A mosaic is a sculptural art form where the entire picture is made using small pieces of glass, ceramic tile or other materials. Such materials are called tesserae.

Mosaic art may be repetitive patterns, or a free styled picture. Traditionally mosaics where created to decorate temples, churches and other significant buildings. Due to their longevity and hard wearing nature they were also the decoration of choice for Roman bath houses. Many glorious examples of ancient mosaics that date from BC still exist today. Italy is considered to have the finest examples of mosaic art in the world.

Mosaics last for an extremely long time simply due to the materials used as tesserae, which may include: 

• Glazed Pottery & Ceramic Tiles
• Vitreous Glass
• Marble, Pebbles & Stone
• Smalti
• Shell

Historically there are several terms used to describe different styles of mosaic patterns they are:

• Opus regulatum - A grid formation where all tesserae align both vertically and horizontally.
• Opus tessellatum - The tesserae forms either a vertical or horizontal row, but not both.
• Opus vermiculatum -  One or more lines of tesserae follow the edge of a special shape normally letters, symbols or a major central image.
• Opus musivum - Vermiculatum extends throughout the entire background.
• Opus palladianum - Instead of forming rows, tesserae are more irregularly shaped. This is also known as "crazy paving".
• Opus sectile - A major shape, letter or symbol is formed by a single tessera.
• Opus classicum - When vermiculatum is combined with tessellatum or regulatum.
• Opus circumactum - Tesserae are laid in overlapping semicircles or fan shapes.
• Micromosaic  - Using very small tesserae, in Byzantine icons and Italian panels for jewelry from the Renaissance on.

How a mosaic is created:
The pattern is generally drawn on a wall or flat surface first. The artist then applies a small portion of grout, or mosaic adhesive, and begins to lay down tessera piece by piece, color by color according to their design. Working in small portions allows the adhesive to always be fresh and not dry out to quickly. Once all the tesserae has been put in place often but not always the entire piece will be grouted to fill the gaps between each piece. Then gentle washed back with water to reveal the clean mosaic surface.

Learning how to make a mosaic is really easy, you can buy a mosaic making kit from mosaic supplies store, or alternatively enrol in mosaic making classes to learn the basics.