Welcome to winter – our payback for enduring the heat and wet of summer.

A few weeks ago we ran a weekend workshop with 5 people focusing on Portraiture in Mosaic. The workshop was a great success with all participants making a varied range of mosaic portraits using combinations of Smalti, stone and ceramics. One of the benefits of a weekend class is the longer session times which enable faster progress on work. These classes also have a wide range of material included in the cost and involve more structure in the teaching side of things.

I have decided to finally embark on a round of weekend workshops for those of you that are interested but can’t make a Wednesday night. Anyone is welcome but I’m limiting numbers to 6 to enable more time with each student.

Weekend Mosaic Workshop 2

This workshop will involve 2 D work and introduce students to using Smalti. As an extra, students will also be able to work on a 3D project sculpting a form from polystyrene and preparing it to mosaic. All ideas can be accommodated and any unfinished work can be completed at home or at a return visit to another workshop. Cutting, adhesive and finishing techniques are part of this class.

This is one of Niki De Saint Phalle’s works in Queen Califa’s Magic Circle – Escondido California. A simple and effective way to begin 3D work.

The next mosaic weekend is coming up so I thought I’d post a reminder. We have a few bookings but there are more places available. These weekend workshops have more formal structure and are a good way to really develop skills. Please feel free to forward this information to anyone you think may be interested.

The featured work this month is a portrait titled “Memory of a not too distant past..” Something I completed recently for a WWF exhibition in Kuala Lumpur.

The theme was Survival and yes..it is an orangutan

When: 17th &18th July.

Times: 10am-4pm Sat, 10am-3pm Sun.

Cost: $220 for 2D or $240 for 2D and 3D.

Included in class: 200grams of Smalti, stone and ceramics. You are welcome to bring your own materials.

Note: If you have already attended Shardworks classes you will be eligible for a discount. Multiple bookings also receive a discount.

This is a photo of Carol Laing’s reproduction(using Smalti and marble) of an ancient mosaic from Aquilea in Northern Italy. A great way to learn how to do a portrait in traditional style.

I will be conducting a weekend workshop that focuses on Pebble Pavers. These are stunning mosaics that are cheap to construct and look great in the garden or in entryways. It is the oldest form of mosaic stemming back some 4,000 years where it is reported to have originated in China. This class will enable everyone to make their own paver and involve everyone getting a little dirty using sand and cement. Bring your work clothes. After this class you will be able to do your whole garden. The dates for this class will depend on the interest level and there is room for 8 students. Here are some pictures of Maggie Howarth’s work in pebbles.

Wednesday Night Classes:

These classes are ongoing. There is no start or finish date for these, they cost $220 for 5 sessions and are discounted to regular students. Contact Dom to book a place.

Finally…I have included a link to Rimbun Dahan below that gives a narrative and pictures of the work I recently was involved with in Penang. Check it out if you are interested.

http://www.rimbundahan.org/art/artists/mosaicists/index.htm

I am about to begin work on a large project in New Mapoon/Bamaga. This will have me flying up the Cape every month or so for a week at a time. The aim is to teach mosaic as an art-form to all members of the community up there so hopefully we’ll see some interesting work evolve.