Are you meaning recessed as in a part that is lower by building up all the parts around it? Definitely need a picture of this to be of any help..if I really can be of any help, Maybe the others will be able to visualize what your trying to do. It does sound cool though!!!

Thanks chickeemama, not really...I want to just do a typical stained glass mosaic with the water part and have the path appear set a little lower (recessed) then the mosaic part. I don't even know if I just want to give that appearance or if it should actually be that way. UGH! I'm sorry! I certainly will have to get a picture a.s.a.p.

if you do a drawing of it first, then you may try and put a darker blue on the edges of the water, to make it appear at a different depth...or maybe the opposite of that...
if the shadows are on the edge, it usually brings it forward, so I'm thinking that the water may be needing to be darker than the shadow...
now I'm going to have to go draw a scene with a creek or brook, to see how it works..lol
I do know that shading will bring it forward..
hmmmmmm
now you got me thinking and it's too darned late to do much of that!

Well let's see...you can visually recess it with gradations of color or do your base in 2 layers.
Ex: If your base is 3/4" plywood, this would be the recessed layer. Then any parts you want raised could be cut from a layer of 1/4" plywood or luan.
You could also do the layering with cementboard and hardiboard.
I'm very interested in seeing your progress...been thinking of toying with dimensional myself.

Dark colors recede. Grayed colors recede.

path or alternatively really thick material for everything else?

Also, I don't know if using a different grout color on the path than on the rest would make a difference?

I'd also love to hear your solution and see it when it's done! I think the different dimensions is a great idea

Although I'm just a newbie in terms of the 'how to' of different techniques, I agree with wench's point about certain colors receding- and I only know this because I recently practiced with a "mixed bag" of end-cuts that I purchased for fun. I spilled them out on the counter, examined them (cuz it's just fun to look at the pretty tiles), and then just stuck them down on a small project at random. I kept having to put my hand on the tiles because they looked like they were different heights, when in fact, they were all level. It's quite a neat feature that some colors do.
From my little project of glass cuts, these are the colors that receded the most:

Mirrored tiles set next to solids
Mirrored tiles with a "patterned" backing instead of solid color mirror (looks very much like a foil backing)- This one recedes a LOT.
Black or dark solids next to light solids

hope that helps- love to see your pic!

Ok, this is the MESS I have so far of this thing...LOL...
the green and blue paint is just places where I'm putting some clear glass...well, the blue part is just trial right now. Anyway, I painted the middle part roughly to show where the path will go...it sorta extends into the sun's ray and begins on the sand...if you get the idea. So something's gotta go in the middle??? There's lots of tiny things in this as it's going on a wall sort of in a hallway where it'll be passed up close.

WOW!! Looking awesome!!!!

Wish I could help!
It looks really cool Lisa! Great details.

Hazie

Lighter tiles in "front" gradually graying and darkening towards the back should give you the look you seek.

Google "path" and then look at images of paths and you will see what I mean.

Thanks everyone!
Wench, that's a good idea....what about the reverse of that...with the darker in front and the lighter in back...sorta as it is hit by the sun, I guess?
It's hard to see in the pic, but I did sorta copy your cuts for the water part that you demonstrated for me a few weeks ago. I didn't have the nipper thing that you have so I'm just scoring it in that shape...not the same, but it works for now.

If you really wanted a path you could do tiny pebbles also.tiny no grout than put a shiny gloss on them ..also mirror might look good.

Lisa, I love the colors in your sun rays. Can't wait to see this done.

Whew doggie! Gonna keep an eye on this work of art!!
Lookin' good!

Visually, things in the distance are grayer and more out of focus than those right in front of you. If you put lighter colors at the 'back" of the path they will jump forward negating the effect.

Sometimes when I read all your guys input I just feel plain stupid!!! Everything you are saying Wench really makes sense but I never got it until now!! (duh moment!!!)

mmqchdygg- thank you for posting the info about the mirror tiles and such...I clipped it to remember.

lisa- I've got no input for you but that it looks great so far....hope you figure out what your trying to achieve!!

Wench, thanks...I get your point. Sometimes I get tied into a theme or something that I lose the practical side of things. I appreciate your help on this.

Chickee - I hope you know it was never my intention to make anyone feel stupid. I was just trying to pass along the effect of receding distance. Sometimes the things we "know" on a gut level have never been verbalized (or in this case textualized??) - like grayer, darker colors create recession in a landscape.

I know my writing style has been described as brusque and unfeeling, and I'm sorry. It was never my intention to be that way - it's simply an economy of words, I guess.

I'm truly sorry if anyone felt belittled or denigrated by my comments. I'll try to do better in the future.

Wench, I am not sure what there is to apologize for. I thought chickee was just being funny. I think you're great and were gracious to give me help with this.

Oh geez - did I misinterpret again?

A thousand apologies if I did.

Hi Lisa-
While my first reply was probably not exactly what you meant (I thought you were looking for a literal "receding" look to the tiles- a look that would make you literally want to put your hand DOWN into the picture (even though it was all level...follow that?), but here's something I just found in my daily visit to page 47 of the threads. This is from Eilon Mosaics, and what wench is talking about is very apparent in this example. The darker tiles give the 3D appearance to the design, and you can see that the lighter colors want to 'pop' off the page...very effective.

I have an idea that might interest you. If you have a path leading away from sand (as I understand your description), have you thought of mixing your mediums? Use fine-sand and blend into course-sand for the path. Although that would show depth better if it were swithced. You could even add pebbles to indicate the rocks we stumble over in life.