Why I Use Shards Instead of Uniform Shapes in My Mosaics

I don’t cut perfect little squares.

I don’t use uniform shapes or big pre-cut pieces.

I use shards—raw, broken, irregular pieces—and I do it on purpose.

For me, mosaicing isn’t about polishing things to fit inside the lines.

It’s about making something beautiful from the broken.

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Why I Choose Shards

I love the randomness of shards.

Each piece is unique, just like each of us. There’s a story in every jagged edge and angle.

When you put them together, they create something richer than uniform tiles ever could.

> Uniformity feels boring to me.

It’s uninspiring. It’s decoration without heart.

Shards give me the freedom to:

Follow the shape of the subject naturally

Create texture and movement

Make designs that don’t look machine-made or sterile

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Creating Something From the Broken

This process isn’t just technical—it’s personal.

I believe in creating something from what’s broken and making it bold again.

It reflects life, really. We’ve all been through things. We’ve all had cracks. That doesn’t mean we’re not worthy of beauty or purpose.

In fact, the broken bits are often the parts that shine the most.

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Not Polished, Not Forced

Shards let me:

Work with the material as it is

Shape the mosaic naturally without forcing it into rigid patterns

Keep the process alive and responsive, not mechanical

I don’t want to make art that looks like it came off a factory line.

I want it to feel like it grew into place, piece by piece.

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Final Thoughts: Beauty in the Unfinished

Mosaicing with shards is about accepting imperfections and letting them work for you, not against you.

It’s about turning chaos into something meaningful, without sanding off the parts that make it real.

That’s why I do it—and why I’ll keep doing it.

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