Details: |
What materials were used in making this project?
Primary product: canvas painters tarp and paint. Construction aids: sketchbook, pencils and colored pencils, string and a washer, erasers, distilled water, carpenter pencils and sharpeners, paint brushes, plastic painter drop, folding tables, plastic cups, bamboo skewer stir sticks, plastic spoons, paper towels, boxes and bags for carrying materials. Materials for stencils: plastic 3-hole page protectors, sharpie, exacto knife, hole punch, pencil or pen, graph paper
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What are the project's measurements?
Approx. 6x9 ft - No ruler was used in the layout or execution of the design.
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What kind of construction methods or techniques were used?
After selecting the design, preliminary sketches were done on graph paper. A knotted string was used to scale the sketch to the tarp size and modifications to the design were chosen at this time to fill the tarp. After finding the center point of the main square, outlines of the major sections where drawn in lightly in pencil, followed by more detailed filler motifs.
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Was the project based on a specific time or culture?
The prompt was Roman and post-Roman England, but the product is generalized to Roman influenced regions with modifications for modern event use.
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Were any modern materials or methods used? If so, what led to that decision?
A stone mosaic is too heavy to transport so canvas and paint were chosen for portability and re-use over multiple events.
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Was there a specific reaction or emotional response you wanted to cause in the viewer/audience? If so, how did you hope to achieve it?
Wow! and Cool! are the most common reactions so far. For the finished product, similar reactions are hoped for as well as some pride for the canton and barony members who helped paint.
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Describe the process you went through in making the project.
Concept sketches and research (Winter 2024-25). Gather materials (Winter-Spring 2025). Scale sketches and transfer to the canvas while modifying the knotted string used for spacing (March-June 2025). Creating stencils for the dots used in the knot work (Spring 2025).
Sew loops used for hanging and hem the cut-edge
Finalize painting design changes
Painting by color and sections
Note original paint colors and color codes
Document ratios if color mixing
Follow the sketch color schemes as much as possible.
Touch Ups
Sharpie overdraw for mosaic visualization
Threading cord through the loops for easier set up at events
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What did you learn while working on this project?
It is possible to draw a complex design using only the relative dimensions on a knotted string. I was reminded that crisp edges are harder to disguise on a single color than softer spreads and that burnt ocher is excellent to mix with a color that needs a shadowed shade.
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If you were to make this project again, what would you do differently?
Set up a home work area for painting instead of relying on practices and meeting spaces. Plan the medallion centers more carefully.
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Were there any surprises?
Spills and drips are always a surprise when they happen, but luckily those spots were mostly covered by touch-up paint.
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Were there differences between what you set out to do and what you eventually did? How and why did the plan change?
The original mosaic's 10x10 ft dimensions were modified to fit a modern commercial canvas drop cloth. 12 ft by 9 ft is a large space and the hooks that would hold up the tarp at the event site and as a shade wall on tents are not 9 ft off the ground. Although the 6x9 ft drop cloth was purchased for the first project, the 12x9 ft drop cloth purchased this year again was too large. The 12 ft length was cut down to 6 ft. Due to the variations in commercial production this created a surface slightly larger than the Midrealm Map tarp.
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What inspired you to create this project?
At the request of Baron Leofric of Red Spears, this is part 2 of a multi-year project to create re-usable wall decorations for rented event spaces. Inspirations for specific designs may change each year.
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How would you sum up this project and your experiences in making this?
I'm happy more people were able to help with different stages of this year's project and that more people were asking questions about making wall or floor decorations.
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Anything else you'd like to say?
Many thanks to all who inquired about the project over the past year. To TEs Aislin and Leofric, Fiachra, El'Aria, Paxino, Phaedra, William and TEs Aethelstan and Soma for help with painting, final outlining, and advice over the past few months. And to Bestia and Phaedra for in-progress and event photos.
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Documents: |
Roman Mosaic Themed Wall Hanging 2025
Background on the inspiration for the wall hanging decoration and production description for construction.
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Links: |
Roman Mosaic as a Wall Hanging
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hUrJbOJYuBe4g7L1ETErqt-7Vvzbt4ObOjITw5STJt4/edit?usp=sharing
This is the working draft of the project write up with some external source links and photos of the project in progress.
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Sources: |
| - | BBC Staff, BBC, "London's largest Roman mosaic find for 50 years uncovered", https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-60466187 (2022) |
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| - | Mistress Rochwen Mowenna of Calontir, Painted Floorcloths, Barony of Three Rivers: Self (2024), 12 |
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| - | Nora McGreevy, Smithsonian, "See Dazzling Photos of a Roman Mosaic Floor Unearthed in London", https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/roman-mosaic-floor-unearthed-in-london-180979632/ (2022) |
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| - | rebeccar, Southwest Heritage Trust, "Completed Roman Mosaic Floor at Avalon Archaeology", Avalon / Somerset, UK: https://swheritage.org.uk/news/completed-roman-mosaic-floor-at-avalon-archaeology/ (2024) |
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