Institute of Mosaic is proud to offer this new course by Visiting Instructor Bill Buckingham.
Join mosaic artist, editor of Mosaic Art Now and Mosaic Yearbook, author of Listening to the Rocks: Creating Modern Mosaics Using Stone Tesserae and Mosaic Rocks, LLC founder, Bill Buckingham for this rare and wonderful workshop that delves into the beauty, mystery and magic of stone as a mosaic medium.
Says Bill:
"Working with rocks and stone is not as hard as people think. Some rock cuts easier than even glass. Stone is the earliest and most enduring material used in mosaic art. It may have taken second-seat to glass in the Byzantine era but is making a strong comeback in today's modern mosaic art. Be prepared to be rocked with this two day class which opens up a new world of materials, textures, colors, and creative possibilities for your mosaic art. And discover that nipping some stones is like cutting into butter while others are not quite as easy."
In this two-day intensive course, students will learn how to listen to rocks as a source of creative inspiration in their mosaic work and that using various rocks and minerals opens up a world of possibility in mosaic art.
Students will make multiple projects in class using the direct method, beginning with marble the most accessible and easiest stone to work with. Students will practice with nipping marble and creating a simple classic mosaic pattern.
From there, students will go to the wild side where a variety of less traditional materials will be presented which are perfectly suited for mosaic art: crystals, calcite, pyrite, semi-precious stones, fossils, and so much more. This is where the class really rocks out!
Instructor will demonstrate the properties, colors, textures and cleaving potential of different types of rocks. Students will create a second, abstract mosaic project using these incredible and inspiring materials.
This class is designed to explore sources of inspiration, design principles and andamento as well as practical considerations such as substrates, adhesives, sealants, etc. Both contemporary and traditional cutting tools will be demonstrated, including the use of the hammer and hardie.
Instructor will present photos from a variety of contemporary artists who use stone in their work and explain how they have applied the principles of design discussed in class. There will be plenty of question & answer time during class and students will receive all the rocks they need to complete their projects.
In addition, student will receive sample boards of the rocks discussed in the class, and a copy of the book, Listening to the Rocks Creating Modern Mosaics Using Stone Tesserae by Sophie Drouin and Bill Buckingham.
This class is not to be missed!
Rock on!
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