.

The colours are up to you. If you're making a bird, for example, you don't need to copy its real-life colours. You can create your own combination, while keeping an eye on how the colours work together.

Colourful mosaic birds featuring decorative teacups. — Examples of mosaic artwork — photograph provided for MOVE&TRY.

The design is your starting point.
The colours are your choice.

04 / WORKING WITH MATERIALS

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE? THE NIPPERS.

Tiles don't always come in the shapes you need. That's why they're cut and adjusted to fit the design.

According to Miroslav, beginners often find handling the special tile-cutting nippers the most challenging part of the process.

You'll use the tools with guidance from the workshop leader. There's no need to rush: the aim is to get familiar with the technique and gradually become comfortable working with the material.

When cutting tiles, follow your instructor's safety guidance, especially when handling sharp edges and small fragments.

05 / THE FINISHING TOUCH

AND THEN THE MOSAIC COMES TO LIFE.

Once the tiles have been arranged and the piece is ready for finishing, it's time for the part beginners often enjoy most, according to Miroslav: grouting.

The spaces between the tiles are filled with grout. This is when the artwork takes on a finished, unified appearance and the design really stands out.

Finished floral mosaic with green, white and orange tiles. — A finished mosaic — an example of small pieces becoming a whole.

Every piece doesn't need to be perfectly precise. What matters is getting a feel for the technique and enjoying the process.

“A little precision is needed, but that shouldn't scare anyone. After all, we're not making mosaics for ancient Roman villas.”

— Miroslav Bušić

06 / WHAT DO YOU TAKE HOME?

MORE THAN A FINISHED PIECE.

One workshop won't turn you into a master mosaic maker. Miroslav is quite open about that.

But you'll discover the basics of the technique, get to know the materials and tools, learn something new and take home your own creation along with plenty of useful advice.

What Miroslav particularly enjoys about leading workshops is watching how each person approaches the same challenge differently. That's why, he says, no two finished pieces are ever exactly alike.

One participant described the workshop as “therapy for the brain”. A lovely way of describing time spent focusing on something completely different from everyday life.

07 / YOUR NEXT STEP

READY TO GIVE IT A TRY?

If the idea of creating something of your own from little pieces of tile appeals to you, mosaic making might be your next TRY.

Discover workshops with Miroslav Bušić and find out where you can try the technique.

WHERE TO TRY →