Marian Shapiro
Mosaics
Teaching in 2024
Workshops at Mosaics Mildura
Understanding Values
When: Friday 26 April 2024, 9 am – 5 pm
Where: Mosaics Mildura
Who: Intermediate. Max no of participants 12
Cost: Early bird up to 15th March, $215 including materials
After 15th March, $265 including materials
Bookings: email Ruth Geffen at ruthced@optusnet.com.au
Take your work to a new level and join me in this one day workshop exploring the use of values in mosaic. Value, (how light or dark something is) is an important concept in art. Particularly in mosaic, knowing how to use values contributes enormously to the “readability” of a piece and allows you to use shading to achieve a 3D effect. Using a mix of theory and practical exercises, this workshop will give you an understanding of the concept of value and the tools to use it effectively in your own mosaic work. Materials and adhesives are supplied.
In the morning we look at basic colour theory and how it applies to mosaic. We then focus specifically on value and learn tips and tricks for working out value. We look at colour gradation and you learn how to make a smooth transition from one colour to another in mosaic.
We also look at how values work when grouting a project – addressing the vexed question of “what colour will I grout it”? In the afternoon we put theory into practice. You make a small monochrome mosaic from a choice of two designs.
Suitable for those who have been working in mosaic for a while and would like to take their work to a new level.
Working with Smalti - two and a half days
When: Friday 26 April 6.30 - 9 pm. Saturday 27 April/Sunday 28 April 10-5 Sold Out. Contact Ruth for waitlist.
Where: Mosaics Mildura
Who: Intermediate. Max no of participants 10
Costs: Early bird up to 15th March, $395 including substrate and adhesive (Smalti not included)
After 15th March, $450 including substrate and adhesive (Smalti not included)
Bookings: email Ruth Geffen at ruthced@optusnet.com.au
Always wanted to use smalti? A traditional and prestigious mosaic material with unique properties with light, smalti has been used for over a thousand years to produce beautiful mosaic work. Discover the history of smalti and the differences and similarities between the different makes. Explore the visual effects which can be achieved by different ways of laying smalti and discover how to cut it using modern cutting techniques. You work towards a small ungrouted smalti mosaic (25 x 25 cm) to your own design.
This workshop is at intermediate level and is for people with some mosaic experience, though experience of working with smalti is not necessary. It is not suitable for total beginners. Full notes, substrates and adhesives are provided, but you need to bring your own smalti (either Italian or Mexican is suitable) and wheeled nippers. You are welcome to bring other material to supplement the smalti. You will need between 1 – 1.5 kg of smalti depending on design. I am happy to talk to you about design beforehand.
Brisbane workshops hosted by Catherine Conaty
Understanding Values
When: Friday 24 May 2024, 9.30 am – 5 pm
Where: Catherine Conaty’s studio, 35 Tirrabella Street, Carina Heights, QLD 4152
Who: Intermediate. Max no of participants 10
Cost: Early bird $200 up to 14 April including GST. After 14 April $250 including GST
Materials fee of $25 payable on the day
Bookings: Pay your deposit and secure your place HERE
Course description as the Mildura workshop
Working with Unglazed Ceramic
When: Saturday and Sunday 25/26 May 2024, 9.30 am – 5 pm both days
Where: Catherine Conaty’s studio, 35 Tirrabella Street, Carina Heights, QLD 4152
Who: Intermediate. People with some mosaic experience who wish to explore a new material. Max no of participants 10
Cost: Early bird $380 up to 14 April including GST. After 14 April $430 including GST
Materials fee of $10 payable on the day, plus purchase of ceramic tiles
Bookings: Pay your deposit and secure your place HERE
Unglazed ceramic is a beautiful material with a soft natural look that can imitate natural stone. It can be easily cut with normal mosaic tools and can be used on its own or with shiny light reflective material for contrast. It is suitable for outside use and for heavy foot traffic.
This workshop will show you how to work confidently with unglazed ceramic and there will be a discussion and demo of the different effects you can get with it. We will also explore the use of cement based adhesive for backgrounds.
Marian will provide a selection of simple designs available beforehand from Catherine or you are very welcome to bring your own copyright free design with you. Marian is happy to talk to you about designs before the class. Substrates and adhesive are provided.
We will be using the Cinca brand of unglazed ceramic which comes in tiles 2.3 cm sq and 4 mm deep, so can be easily combined with other 4mm thick material. A limited selection of 8 colours of Cinca will be available to purchase during the workshop at a rate of $8.20 per quarter sheet. It is estimated that you will need the equivalent of one sheet for your workshop piece. For available designs and information on the colour palette available at the workshop contact Catherine on cairomadethat@gmail.com
If you wish to bring colours other than those supplied, Cinca is available from Smalti Australia. www.smaltiaustralia.com. You are also welcome to bring other material to mix in or to use as a contrasting background.
You will need to bring your own tools for cutting unglazed ceramic, such as sidebiters, double geared nippers, Montolits, or wheeled nippers reserved for cutting non glass materials. A full list of what you need to bring will be sent to you 3 weeks before the workshop.
Hobart workshops hosted by Winter Creek Mosaics
Bend Fold and Undulate - two days
When: Saturday/Sunday 1/2 June 2024, 9 am – 5 pm
Where: Moonah Arts Centre, 23-27 Albert Rd, Moonah 7008
Who: Advanced beginners/Intermediate. Max no of participants 10
Cost: Early bird before 15 April 2024 $370 plus $95 materials fee
After 15 April 2024 430 plus $95 materials fee
Bookings: Pay your deposit and secure your place HERE
Bend Fold and Undulate
Join me to learn my trademark technique for making lightweight, dimensional substrates for mosaic. On day one, we cover two methods for making lightweight non-flat wall-hanging substrates suitable for interior or exterior use. You will learn to make an undulating or folded wall hanging substrate of your own design. The second substrate is hollow, such as a wall-hanging mask or torso and introduces you to the technique of sand casting. Both of these pieces are made in two stages and will need to be finished in your own time after the course.
In the afternoon of the first day you will be given a small (approximately 20 x 25 cm) half-made folded or undulating form to to finish, including adding hanging hardware. This cures overnight ready to be worked on the next day. On day two you mosaic the substrate that you completed the day before.
By the end of the workshop you will have made two substrates up to the end of stage 1, completed a substrate including attaching hangers and other embellishments such as fringes and had experience mosaicing on a non-flat substrate. This will give you the skills to make and mosaic your own substrates from scratch at home. All materials for making substrates are supplied, including supplies to finish off your first two substrates at home. For day two, mosaic materials are available but you may want to bring your own material to supplement.
This workshop is aimed at people with some previous mosaic experience who want to take their mosaics to a new level by making their own substrates.
Understanding Andamento
When: Monday 3 June 2024, 9 am – 5 pm
Where: Moonah Arts Centre, 23-27 Albert Rd, Moonah 7008
Cost: Early bird before 15 April 2024, $210 including $10 materials fee
After 15 April 2024, $250 including $10 materials fee
Who: Advanced beginners/intermediate
Class: Max 10 students
Bookings: Click HERE
Want to take your work to the next level? This workshop gives you a theoretical and practical understanding of the visual grammar of mosaics by looking at both traditional and modern andamento (flow) and opus (laying patterns). Discover how to cut and lay your tesserae to best enhance your work. There’ll be an in depth look at cutting and laying curves and circles and we’ll tackle the tricky triangle issue.
The day is theoretical and consists of presentations and exercises on and with paper. No drawing skills needed. At the end of the day, you will be able to apply what you've learned to your own design.
Suitable for those who have been working in mosaic for a while and would like to take their work to a new level.
Travelling to Teach
If you would like me to come and teach for you, please contact me on mshapiro@dariandesign.com.au and I will send you my booklet of available workshops.
