Magdalene Theocharis - Mosaics


My first introduction to mosaic art was as a child of 12 years, being taught about mosaic technique during Byzantine times by high school teacher of Fine Arts, Mrs. Zachari. Since then, my love for this monumental form of art is leading me with patience, persistence and dedication to be creative.

As regards the themes which I derive from antiquity, I follow the technique of faithful copying based on ancient prototypes.

For mosaicking directly on lime mortar, I would prepare a drawing of the proposed theme, trace it on the grout into which I would dip marble, granite, enamel and stone tesserae. Then I would embed the work into a permanent wooden panel.

Mosaicking indirectly (reverse technique) after Byzantine style of iconography, I would glue the tesserae on a transparent surface with the flipped prototype underneath as a guide. Then the process of spreading the mortar and peeling off of the transparent surface…etc would start. When using the “fresco” technique for the same style, I would trace the pattern right to a permanent sandy lime surface into which I would outline it and start to mosaic.

As for modern mosaic creations, I would use the “intarsia” technique for decorating wood or stone surfaces, or I would just glue the tesserae to a permanent wooden panel or to a stone, marble or cement surface.

For my mosaics I use a wide selection of materials comprising granite, marble, pebble, stone, and ceramic tesserae which I take from nature, precious and semi-precious stones, vitreous tiles which I myself bake, and enamel which I import from Italy.

Finally, I would like to say that some of my works have already become part of private collections whether here in Greece or abroad.

Lady Magdalene's work can be found at art.la-passerelle.net