Where Do You Get Your Slate?
‘Where do you get your slate?’
This is something I get asked a lot. And over the course of many conversations I have come to realise that this is not one question but two.
The first question could be rephrased along the lines of ‘Tell me more about your mosaic’. This is asked by people who recognise that materials can have their own story. Knowing where the slate comes from can add a layer of meaning to the artwork, particularly if someone has a personal connection to the area the slate has come from.
The second, and admittedly the most common reason for asking, is that people want to know how to source slate for their own artwork. After all, slate is an attractive rock and works well in mosaics.
So let me tell you a bit about the slate I use in my mosaics, where it comes from and offer a few suggestions for sourcing your own slate.
The word ‘slate’ describes a particular kind of metamorphic rock, formed under heat and pressure. The particular conditions under which it was formed vary from region to region. This means slate can come in a range of colours and can vary in how easy it is to work with.
One of my favourite types of slate is Easdale Slate, found on a group of islands off the west coast of Scotland, known as the Slate Islands. It is a very attractive slate, with a textured/rippled surface, iron pyrites, and it can also contain some fabulous rusty colours. However it can be hard to work with - but I’m willing to overlook that for how gorgeous it looks!
Another favourite is Highland Boundary slate, which is formed, as the name suggests, along the Highland Boundary fault. The fault extends to Central Scotland, near where I live, and I can usually find a gorgeous green coloured slate fairly locally, that splits cleanly and is lovely to work with.
And then there are the recycled roof slates. Many buildings in Scotland have slate roofs, which means that when there is maintenance/repair work carried out, there is usually some waste. Broken slates are of no use to roofers, but are perfect for mosaics. The type of slate used in roofing varies, so when working with recycled roof slates, it can sometimes be pot luck as to what type of slate you end up with.
Below is an image of some Spanish slate, salvaged from the site of a roofing job. The Spanish slate was being installed on the roof and this was some of the ‘waste’.
So, if you want to try your hand at using slate in mosaics, here are a few suggestions for getting hold of some. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but will hopefully provide some ideas for how to source it.
Roofing Companies
Try talking to roofing companies - they may have waste/broken slates left over from jobs that would usually be destined for the skip. They may also be willing to sell individual or small quantities of slates.
In relation to this, keep an eye out for work being done on slate roofs. Usually roofers/owners are happy for you to take waste slate from the site but always ask permission first!
Landscaping Companies/Garden Centres
Landscaping companies/garden centres/aggregate suppliers can also be a useful resource. You can buy small bags of slate pieces that would usually be used for landscaping. When I say small bags, I am still talking about about 20kg of slate pieces. But it is usually fairly cheap and 20kg is small in comparison to the 800kg bags that are often sold for landscaping!
Depending on the company, some may also have scrap/leftover rock if you ask, and this can be useful for mosaic making.
Tile stores
You can often buy slate floor tiles from tile stores. Depending on the type of slate that they are made from, some tiles can be harder to work with/break up, so it is worth buying a sample tile first if you can.
Again, some tiles stores may have spare/scrap/end of line tiles so it’s always worth asking!
Go foraging
Depending on the geology of your local area, you might be able to forage for slate. However, if you choose to do this, always be mindful of any local laws restricting collection of natural materials and be considerate of local wildlife/conservation issues.
Other options
If you are based in the USA, you can buy slate online from The Clean Slate Company. This small business is run from a slate quarry and they are very helpful and supportive of mosaic artists.
Some craft outlets often sell small pieces of slate for various crafts. This is often a more expensive option though.
Occasionally you can find slate advertised online on second hand marketplaces, e.g. Gumtree, Facebook marketplace, Craigslist etc. so it can be worth keeping an eye out there as well.
Of course, locating a source of slate is just the first step towards creating your mosaic. You then have to break it up and figure out how you want to use it. But that’s a whole other story! My pre-recorded online course, Slate Mosaics is available year round from Mosaic Arts Online though, should you need a bit of further guidance.
This blog post was adapted from one of my weekly emails. If you have enjoyed reading it and would like to receive similar content direct to your inbox, you can subscribe using the form at the bottom of the page.