Finally did something with the first of three side tables I picked up for five dollars, two years ago, at the Royal Oak Antique & Garage Sale. The tables are really ideal for mosaic, in that the surface panels are removable and easily replaced with plywood. Consequently, the art is interchangeable, should I ever want to change things around! I took Ruth Tyszka’s Mosaic Tables class at Creative Arts Studio for orientation. It’s tricky enough to design a piece without worrying about choosing a suitable adhesive, buying the correct quantities of tile, and my particular concern: grouting without making an unholy mess. Ruth was a terrific instructor!
I’m thrilled with how this turned out, for my first mosaic! Once I decided on koi, the piece designed itself. I was a very nervous about choosing colors for the background and grout. I needed suitable contrast between the water and the fish, without making the whole piece loud or gaudy. And with my decor, I wanted to avoid deep blues, much as I usually love them. The accent stripes of medium blue ended up being a fantastic compromise to maintain the illusion of water. Grouting turned out to be vastly easier than I’d expected, since the excess can be removed with a dry paper towel rather than a sponge. I’d still do it outside, but it’s not that much trouble, all things considered.
What subject should I choose for my next two tables?







