Why I Use Mesh for Most of My Mosaics (and Why Sometimes I Don’t)
When people see my mosaics, they often ask:
“Do you build these pieces directly onto the surface?”
Sometimes I do—but most of the time, I use mesh.
Mesh gives me the control to perfect the image first, on paper, before I ever cut a tile. It lets me plan out every detail, follow the lines exactly, and adjust things as I go without worrying about glue drying too fast or making permanent mistakes.
I’ve tried free-form mosaicing in the past, but it just didn’t give me the detail or flow I wanted. Working over mesh means I can build the piece like a painting, following my sketch as my guide, and making the vision real.
But I don’t use mesh for everything—especially not for backgrounds.
Here’s why.
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Why I Use Mesh for the Main Design
Using mesh lets me:
Create design over paper and work directly from the sketch
Build the piece section by section without committing to glue too soon
Pick up and move parts of the mosaic to check flow, adjust fit, or fix mistakes
Create highly detailed images—like birds, animals, or gnome figures—with precision
Mesh is like a safety net for mosaics where the image matters deeply.
It keeps the artwork true to the concept.
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Why I Don’t Use Mesh for Backgrounds
For me, backgrounds are a different story.
I like to create backgrounds organically, directly onto the substrate.
Here’s why:
Backgrounds are about flow, texture, and movement—not strict design lines
I like to have a theme or mood in mind (garden, sky, texture, etc.) and fill the space intuitively.
I layer individual designs into the background—flowers, insects, flowers, large scale animals—and then blend everything together directly on the piece.
This keeps the mosaic feeling alive and flexible. It lets me respond to the piece as it grows, rather than locking everything in from the start.
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Balancing Control and Creativity
Using mesh for the main design gives me control.
Free-form backgrounds give me freedom.
It’s not one or the other—it’s both.
That balance is what makes my mosaics feel finished but natural, detailed but not stiff.
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Final Thoughts: Mesh Is a Tool, Not a Rule
There’s no “right way” to mosaic.
Mesh is a tool I rely on for accuracy when I need it, but I’m not tied to it for every part of the process.
The real art is knowing when to plan—and when to let the piece grow on its own.
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Want to Learn More?
If you’re learning mosaics or thinking about commissioning a custom piece, follow along for more tutorials and behind-the-scenes insights.