Looking for a mosaic artist?

Most professional mosaic artists will have their own process for you to follow, should you approach them with an interest in commissioning them to create a bespoke work of mosaic for you.

In most cases, an initial consultation by telephone, email exchange or site visit will establish the essential information required for the artist to provide a firm quotation or estimate of the total cost. Some artists will offer this sort of consultation free of charge, although if travel costs and a significant amount of time are involved, you should expect to cover these expenses and agree this with the artist beforehand.

‘mosaic is such a versatile artform, it has endless possibilities’

Since mosaic is such a versatile artform, it has endless possibilities. You might have a very clear idea of where and how your mosaic will be sited, the desired colour palette, size, choice of materials and design or you may prefer to seek advice and suggestions from the artist to arrive at all these decisions together.

Although this will vary from one artist to another and depend on the scale and type of project, (including whether this is a public art or private commission), there will normally be between four and six stages in the process. These are:

1. Initial consultation
2. Research/design/sketch ideas
3. Final design
4. Fabrication
5. Delivery/installation
6. Future maintenance

It is advisable to have an agreement in place that sets out these stages together with a payment plan and schedule so that you and the artist both know when each stage will be completed. The artist will invoice you for payment, usually in instalments, according to the plan that you have agreed upon.

Sometimes, it is a challenge for the artist to calculate the time that will be required for fabrication before the design has been created and agreed. They might, in such cases, suggest providing a final figure for fabrication once the design stage has been completed, particularly if the brief is very open to begin with. Nevertheless, they will normally provide at least a ballpark figure so that you have a reasonable idea of what to expect.

Many mosaic materials are expensive, may need to be imported and could take some time to arrive. Artists will therefore aim to order these at the earliest opportunity and will include the costs within the initial payment wherever possible.

Once you have everything set out and agreed, you can enjoy the excitement of seeing your idea come to life.

If the mosaic is destined to be installed into a public space, it is important that any required permissions have been granted, including planning permission where necessary, and that you have an understanding of who will own and maintain the work once completed. The artist should provide clear dimensioned drawings and liaise with any on-site contractors involved with other works on site regarding the installation timing and methodology. In these situations, the artist will provide a risk assessment and method statement for the installation work (also known as RAMS) that must be approved before work on site commences.

On the other hand, if you are commissioning a mosaic for your home or private garden, arrangements might be less formal, but it is advisable to have a clear understanding of how the mosaic will be installed and any implications or preparation that might be required.