About a month before you start your project, start collecting eggshells and think about what you would like to make into an eggshell mosaic. After base coating your piece of wood with either gesso or acrylic paint in your color choice, start to work out your design in charcoal and don't forget to label the trickier color areas so you don't forget what they will be in the end project.
Eggshells are ideal because they are very light and surprisingly strong, traditional mosaics can become very heavy.
Supplies:
Eggshells, substrate (wood is best, but not plywood - too heavy!), acrylic paint, vine charcoal, white crafter's glue, water based polyurethane, can be bought in small quantities at arts and crafts stores or in larger quantities at home supply stores,200 and 400 grit sandpaper, very fine steel wool.
Part I
After using the yolks and whites, rinse out the shells thoroughly and remove inner membrane. Break into about 4 pieces for each egg. You will make them smaller later on in the project. Keep collecting your eggshells until you have a large measuring cup worth. (about 14 to 16 ounces worth) Set aside to dry. During this time of collecting eggshells, think about your design and what you are going to put it on. I put one of my eggshell designs on an old breadboard that was my mom's. If you are using wood, which is a good substrate, sand the piece gently, but thoroughly with 220 sandpaper, and then sand with the next finer grade of sandpaper (400) Draw the design on the wood with vine charcoal (because this is easier to rub out than erasing if you change the design). Start to fill in the design with acrylic paint. When the design is filled in and dry you are ready to begin Part II of the project.
Part II
Take the eggshells you have collected and using the same colors painted on your substrate, paint some eggshells those same/similar colors and let them dry. It won't take long because this is acrylic you are using. Next comes the cool part. Put a little bit of glue on your substrate, then take a piece of eggshell and press down right where the glue is. The eggshell will crack into smaller pieces and that is exactly what you want it to do. I won't kid you about this; it is time consuming, but the end result is spectacular. After you are done placing all of your eggshells down and they are completely dry on the substrate, begin to put your topcoats on. This is done with water based polyurethane sealer. You will be using 6 to 8 coats (thin coats). Let each coat dry thoroughly. Sand very lightly with very fine steel wool. Now you're done! Frame, hang and enjoy!
Helpful Hints:
Crafter's white glue is fine to glue down eggshells.
If your design is simple, try spray painting your eggshells instead of hand painting them, it will go much quicker.
After you have pressed your eggshells down onto your substrate, slightly separate them with any thin object to show the "grout" which is actually the paint beneath the eggshells.
Make sure each layer of polyurethane is bone dry before sanding and going to the next layer.
Good luck with your project!About a month before you start your project, start collecting eggshells and think about what you would like to make into an eggshell mosaic. After base coating your piece of wood with either gesso or acrylic paint in your color choice, start to work out your design in charcoal and don't forget to label the trickier color areas so you don't forget what they will be in the end project.
eggshells, acrylic paint, wood, top coat (polyurethane).
What was your inspiration?
I enjoy creating any kind of mosaics and happen to really like what happens when eggshells crack. I usually use eggshells as an additive to my garden, I was looking at them and really liked the texture. Then, I happened to be looking in a mosaic book and found an eggshell mosaic. I really liked how it looked, so I tried it.
What are you most proud of?
Finishing the "painting".
What advice would you give someone starting this project?
Start fairly small, a 5" x 5" square design will take plenty of time. I would say if you can spray paint the eggshells, do so, otherwise you'll be painting by hand. Have toothpicks handy to to widen the "grout" lines (by adjusting eggshell position). Try airbrushing the eggshells for a more subtle effect.
Beautiful, reminds me of doing tactile projects w/my kids and that I enjoyed it just as much as they did. Would like to try this. Do you think Poppies would be a good subject>
Yes, Poppies would be great, but I would draw them or trace them to become familiar with the contour of their shapes first. Note, I did not develop eggshell mosaics, but I saw it in a book about mosaic materials and thought I would try it. Mosaics can be done with almost anything, but the real difference is how well they are crafted. Good luck and keep me posted:)
Add your comment: