Ray Corral takes us behind Mosaicist: the company behind the world’s most beautiful pools

30 HOME DESIGN MAGAZINE / HOMESHOWS.NET OFF THE DEEP END

A deeper dive into Mosaicist: the company behind the world’s most beautiful pools.

A HOME DESIGN AND REMODELING SHOW PUBLICATION 31OFF THE DEEP END

What does Michelangelo and Mosaicist’s Ray Corral have in common? When it comes to directing a masterpiece, nearly everything. Like the Italian virtuoso of the 15th century, Ray Corral has been commissioned by this era’s most influential people to create some of the most beautiful art pieces in the world. The only difference? You can find them at the bottom of a swimming pool.

The owner and founder of Mosaicist got his start making crafts and little pieces in his home. When he started getting commissions, he needed to outsource to other artists to meet lead times and went overseas to get materials. It was then he met his mentor, an art director for an Italian mosaic company, who taught him how to be skilled in all areas of the mosaic process.

With over 450 projects completed in the past 25 years, Ray Corral is a tough act to follow, directing everything from the artwork to the manufacturing, to the installation. We had the pleasure of speaking with Ray about his intricate process, what it means to be a successful artist, and why old world techniques still have a place in the modern world.

Ray Corral has been commissioned by this era’s most influential people to create some of the most beautiful art pieces in the world.

What’s your favorite statement piece in your own home?

We’re not just tile setters or installers. We’re an organization of artists who complete projects. People come to us to do the entire thing. We keep it very simple for our clients, using our Instagram and Facebook as a catalog and inspiration board for the kinds of mosaics clients want to implement in their own homes. More often than not, clients come across an image or video of design work on our social media and we can educate them on the custom design process, something no other company in the United States does.

What questions do you ask your clients when creating a custom pool design?

We take into account the architecture of the house, the shape of the pool, the lead time, and the budget—the more times you cut the mosaic, the more expensive it is. Then we take it one step further and ask them for pictures of meaningful keepsakes and heirlooms like jewelry or pieces of art. We had a client who adored Chrome Hearts, wore them all the time, and had them as part of his image. We were able to incorporate Chrome Hearts into the pool design to make it really special.

How do old world techniques influence your process? Have you modernized any element of your craft?

The best way to describe our method is modern technology and old world techniques. For planning and design, we use state-of-the-art programs. Before I came into the business, they used to do it all by hand. For manufacturing, we’ve created double-sided tiles that are sturdier and hold up longer underwater. But when it comes to installing these pieces, you need to implement old world techniques because we still use old world materials. The modern techniques don’t give us the freedom to do these artworks.

What is the most challenging pool project you and your team have undertaken?

We always need a margin for error. The most challenging projects are the ones where we eliminate that room for mistakes, i.e., a beautiful mosaic that takes up the entire floor of a pool with little room to account for its concavity. What’s safe? Putting a round medallion in a square pool. You’re not going to mess that up.

As a former musician, are there any parallels between the creative process behind a mosaic versus a piece of music?

It’s almost the same. The reason why I was able to transition from one career to another seamlessly is because of the way my brain is wired. Once you can work with music, understand sounds, and visualize. You’re able to have something exist in your brain and use your hands as tools to put it all together.

Once you’re an artist, it’s a very easy jump from one discipline to another. The hard part is making money off it. That’s where I think I’m a little bit unique. I know the business, I love to run the business, I love entrepreneurship, but what I do is sell art. I understand sales, profit margins, and lead times. If you don’t know how to market yourself, that’s where the starving artist comes in. I much rather be a Salvador Dali than a Van Gogh.

To view all of Mosaicist’s services and latest projects, visit www.mosaicist.com orfollow @mosaicist on Instagram and Facebook.