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silvamae

For tobytub and glass-addiction - opus (laying techniques)

silvamae
14 years ago

I am paraphrasing from my favorite mosaic book Classic Mosaic by Elaine M. Goodwin. The way tesserae are laid out are called the Opus. Opus Tessellatum is where the image is surrounded by one or two bands of tesserae to define its form. Opus Vermiculatum is when the tesserae resemble vermicelli, or curved lines. Opus Musivum occurs on larger floors (overall design). Opus Palladianum - random shapes. Andamento, the way in which the tesserae are made to flow in directional lines ...rhythm, movement.

Comments (13)

  • african
    14 years ago

    Opus literally means "work", but in mosaics could be method or style - There are even more Opuses or Opera, to be more correct in Latin. See mosaics dictionary for more of them

    Here is a link that might be useful: mosaics dictionary

  • tobytub
    14 years ago

    There are a bewildering number of these opuses explained fairly clearly in the dictionary. But are all these techniques just for old fashioned (Roman type) mosaics - or are they still used for modern pieces?

  • nicethyme
    14 years ago

    they are contantly relied upon in modern mosaics as well mostly often as backfill techniqhues to make subjects stand out, look at the works of Martin Cheek as great examples.

    My own Sidonea is outlined in vermiculatum while the fill was regulatum.

    try not to look at these techniques as having or being rules, they can add amazing interest to a piece even when simply mixed into abstracts

  • tobytub
    14 years ago

    When you do an "opus" background or outline, should you stick to just one color of tesserae?

  • african
    14 years ago

    As it is a background - I would guess just one color would be fine - does anyone know?

  • nicethyme
    14 years ago

    use what is complimentary to you subject. that can be many colors, materials... as long as the movement is continued, the tess can change

  • cathyscache
    14 years ago

    I find it literally depends on the piece how many or how little color goes in the background. My mosaic rule if it looks good and I like it , I do it. That's the nice thing about mosaics you can use the rules already laid out or follow your own!!! There is no right or wrong when it comes to color. But that's just my thinking.

  • african
    14 years ago

    Hi nicethyme - you have a point. But I don't think you can press it too far - no point using a particular style of background opus for emphasis, if you are going to stray too far from the style. I would imagine that as long as the particular "opus" that is selected makes use of muted tesserae, compared to the main focus of the work, the color could vary somewhat, but only gradually and you would need to use complimentary colors, so as not to distract from the object(s) that it is supposed to be emphasising.

  • nicethyme
    14 years ago

    I think that goes without saying and is part and parcel of an attractive piece surely.

    Check out Bama's Sunflower for a combo of tess in the background adding interest

    Here is a link that might be useful: Bama's sunflower

  • tobytub
    14 years ago

    Thanks for advice - when you use these opuses in the traditional way - I suppose you should take care to use only use carefully cut square tesserae, and these should be on the small side.

  • nicethyme
    14 years ago

    If your desire is for that Roman look then sure. But with this caveat, its all going to depend on the scale of the piece whether it can support larger tess, laid traditionally.

  • tobytub
    14 years ago

    If it was an "opus" type background, I wouldn't think you would be using larger pieces. Having now read a bit more on the subject, my gut feel says that whether it was a Roman type of mosaic or not, in using the various "opus" techniques for your background to create "flow" or "emphasis", one should always use even sized square tesserae. Any other shape or the use of uneven sizing would end making for a randomised background and wouldn't set up the even lines (curved or straight) that are explicit in the use in the various opus techniques.

  • nicethyme
    14 years ago

    I agree with you