StretchLearn Course

Make real mosaics, from the first cut to a sealed, mounted panel

Tesserae cutting, andamento flow, adhesive and grout selection, and indoor versus outdoor builds that actually hold up.

Beginner9 hr 20 minSelf PacedRegistered

Course Overview

What this course is designed to develop

This course teaches the practical mosaic craft from the first cut to the sealed, finished panel. You will set up a safe workspace, master wheeled nippers and the hammer-and-hardie, and lay tesserae in the classical opus styles that give mosaics their movement. Every module is grounded in named materials, real measurements, mixing ratios, and worked projects you can repeat on a coaster, a trivet, a wall panel, and a frost-proof outdoor stepping stone.

Learning Outcomes

What the learner should be able to understand, build, or execute.

Cut vitreous glass, smalti, marble, and ceramic into accurate tesserae using wheeled nippers and the hammer-and-hardie

Lay andamento and the classical opus styles to create flow, contour, and movement in a design

Select the correct adhesive for the substrate and setting using PVA, thinset, silicone, or epoxy

Mix, apply, and clean up grout with the right consistency, color, and joint width for the piece

Choose frost-proof materials and methods that let an outdoor mosaic survive freeze-thaw cycles

Plan, build, grout, seal, and mount a finished mosaic from sketch to display-ready panel

Curriculum Preview

Inside the curriculum: a structured path from fundamentals to execution.

Preview the course structure, see how the modules build on one another, and understand the path this program is designed to take you through.

Module 1

Module 1: Materials, Tools, and a Safe Workspace

Get to know the tesserae families, the tools that cut them, and the safety setup that keeps glass dust and shards out of your lungs and eyes before you lay a single piece.

3 lessons

The Tesserae Families: Glass, Smalti, Stone, and CeramicContent · 45 min

Preview Enabled

Cutting Tools: Nippers, Wheeled Nippers, and the Hammer-and-HardieContent · 45 min

LMS Access

Workspace, Eye Protection, and Cutting SafelyContent · 45 min

LMS Access

Module 2

Module 2: Cutting Tesserae and Laying Andamento

Build real cutting skill and learn andamento, the flow and direction of the rows, including the named classical opus styles that give a mosaic its movement.

3 lessons

Accurate Cuts: Halves, Quarters, Triangles, and CirclesContent · 45 min

LMS Access

Andamento: The Flow and Direction of the RowsContent · 45 min

LMS Access

The Opus Styles: Named Ways to Lay TesseraeContent · 50 min

LMS Access

Module 3

Module 3: Adhesives, Substrates, and Setting Methods

Match the right glue to the right backing for the right setting, and learn the two core construction methods so your pieces actually stay together.

3 lessons

Choosing the Right Adhesive: PVA, Thinset, Silicone, EpoxyContent · 45 min

LMS Access

Substrates: Wood, Cement Board, Mesh, and GlassContent · 45 min

LMS Access

Direct and Indirect MethodsContent · 50 min

LMS Access

Module 4

Module 4: Grouting, Finishing, and Outdoor Durability

Mix and apply grout cleanly, seal and mount the finished piece, and learn the frost-proof material and method choices that let an outdoor mosaic survive winter.

3 lessons

Grouting: Mixing, Spreading, and Clean-UpContent · 50 min

LMS Access

Sealing, Mounting, and Displaying the Finished PieceContent · 45 min

LMS Access

Indoor vs Outdoor: Frost-Proof Materials and MethodsContent · 50 min

LMS Access

Built for Application

A complete learning path, not a one-off inspiration hit.

This program is designed around progression: focused lessons, structured modules, applied resources, assessments, and a course rhythm that turns information into usable capability.

mosaic arttesserae cuttingandamentosmaltigroutingthinset adhesiveoutdoor mosaicwheeled nippers