Perhaps you study mosaic art online and now you have decided to attempt your first large-ish mosaic wall piece. Or, you are an experienced mosaic artist.
Either way, it’s time to shop for a supply of art glass from all the local or distant sources there are to choose from. You know your glass has got to be of a high quality, and you know you’re seeking intense, rich colors, possibly some unique textures and “styles” of glass.
Rather than buying smaller pre-cut tiles available online or in local craft shops, you feel you’d like to level up and be working more one-of-a kind pieces of sheet glass for mosaic art. And so your search begins…
This guide to shopping mosaic art glass (including a list of my favorite online mosaic art glass sources and resellers in the USA and UK) will help you supply your studio with beautiful materials which will give your mosaic wall art an exquisite, luxe look--and a long life.
Before seeking out resellers, be sure and have a look at the Mosaic Artist Shop, which has curated a collection of opalescent and iridescent sheet glass (and pre-cut mosaic tiles)…with delivery by Amazon and/or your favorite resellers.
Depth and Difficulty: Keep Your Mind on Height When Ordering
Mosaic glass and/or tiles can vary in height, or some may call it depth. This is an important consideration when planning out your piece and ordering supplies. A difference of 2mm in height between adjacent materials will not make much difference (most sheet glass comes in this range of 2mm-4mm; and I will only work/order glass in this range). A larger difference in height between adjacent pieces of glass could become problematic when you consider that your grout must ultimately fit between these pieces of (differing-in-height) glass.
Bear in mind also with regard to glass height: what is the depth of your “trough,” or the working area inside your frame? Bear in mind always where/how your grout will ultimately be worked in. If your glass or tile is 2-4mm in height, but the interior height of your frame is 6cm…How will the glass and grout look inside this “holder”? Little things to think about, but all part of planning before you order your materials.
Only by experimentation or sampling grout insertion between two heights, will you be able to see if you are comfortable in working with glass of different projections. Who knows! Having vastly differing heights of materials may give a kind of enhanced 3d look to your piece, and/or add texture and interest.
It’s all up to you, of course. But when ordering mosaic art glass: do be mindful of the heights you are ordering and do final verifications of all sizes ordered (both height and overall width/length). Keep in mind how you will store this sheet of glass after it arrives. Would a larger sheet (or a smaller sheet of the same color/style) work better in your studio? What size is most comfortable for you to hold and cut from? A very large sheet may be more economical to purchase (and you could always cut it in half), but will it feel more unwieldy in your hand as you work?
Clarity and Consistency: The Widely Varying “Styles” of Glass and Glass Descriptions
Most of the favored manufacturers and re-sellers of mosaic art glass have a standard of styles on offer which are the same across manufacturers. However, their descriptions often vary…and they may use different words to mean the same thing (i.e. Solid Glass, and Opaque usually describe the same thing). Here are some descriptive terms you may see for glass styles: opalescent, opaque, iridescent, streaky, milky, marble, semi-transparent, wavy, etc. It’s a good idea to have a firm idea of how these styles are defined exactly, in the product descriptions put forth by the seller.
Often enough, your clarification may involve calling or emailing a salesperson to ask which products are the most solid, non-see-through colors/styles on offer (if you’re only seeking extreme opaques)…or which styles have the most sheen/brilliance, if you’re seeking shimmery irridescents, etc. Some smart online sellers will feature a photo next to the product description which will show an object behind the glass to depict the level of transparence/opacity in the product.
Once again, a final verification of what you’re ordering is is a great idea, and most online sellers are happy to help you by checking down your shopping cart to make sure you’ve got exactly what you’re looking for.
From-The-Source, Re-seller, or The Mosaic Artist Shop?
Several manufacturers of fine art glass do sell directly to the consumer, either via an in-person factory shop visit or they have their own websites. I have not found the price difference between manufacturers and resellers to be substantial. Although, the manufacturers may have “factory” specials, special off-cuts or backroom sale items that re-sellers don’t. But the one area of savings to research is with regard to free shipping offers.
The typical online re-seller (and some bricks-and-mortar shops) will likely always have more selection of products to choose from. No matter. What is most important is that YOU access the exact styles, colors and sizes that meets your artistic needs. And this may involve shopping glass from several sources until you have everything in hand to see your mosaic vision through.
Shopping Glass Successfully: Top Tips
--Wear closed-toe-shoes whenever shopping for glass live and in person; it’s too easy for a piece of glass to fall off a shelf or slip out of your hands. Better safe than sorry; and some glass shops won’t even let you in the door with open-toed shoes on!
--With regard to budgeting for your art: Remember VAT, state sales tax, and other add-on costs, especially on shipping. A package of glass (and all the padding) can get heavier than you may at first anticipate.
--Review the return policies of your supplier before ordering. Often enough, return policies are quite good and the seller will include a handy form to fill out to return the glass if it arrived broken or isn’t quite what you wanted.
--Once again, don’t hesitate to email any questions to the salespeople at art glass supplier and re-sellers. It’s their job to help you get exactly the supplies you’re looking for. Happy customers are repeat customers and finishing mosaics is an addictive activity. Once you connect well with a supplier/salesperson or a shop, do consider them a partner in your artwork.
--Purchase some “wild card” supplies once in a while. When ordering art glass, it sometimes works out well to order some new or odd colors and/or styles you think you would never use. You’d be surprised how often you may be sifting through your supplies and suddenly that “odd” piece is now perfect for some part of your composition or inspires you to a new composition.
Why not consider supplying yourself from the curated collection of mosaic sheet glass and pre-cut tiles here at The Mosaic Artist Shop?
My Personal Short List of Favorite Mosaic Glass Manufacturers, Suppliers and Resellers
Youghiogheny Opalescent Glass Company (pronounced “Yak-a-gheny”), USA
https://www.youghioghenyglass.com/
Oceanside Glass and Tile, USA
https://oceansidecompatible.com/
Kokomo Opalescent Glass, USA
Paul Wissmach Glass Factory, USA
Creative Glass Guild, Bristol, UK
https://www.creativeglassguild.co.uk/
Mosaic Art Supply, USA
Stained Glass For Less, USA
https://www.stainedglassforless.com/
GB Tile Collections (Not a specialist in sheet glass, but a good source from which to purchase small lots of Bisazza, Sicis, etc. Here you can purchase “designer” pre-cut tiles on mesh which can be cut apart and used in your piece.)