Sonia teaches intensive mosaic workshops around the world. Past workshops have been in Turkey, Tunisia, Greece, France, Australia, New Zealand, Spain and The Netherlands. And every summer there’s a workshop at lovely West Dean College in the UK, where Sonia is a Senior Tutor.
Mosaic Intensive: Developing Artistic Expression
West Dean College Chichester, England
July 17-22, 2022
Taking a course at West Dean College is like studying mosaic while staying at Downton Abbey! It’s one of the most beautiful art colleges in the world. I hope you can join me there for this special week. (This will be my only workshop in 2022.)
The goal of the course is to offer an elevated sense of what mosaic is about, offering a new way to think about one’s work and the knowledge to push to the next level. Special emphasis will be made on personal expression and developing one’s individual style. The class specifically covers working with texture, scale, andamento and spacing; achieving effects through varied cutting and laying styles and/or mixed materials, working direct using cement-based adhesive.
You produce a mosaic using a variety of techniques/materials. There is extensive inquiry into cutting techniques, varied materials and laying styles; essentially broadening the student’s skill-set. There are also varied discussions about design, the complexity of working with more than one material, spacing, andamento, reflectivity and more.
Possible materials include glass, unglazed ceramic, found objects, mineral specimens, beads, stone and fossils. Plan to bring your materials with you. There will be a limited selection of materials available for purchase.
Techniques: working direct in cement-based adhesive and possibly using that as another element in the mosaic or to build dimensional areas.
You work on your own project with lots of individual attention, dealing with issues that relate to your work. However, you are all invited into the discussions so there is a high level of learning from each other’s specific situations. Additionally there are group discussions and lectures on a variety of topics including design considerations when using multiple materials, cutting techniques, etc. A group review at the end focuses on problems solved and lessons learned. (FYI, fully residential means room and board.)