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Cape Town, South Africa Mosaic Retreat with Karla Duterloo

7 Feb

Cape Town, South Africa Mosaic Retreat
with Karla Duterloo
November 8 – 14, 2020
€1600 Euro per person

Always wanted to travel to South Africa but haven’t had a clue where to start planning?

Looking for a creative holiday destination that combines sightseeing with creating art?

If you’re looking for an opportunity to travel on your own, add a little adventure to your life and meet like minded people, enjoy having everything taken care of while enjoying new experiences — this might be just what you’re looking for.

Limited to a group of 8 participants.

 

What to Expect from this Creative Holiday

  • Be prepared to create three wonderful mosaic art works, learn new techniques, and work with a variety of materials.

  • Be prepared to sip our stunning wines or bubbles from time to time; we live literally adjacent to some famous vineyards.

  • Be prepared to experience breathtaking scenery, picturesque villages, friendly people, and different beaches at every turn. Our minivan and experienced driver will drive us around safely so we can soak up the beauty at our leisure.

  • Be prepared to be extremely busy this week with only great things to do, laugh, share stories and work, while experiencing another culture, making new friends, being creative and learn new skills, rejuvenate,relax and come back inspired.

  • Best thing however is you do not have to think about anything as we have it all covered: Airport transfer, excursions, further transports, entrance fees, wine tastings, mosaic materials, breakfast, most lunches and dinners, welcome and farewell drinks parties are all included and arranged for.


Accommodations

On our Atlantic Beach Estate  https://www.thelodgeatatlanticbeach.co.za/ you will stay at the Lodge, a five minute walk to our home where the studio is. The Lodge is 10 minute walk away from the beach so you will hearing the relaxing sounds of rolling waves throughout the day and night.  We have a pool at the Leisure center next to the Lodge, for you to use as a guest.

On the estate, you’ll see springboks jumping around on a daily basis, as it is the only golf course in the world where springboks are freely roaming over the full length of the course. Africa on your doorstep.

About the Mosaic Workshops

There will be over 20 hours of mosaic for us to cover; if youKarla 2 Art need more time, I can offer extended studio hours.

All mosaic materials and tools are all included in the price.

We’ll cover 3 different and unique styles of mosaic techniques designed by me. You can use these techniques to find your own voice in this medium.

The mosaic course is designed for beginners as well as more advanced students, as we all work on our own pace based on your mosaic experience. I do recommend having some experience in cutting techniques.

•   We’ll make a 20 x 20 cm (8″ x 8″) original abstract mosaic incorporating African Beadwork. You have now made your own souvenir from Africa!

•   We’ll explore a 20 x 20 cm (8″ x 8″) mosaic with paint and stacked beads only. The theme will be the inspiration from our surroundings, translated into an abstract landscape or a bird’s eye view scene. Another Cape Town souvenir in the pocket!

•   The last 20 x 20 cm (8″ x 8″)  mosaic we make is the one in which we combine all 3 techniques on a board. We’ll begin by painting and then add a combined mixture of beads and various mosaic materials on top of that.

Schedule

Sunday, November 8

17.00 – Until:   Welcome drinks and tapas dinner at the studio/house on the Estate, and get to know the other participants in a relaxing atmosphere. We’ll have an in-house art and mosaic tour and talk, while sipping bubbles from the region.

Monday, November 9

09.00 – 12.30:   Create an abstract mosaic with a beaded African artefact/ornament
12.30 – 13.00:   Lunch is served at the pool area
13.00 – 15.00:   Continue making mosaic
15.00 – 17.00:   Wine tasting at the nearby Wine Estate De Grendel https://degrendel.co.za
Evening free

Tuesday, November 10

09.00 – 13.30    Bead mosaic  “Ocean bird view scene”
13.30 – 14.00    Quick Lunch
14.00 – 20.00    Cape Town Excursion   www.waterfront.co.za/

Wednesday, November 11

09.00 -11.00     Mosaic course
11.00                 Departure for our excursion
12.30 – 14.00    Lunch at Spier     www.spier.co.za

14.30 – 16.30    Stellenbosch Galleries at Church Street, Town visit
16.30                 Sunset and drinks on the lawn of a wine farm
18.30                 Back at the hotel

Thursday November 12

09.00 – 11.00    Mosaic in the studio, third project begins
11.00 – 21.00    Box lunch as we tour the Cape peninsula, famous for beautiful scenery, beaches, and photo ops. Farmers market at Noordhoek vineyards. http://cpv.co.za/
19.30                  Head back to the hotel after rush hour; arrive around 21.00

Friday, November 13

09.00 – 12.30    Studio time to finish mosaic works and pack artwork for transport home
12.30 – 13.30    Lunch/relax at the house
13.30 – 16.00    Final touches on your mosaic artwork(s) and packaging
17.00 – 18.00    Drinks/canapés around the pool and evaluate the week
18.00                 Farewell Dinner at a seaside restaurant

Saturday, November 14

10.00                  Sadly checking out from our African adventure at the Lodge. Transport to the airport will be arranged. If you wish to extend your stay, please contact the hotel directly. If you travel further, we wish you a safe journey.

Terms  & Conditions

Price of the Mosaic and Art Retreat 2020
€1600 Euro per participant

What’s Included

  • Transport from and to CT International Airport

  • 6 nights luxury accommodation in double room with golf course views at the Atlantic Beach Estate Lodge including continental breakfast

  • Drinks and tapas on Sunday afternoon at the studio/house

  • Drinks and canapés on Friday afternoon next to the pool at the studio/house

  • Lunches at the studio, take away lunches and wine tastings. Entrance fees.

  • All tours mentioned in the itinerary

  • Mosaic course and most materials

What’s Not Included

  • Airfare tickets to and from Cape Town
  • Dinners in the evening (except from Sunday).  Local dinners are mostly inexpensive, between R100 and 200. Wine is around R40 for a generous glass.

More Images here!

About Karla  

Karla Duterloo is an award winning artist with years of experience in the field of moshttps://static.wixstatic.com/media/ce3446_aaf8f49442294898a8019b91bfa0844f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_276,h_275,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/IMG_0009.webpaic. Her expertise as a mosaic artist has allowed her t o develop a truly authentic and unique style. This is particularly recognisable in her series of Nguni and other wild animal heads (buck, kudu, deer and buffalo). She has sold her animal heads to both local and international art collectors from over 20 different countries. Beyond the obvious beauty of each individual animal head (as not one is the same) there lies a deeper value within the collection as a whole.

Upon moving to South Africa Karla quickly realised the threat to the countries dwindling wildlife numbers. Her collection of animal heads serves as a vehicle to spark dialogue about this issue. Keeping the work connected to the land she incorporates a variety of locally sourced items such as different beads and beadwork seen throughout the collection. This led her to collaborate with local crafts men who shared their insight about traditional colours and the history of beading within African culture and craft.

The driving force behind Karla’s work is her love and passion for all things colour. She has a series of small 20 by 20 (cm) mosaics that play with colour and form. Beyond mosaic, she is also a skilled abstract painter and as of recently has been experimenting with a body of work that seamlessly merges the artistry of mosaic and abstract painting together as a cohesive whole. Her latest is a series of beadwork mosaics of bird-eye-view seascapes.

As an artist, she is constantly striving for that innovative edge that keeps her art modern, relevant and dynamic whilst always staying true to her own style.

​Karla initiated and organised 2 successful global Mosaic Charity Projects,  (London 2012 and Nepal 2013)  and has been working on a Charity Mosaic Art Project in a children hospital in Cape Town.

Karla her work is featured in the various international mosaic books. Previous exhibitions in the UK, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy and South Africa. Her work is held in private and corporate collections in over 20 countries.

For More Information or To Register:

Contact Karla!

Mosaics in Ireland? Listowel Arts Festival with Mireille Swinnen

21 Feb

Listowel Arts Festival
June 20 – 24, 2018
Workshop Prices Vary

Coinciding with the summer solstice, this inaugural international fine art festival will celebrate the work of local and visiting visual artists, and harness our collective energies to collaborate, learn and create.

Belgian mosaic artist Mireille Swinnen will teach two workshops at the festival while in Listowel for an artist residency with Irish artist Olive Stack.

Mireille Ireland Festival, image by Brenda Pokorny

Work by Student Brenda Pokorny

Workshop: Mosaic – River of Smalti
Instructor: Mireille Swinnen
Date: Friday June 22 – Sunday, June 24, 2018
Time: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
Skill Level: All Levels
Venue: Olive Stack Gallery
Fee: €400 (includes materials)
Maximum Participants: 8

In this three-day workshop you’ll get a chance to experience what it is like to work with smalti in a painterly style, but more importantly how to work with a full palette of colors in smalti. Starting out from an image you bring in or one we find together, the instructor will help you translate your image into mosaic by explaining one-on-one and every step along the way what choice of colors to use, what shape to give your tesserae, what andamento to use, where to put your lights and darks, why to use warm or cold colors, why big or small pieces, etc etc., until you achieve the desired result.

This is a fool-proof procedure.  No matter what your skills are, you will go home with a serious understanding of what smalti can do for your mosaics and the piece that you walk away with will be a work of art, not just a sample.

As a surplus and to further your better understanding of good mosaics, each day, the instructor will show a vast array of mosaics on powerpoint for you to examine and for her to demonstrate how these powerful techniques are used in the very appealing works of the Spilimbergo students, one of the major mosaic schools in Italy.

Mireille Micro Mosaics Ireland WorkshopWorkshop: Micro Mosaic
Instructor: Mireille Swinnen
Date: Wed 20th & Thurs 21st June 2018
Time: 9.30am – 5.30 pm
Skill Level: All Levels
Venue: Olive Stack Gallery
Fee: €150 (Includes Materials)
Maximum Participants: 9

In this two day workshop, you’ll learn how to cut and manipulate pre-shaped filati in order to create a unique pendant.  Various shapes of filati will be introduced and the different use of the petals and shapes will be demonstrated to form a variety of flowers.  Mireille will discuss possible types of adhesives and traditional filati cutting, as well as the resources to obtain these kinds of materials.

Listowel Visual Arts Week welcomes the return of many former Olive Stack Gallery Artists in Residence to teach workshops, exhibit and reunite with friends in Listowel – the creative home of this growing international family of artists! The festival will mark the 20th anniversary of Olive Stack Gallery (Est 1998), celebrate the residency and the growing and thriving visual arts scene in the heritage town of Listowel, Co Kerry, Ireland.

See the full list of classes offered or register here.

SONY DSCAbout Mireille:

Mireille is Belgian by nationality but has lived abroad all her adult life. She spent the past four years on a tour through California teaching workshops on how to use smalti in a painterly style, her preferred medium of expression. Mireille is a proud and celebrated member of Society of American Mosaic Artists and Contemporary Mosaic Artists. Her work his widely coveted and collected.

Over the next three years, Mireille hopes to bring much-needed foreign exposure and new techniques to her most dedicated students in her Belgium based studio, the Orsoni studio in Venice, Italy, and through sporadic tours to the US East and West coast.

 

Israel Mosaic and Holy Land Workshop

18 Jan

Israel Mosaic and Holy Land Workshop,
with Sibel Hananel and Dafna Birger
October 3 – 14, 2018
$3300, Double Occupancy; $4300, Single Occupancy

Mosaics in IsraelThe plans for Kismet Mosaic’s second annual trip have been finalized. Our destination is the beautiful and historical Holy Land, Israel. Sibel Hananel, an avid mosaic artist from Israel, has been instrumental in the planning of this trip and join us on our incredible journey.

We’ll engross ourselves in rich history, beautiful art and museums, biblical sites, mosaic sites and spend 3 full days in a mosaic workshop. Come join us for this once in a lifetime trip.Mosaic by Dafna Birger

Workshop: Embroidery in Stone

A 3-day (5 hours per day) stone mosaic workshop is included in the tour. We’ll create a carpet design, 25×25 cm, working with a special tool for stones. We’ll learn all the steps of making a stone mosaic work, from cutting and laying the tesserae to andamento, color combinations and other tips from Dafna’s stone mosaic technique.

Itinerary

  • Oct 3:  Arrive Ben Gurion Airport, drive to Jerusalem; welcome dinner and overnight Jerusalem
  • Oct 4:  Visit Jerusalem Old City and Israeli Antiquity Authority where they restore antique mosaics. Jerusalem visit and free time for dinner at Mamila Center; overnight Jerusalem
  • Oct 5:  Visit Israel Museum, Yad va Shem, Holocaust Museum (optional), Mahne Yehuda Market, Dead Sea, Good Samaritans Mosaic Museum, St. Gerasimos Church (Deir Hajla) mosaics; dinner and overnight at Kibboutz Kalia Guest hotel
  • Mosaics in IsraelOct 6:  Dead Sea Mud Bath, Qumran, ride and overnight in Tiberias
  • Oct 7:  Tiberias, Sea of Galilee. Visit mosaic and biblical sites, dinner, overnight Tiberias
  • Oct 8:  Ride to Tel Aviv; visit Haifa and Caesarea antique mosaic site; overnight Tel Aviv
  • Oct 9:  Tel Aviv highlights: Old Jaffa, Neve Zedek, Nahalat Binyamin; overnight Tel Aviv
  • Oct 10:  3-Day Workshop with Dafna Birger, 10 – 5 daily; overnight Tel Aviv
  • Oct 11:  Workshop with Dafna Birger, visit Tel Aviv Museum; overnight Tel Aviv
  • Oct 12:  Workshop with Dafna Birger; overnight Tel Aviv
  • Oct 13:  Free day to explore Tel Aviv, beaches; overnight Tel Aviv
  • Oct 14:  Check out and transfer to the airport for departure home

Included

  • Mosaics in Israel11 nights, 12 days
  • All hotels (rated 4-star by Trip Advisor)
  • 3 museum entrances: (1 in Jerusalem – Israel museum), (1 in Dead Sea – Qumran entrance) and (1 in Tel Aviv – Israel Art Museum)
  • Transportation, driver and transfers
  • Professional guide for 5 days
  • Full-time service of a professional tour leader

Mosaics in IsraelNot Included

  • Airfare
  • Tips for tour guide, driver, hotel housekeeping
  • Trip Insurance (We’re working on a group plan if you wish to purchase. NOTE: Trip insurance is STRONGLY advised)

About the Instructor and Organizers

Sibel Hananel:
I am originally Turkish and lived all my life in Istanbul until four years ago. I was a tourist guide for Israeli people in Antalya, Bodrum, Marmaris and Istanbul for 15 years. Seven years ago I started to mosaic, and since then I’m into mosaics more than everything else in my life. Four years ago, my father was very ill and we immigrated to Israel for the treatments. I needed to work but did not know on what. I was in contact with some great mosaic artists across the world and asked Giulio Menossi if he could give a workshop; this is how i started to bring mosaic masters to Israel and Istanbul.
I’ve organized workshops with:
Giulio Menossi: 5 workshops in Israel and 2  in Istanbul
Mia Tavonatti: 2 workshops
John Sollinger: 2 workshops and two more planned
Dino Maccini: 4 workshops in Israel
Laura Rendlen: 3 workshops
Leenart Koorman: Dutch portraiture painter and acrylic modern portraiture painting class
Presentation Evenings: Artists named above and Lilian Broca
Mosaic Mural: On 2014 we had a very serious war and in this war time, under the sirens, I organized all my mosaic artist friends to create a mosaic mural for the children’s department at Barzilay Hospital in Ashkelon. The design was created and donated by dearest, great artist and friend Lilian Broca.
I also import mosaic tools, chopping machines, glass and natural stones that we do not have in Israel.
I’m very excited to show you MY ISRAEL.

Dafna Birger
My family was among the founders of the community about 100 years ago, and in 1996, after a longer career of 25 years in the IDF and academic studies, I turned to the field of art and creativity. Prior to my retirement I studied goldsmithing, a carpentry course of the Ministry of Labor and painting on wood by the best artists in these fields. I opened a studio in the yard of Kfar Malal in 1988, with the help of my husband who is in charge of the logistics fields, and in 2004 I started practicing mosaic art.

Carrie Seabrook
Owner of Kismet Mosaic since November 2015. Began my mosaic life in early 2014.
Was in the IT field as computer programmer for 30 years. My current life is surrounded by mosaic. I can’t get enough! Aside from creating mosaic art whenever I can, I took over ownership of Kismet Mosaic so that could bring delightful mosaic pieces to everyone. I love to travel and thus wanted to join my love of mosaic with ancient, beautiful locations.

For More Information or To Register

Please email Carrie (carrie@kismetmosaic.com) or call (856-777-2155) for detailed information.

 

Italy Tour + Ravenna Festival with Kismet Mosaic

21 Mar

Mosaic Inspiration: A Tour in Italy during International Festival of Contemporary Mosaics with Mini-Workshop
Kismet Mosaic
October 3 – 10, 2017

4400 €

Italy with Kismet MosaicJoin us as we take a tour of the rich mosaic history of Italy that culminates in Ravenna during the International Festival of Contemporary Mosaics. This tour is geared towards travelers who want to ‘see’ great works of mosaic art versus many days of workshops. We will also visit factories that make some of the finest mosaic glass. If you are new to mosaic art or want to find inspiration, then this is your trip.

The tour starts in Milan to see the wonderful mosaics in two of its main churches.  The journey moves next to Venice, where the gold of mosaics is reflected in the lagoon.
Italy with Kismet MosaicA short tour of Effetre Murano is planned to see their amazing Millefiori. (Bring an empty suitcase for products you want to buy.) We also visit Fornace Orsoni, one of the finest smalti factories in Italy. Moving on the Adriatic Coast, we will visit Friuli Venezia Giulia where mosaics have been preserved dating back to the 4th-11th centuries. A tour of Spilimbergo mosaic art school is planned. Finally, we go to Ravenna, the capital of mosaics where we will participate in the International Festival. A workshop will be planned in Ravenna based on the traveler’s desires. If you want to extend your end date, then take a workshop in Ravenna for extended days. If you can only spend the 8 days on this tour, then take a partial day workshop in Ravenna.

Italy with Kismet MosaicThe tour is curated by Silvia Togni, who was born in Ravenna and worked many years in a mosaic arts factory. Mosaic is her passion and she specializes in thematic itineraries. This specific trip has been designed for a limited number of travelers (about 10) to keep it small and personal, and thus the higher price.

Itinerary:

  • Milan
  • Venice
  • Murano
  • Spilimbergo School
  • Ravenna
  • International Festival of Contemporary Mosaics

Italy with Kismet MosaicHighlights:

  • Four star hotels
  • All breakfasts, lunches and dinners are included
  • All tour admissions are included
  • Transportation and transfers all included
  • Full–time service of a professional tour leader
  • All tips for guides and drivers included

$500 deposit to hold a spot

Contact carrie@kismetmosaic.com for detailed information.

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Wanna Teach? Mosaic Instructor Training in Mexico with Laurel True

18 Jan

Mosaic Instructor Training with Laurel True
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
March 12 – 18, 2017
$2,050

Training for Instructors of Beginning and Intermediate Level Workshops

Workshops with Laurel True“I’m so happy to be returning to Hacienda Mosaico this Spring to teach an exciting new workshop. After training literally thousands of students over the past two and a  half decades, I have decided it’s a great time to offer instruction and  support for current and future mosaic instructors to take out into the  world. Many of my former students have expressed a desire to teach mosaic workshops; others are dipping their toes in and say they would love some guidance and support.

I’ve carefully developed this workshop in order to pass on my knowledge and experience to help educate great teachers.”  ~ Laurel True

Artist Laurel True brings 25 years of experience in mosaic instruction, curriculum development, and business of mosaics to an intensive workshop focusing on teacher training for mosaic artists at Hacienda Mosaico.

This 5-day intensive workshop provides participants with a unique opportunity to learn organization and methodology for running mosaic workshops for beginning and intermediate level students. The curriculum is suitable for both new and experienced educators who would like to refine or add mosaic techniques to their teaching practice.

Laurel will present organizational and marketing strategies, tips on designing workshops for students of various skill levels, and methodology for teaching mosaic techniques effectively using glass, ceramic, and mixed media.

Mosaic Instructor Training with Laurel TrueThe workshop includes hands-on studio time during which workshop participants will be guided in the creation of a set of useful teaching tools to take home, including a set of essential sample boards and visual aids that illustrate materials, techniques, color, pattern, and setting styles (these will be lightweight and easy to pack). Students will also experiment with various sample projects that illustrate how beginning and intermediate skills are developed.

An extensive training manual is included in the workshop fee, as well as sample design patterns and templates for class handouts. Resources will be given for ordering wholesale material, studio supplies, and tools.

Mornings will include discussions around the philosophy of teaching, personal goals and expectations, and group dynamics, as well as addressing joys and fears, aligning one’s teaching practice with core values and how teaching others can greatly contribute to our own well-being.

Students will come away from the workshop with the confidence and knowledge needed to be a great teacher.

Each student will receive a Certificate of Completion at the end of the workshop from the Global Mosaic Project.

Additional Topics Covered:

  • Design, timing and structure of mosaic workshops (single and multiple day, ongoing)
  • Organizing information delivery
  • Subject-specific workshops
  • Workshops away from the studio
  • Classroom set-up and safety
  • Syllabi and teaching notes
  • Flow and timing of information delivery
  • Effective demonstration of proper tool use and setting techniques
  • Student relations and keeping workshops on track
  • Tips for pricing and promoting workshops and classes for different markets
  • Budgeting for materials, tools and supplies
  • Formalizing agreements with host venues/teaching spaces
  • Dos and don’ts during the workshop and while teaching
  • Fostering a positive experience for students
  • Images of classroom setups, classes in session, organizations of rooms, and examples of beginner and intermediate student work

Investment Includes:

  • 32 hours over 5 days of seminar-style information presentation and hands-on learning
  • Certificate of Completion
  • Handout templates for beginning and intermediate workshops covering vocabulary, adhesives, materials, tools, substrates, and grouting
  • Extensive resource sheets for wholesale and discount materials
  • Sample syllabuses and organizational structure for 1/2 day, 1 day, 2 day and multi-class ongoing workshops
  • Tools, supplies, and materials checklists needed for teaching and studio set-up
  • Advance copy of Laurel’s upcoming book, Teaching Mosaics: Essential Knowledge for Mosaic Instructors in .pdf format

AND:

  • 6 nights in colorful, inspiring accommodations
  • Healthy and nourishing breakfast and lunch daily

 

Accommodations: Hacienda Mosaico

For More Information or to Reserve Your Space:
Contact Sam @ info@haciendamosaico.com.  Trip insurance is strongly advised! Travel Insurance 101: How to Protect Your Vacation. This “plain language” tutorial will explain travel insurance so you can easily find the right plan.

About Laurel: Laurel True is an artist, educator and community builder based in New Orleans. She has been creating architectural, public and community-based mosaic art for almost 25 years. Working with ceramic tile, glass, mirror and recycled building materials such as brick, concrete and asphalt, she designs and creates murals and sculptural forms for public, commercial and residential settings, and as street art around the globe. True is the co-founder of the Institute of Mosaic Art in California and has fostered education in the mosaic arts through teaching and lecturing around the world. She has lectured and taught internationally for the past 20 years. True is the Founding Director of The Global Mosaic Project, an organization that creates community-based artwork and provides art education and entrepreneurial training to under-served communities in urban environments and developing areas. She has created and facilitated hundreds of projects over the last two decades, training thousands of project participants, students, apprentices and volunteers in the US, Africa, Europe, Latin America and Haiti. Website: True Mosaics

Spring in Todos Santos with Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art

28 Dec

Spring in Todos Santos, Mexico
with Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art
April 2 – 8, 2017 OR
April 9 -15, 2017
$1,699.00, Double Occupancy

Imagine creating art with spectacular ocean views to inspire you, beautiful gardens and pools to relax you, and a personal chef to prepare gourmet meals to sustain you. This is just the beginning of the Todos Santos mosaic art retreat.

Todos Santos with Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art

Todos Santos with Santa Barbara School of Mosaic ArtYou’ll spend one full week creating mosaic art in one of the most creative and peaceful settings on the Baja Peninsula, the pueblo magico of Todos Santos. Accommodations for this retreat will be at the beautiful boutique hotel, Los Colibris Casitas. Los Colibris has 8 wonderfully inviting casitas, each with comfortable beds, great bathrooms and private patios from which you can enjoy the amazing scenery and ocean views. The infinity pool and hot tub are great for star gazing and observing the humpback and grey whales that are often visitors at certain times of year.

These workshops are created with the beginner in mind.  We just ask that you come with a creative spirit and fun positive energy!

At this retreat students will learn how to create a mosaic with Mexican smalti, the vibrant and wonderful glass tiles from Cuernavaca Mexico.  Participants will learn how to create a design or abstract.  We’ll then move on to deciding color choices, how to lay out the design, proper cutting techniques and proper adhesion.

Todos Santos is an artist colony on the Tropic of Cancer, just one hour north of Cabo San Lucas, but an entire world away. Nestled next to 70 miles of pristine, undeveloped beach, Todos Santos is famous for the remarkable quality of its light, which drew the first American artists from Taos in the 1980s. Since then, artists of all stripes and nationalities have populated the town, which is a charming reflection of their passions with wonderful restaurants, art galleries, and shops. The people of Todos Santos are warm and welcoming, and love sharing the pleasures of their hometown with visitors. The beaches of nearby Pescadero and Cerritos are added bonuses.

Retreat Price:  $1,699.00 (based on double occupancy).

Included:

  • Airport transfer on arrival and departure (within time frames)Todos Santos with Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art
  • 6 nights lodging at Los Colibris
  • Sunday evening welcome dinner and reception
  • 5 full breakfasts & 5 lunches  by local Chef Iker
  • Last night cooking class and dinner with Chef Iker
  • Refreshing agua fresca throughout the work day
  • Evening transportation into town
  • Partial materials for mosaic piece

Instruction: 5 days from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.  More work time will be available if desired.

Todos Santos with Santa Barbara School of Mosaic ArtYou’ll have plenty of free time to explore Todos Santos and its surrounding areas. Popular activities include hiking, beach walks, whale watching, gallery strolls, and shopping. There will also be excursion options that can be booked through Todos Santos Eco Adventures if you choose to extend your stay. Massage and yoga are offered at Los Colibris (Los Colibris’ yoga deck sits at the highest point of the property on the tropic of cancer, and has one of the most amazing views of the Pacific). Room selections will be made in order of full payments received. Here are a few websites to check out: Los Colibris Hotel, Todos Santos Eco Adventures, Todos Santos Eco Adventures Facebook, and Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art.

For More Information or to Register: Read more here. Email Tami here or call 805.703.4291.

About Tami:

Mosaics in MexicoI’m a professional mosaic artist and teacher. I’ve been creating art all my life, and mosaic art for almost 20 years. In 2009 I started the Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art based on my love for mosaic art and desire to share my passion with other creative people.

I’ve vacationed in Todos Santos several times in the past four years and have stayed at Los Colibris each trip.  I love the rustic and quaint feeling of Todos Santos, and Los Colibris is the perfect location for the accommodations and creating a wonderful environment for this mosaic retreat.

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Mosaic, Yoga, Creative Writing in Bali

5 Sep

Mosaic, Yoga, Creative Writing in Bali, Indonesia
with Christine Kenneally and Cait Scudder
January 6 – 14, 2017
$2450 Per Person Double Occupancy, Before October 1, Singles Available
$250 Discount if You Sign Up with a Friend

Mosaic Art RetreatsDo you long to inhabit your life more fully? Are you ready to transform old stories that keep you small, rearrange the pieces and start living from your most expansive, expressive self? Do you long to embody your divine feminine essence and let your radiance shine? Do you desire connection with sisters that raise your vibration and empower your purpose? Are you ready to receive and be led by the abundant, ever-present flow of life in and around you? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you know it is time. This retreat is for you!

Join us for this 9-day, 8-night journey of a lifetime on the magical island of Bali:

·  Yoga, Breath Work & Embodied Movement
·  Creative Writing & Expression Exercises to Strengthen Voice & Invoke Transformation
·  Daily Lessons in the Ancient Alchemical Art of Mosaic – Return home with several original pieces!
·  Traditional Balinese Blessing Ceremony with Local Priest & Priestess
·  Mantra, Singing and Chanting for Heart Opening and Chakra Activation
·  Sisterhood, Sacred Circle Rituals, Visualization and more!

Included:

  • Accommodation (double occupancy) with daily housekeeping service
  • All VEGETARIAN meals at the retreat center, which include breakfasts, lunches, dinners and refreshments
  • Complimentary drinking water for the duration of the retreat — we offer mountain spring water which is UV filtered
  • Mosaic Art RetreatsFree WIFI Access (use own laptop)
  • A complimentary massage at the retreat center spa, and additional spa services available
  • Airport Transfer from Ubud to the retreat center
  • Guided Trek to the local Bali Hindu temple in the mountain forest
  • All materials and tools for making mosaics. We provide a variety of materials (glass, pottery, stone, etc) and the substrates for building the mosaics on as well as adhesive and grout. We provide hand tools for cutting materials. If you would like, you may bring any special objects you would like to incorporate into your mosaics. We will be working in a variety of techniques, both direct and indirect. You will make a series of several small mosaic wall panels, and if you wish, you can make a unique piece of wearable mosaic art — jewelry!

A word about the food:

The retreat center restaurant uses the freshest produce, organically grown when possible. The menu features both Western and Asian cuisine including many Balinese specialties.

They cater for vegetarian/vegan preferences, gluten-free, soy free, lactose intolerance and special diets when required. They introduce as many fresh local products as possible when in season.

Leaders:

Mosaic Art RetreatsChristine Kenneally is a mosaic artist and instructor from Easthampton, MA. She has been teaching the art of mosaics to adults and teens since 2007 and falls in love with the creative process every time she witnesses a student experience it. Her personal mosaic work is inspired by nature and light and of the potential for healing and re-telling a story through bringing together broken pieces.

Mosaic Art RetreatsCait Scudder, MAT, RYT-500is a yoga teacher, writer and vitality coach who leads workshops and retreats on creativity, yoga and the art and practice of transformation around the world. She is passionate about creating safe spaces that build community, unleash flow, and inspire a return to the big questions of Who We Are and Why We Are Here. Her joyful leadership empowers others to witness and celebrate the fullness of who they are and courageously expand and express their unique gift to the world from a place rooted in authenticity, cultivated practice and activated joy.

For More Information or To Register, click here.

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Irish at Heart Artisan Tour and Workshop

17 Aug

Irish at Heart Artisan Tour and Workshop
with Jean Cauthen, Laura McRae-Hitchcock, and Pam Goode
Painting, Mosaic, Creative Writing
May 19 – 28, 2017
$2600, Double Occupancy; $3100, Single Occupancy

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee,
And live alone in the bee loud glade.  ~ William Butler Yeats

Join us for a tour along the wondrously wild Atlantic coast of Ireland as we visit the artisans inspired by this land of rugged natural beauty. We’ll also offer a wide range of classes in painting, mosaic, plein air work, and creative writing, as well as demos by local artists.

Our base will be Listowel in County Kerry, only eight miles from the sea and a thriving town filled with Irish charm, fabulous locally grown food, theatre, art, traditional pubs, scones to die for, parks and a lush riverwalk, castle ruins, and easy access to all parts of a country you can drive across in five hours.

Days will be spent in your choice of a variety of classes, plein air painting sessions, open studio, lecture/demos, and artist visits. Evenings will include a gourmet Irish cooking class, local music, local theatre, pub theatre featuring local writers (and insanely good Guinness), and local cuisine.

Excursions begin with the Cliffs of Moher, a half-day visit to one of the Aran Islands, and a ferry ride for a close-up and personal view of the cliffs and bird life from the water. A mid-week excursion will take us to the atmospheric Dingle Peninsula, with incredible coastline views from Slea Head Drive and visits to several of the local artisans who create here. Along the way we’ll have stops for painting and/or photography and shelling.

Accommodations

Ireland TravelGroup accommodations will be at Listowel Arms Hotel, Town Square. The hotel features double and single rooms with private bath, town or river views, restaurant, bar, sitting areas, and a delightful terrace on the river. The Arms is located one block from our studio space at Olive Stack Gallery; additionally some classes may be held at the hotel. One night may be at the Cliffs on Ballybunion Beach. Lodging for our Ballyvaughan overnight will be at a hotel similar to the Arms.

Workshop Space

In addition to plein air painting in numerous locations around town and beyond, mosaic workshops and Open Studio will be held in the bright and spacious studio at Olive Stack Gallery. Other locations may include the Listowel Arms and personal artist studios. Transportation will be provided if necessary.

Workshop Options by Jean, Laura and Pam

All registrants will be able to participant in any and all workshops of their choosing, time permitting, regardless of medium or instructor. Workshops are still being added, but selections will include:

  • Plein Air Painting (Multiple Options)
  • Studio Painting
  • Building a Pochade Box for Plein Air Painting
  • Photograph Manipulation for Painting or Mosaic
  • Working with Color
  • Mosaic Landscapes
  • Mosaic Techniques
  • Encaustic Demonstration by Olive Stack
  • Painting Demonstration by Jim Dunne
  • Cooking Class
  • Creative/Travel Writing for Journals
  • Quick Sketch
  • Travel Watercolor Journaling
  • Pebble/Sea Glass Jewelry
  • Open Studio

NOTE: Local participants are welcome to register for classes a la carte. Please contact Laura to be added to the mailing list when the schedule is finalized.

Tentative Schedule, Subject to Change

  • Painting in IrelandThursday, May 18: Depart for Ireland, Shannon Airport (SNN)
  • Friday, May 19: Morning Shannon Arrival, group airport pickup at Noon, departure for Cliffs of Moher and overnight in Ballyvaughan
  • Saturday, May 20: Ferry to and morning on Aran Islands, ferry beneath Cliffs of Moher, transfer to Listowel, hotel check-in and dinner (included)
  • Sunday, May 21: Morning and Afternoon workshops of your choice, painting demo and talk by Jim Dunne, local painter and muralist, walking tour of Listowel with local historian, cooking class for half the group, others dinner at Listowel Arms (included)
  • Monday, May 22: Morning and Afternoon workshops or plein air painting, Encaustic demo and talk by Olive Stack, local artist, cooking class for half the group, others dinner at Listowel Arms (included)
  • Tuesday, May 23: Early Departure for Dingle Peninsula, tour, visit artisans, paint, photography, return to Listowel, dinner Listowel Arms (included)
  • Wednesday, May 24: Morning and Afternoon workshops or plein air painting, local discovery excursions, BBQ with Olive Stack (included)
  • Thursday, May 25: Morning and Afternoon workshops or plein air painting, local discovery excursions, dinner on your own, optional event at St. John’s Theatre
  • Friday, May 26: Morning workshop or plein air painting, exhibition set-up, Gallery Exhibition and Reception for group, 6-9:00 Club with locals, Pub Theatre
  • Saturday, May 27: Open Studio and interactive exercises,  farewell lunch catered by Lizzie’s Little Kitchen (included), mid-afternoon departure for Shannon, tour of local ruins and local lore with Damian, dinner on your own, Park Inn Hotel (one-minute walk from Shannon Airport Check-In) (included)
  • Sunday, May 28: Return Flights

Cost: $2600 Per Person, Double Occupancy; $3100 Per Person, Single Occupancy. DISCOUNTS: Payments by check or cash may deduct $75 from the final payment. $100 Discount for those not participating in any classes. $100 Discount for repeat students of Jean Cauthen, Laura McRae-Hitchcock, or Pam Goode. Maximum allowed discount is $175 from total price. Discounts do not apply to local à la carte students.

Included

  • Airport Transfer Both Ways on Dates Shown Only
  • 9 Nights Lodging
  • 4 Dinners, 1 Lunch, 9 Breakfasts
  • All Excursions, Transportation, Admissions Listed
  • All Artist Demos Listed

Not Included

  • Airfare
  • Meals Not Listed Above
  • Alcohol
  • Personal Purchases or Excursions
  • Trip Insurance (Recommended)

What They Say

“I would follow you anywhere.” California. “It was truly one of the top adventures of my life.” Michigan. “This trip has been so far beyond anything I expected.” Anon. “Everything was simply wonderful!  From the perfect location, size and comfort of our apartment to the transportation, to your generous spirits. But I most appreciated the pace of the trip as I never felt rushed or pushed and the free time gave me space to explore alone.  All of my needs were met beyond my expectations. I have already recommended you to someone and will gladly do so over and over again.” Montana

To register or for more information, email Pam. The combined information/fine print/registration form includes payment information, travel insurance suggestions, deadlines, etc. Information on flights, accommodations, and a full list of workshops will be emailed to participants. Registrations will be accepted with 50% payment.

Affiliations: This workshop is part of the Ciel Abroad program at Ciel Gallery, and is also affilitated with Olive Stack Gallery in Listowel, County Kerry.

About the Instructors

Ireland Art WorkshopJean Cauthen grew up in Naples, Italy, New Orleans and the Carolinas, completing her education with an MFA  (Painting and Drawing) at James Madison University in Virginia. Her art career has led her to Moscow, Russia as a set designer, and she regularly returns to Italy (sometimes with students). When not working plein air, she creates large scale paintings in her studio near Charlotte, NC. “My concentration is simple. No matter the subject, my focus is color against color. Shape with shape. Mark to mark. From this, and with care, expression and meaning can emerge.” www.jeancauthen.com

Ireland Art WorkshopLaura McRae-Hitchcock has been painting for over 30 years. She is a partner artist and teacher with Ciel Gallery and recent Artist in Residence at Olive Stack Gallery in Listowel, Ireland. Additionally, she is a 2016 participant in the nationally celebrated ArtPop program and grant recipient from the Arts and Science Council. “I try to get to the heart of the matter….my heart, that is. I’ve given up trying to be perfect, and instead I focus on finding that space where my heart speaks with paint. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but wow, what a ride it is!”   www.lauramcraehitchcock.com

Ireland Art WorkshopPam Goode is a mosaic artist, writer, founding partner at Ciel Gallery, and founder of Mosaic Art Retreats. An avid traveler, Pam is most inspired by being in unfamiliar surrounds where every sight, every thought, is new. “I see everything differently — feel everything differently — and the ability to communicate my own transformation though art thrills me.” A lifelong writer, Pam has been creating mosaics for sixteen years, working with a wide variety of materials. “My goal is to bring a sense of joy, wonder, or peace to viewers. I need to create a mosaic that sings, that resonates, that helps you remember who you are and where you want to go with vibrating clarity.” www.pamelagoodemosaics.com

 

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Exterior Installations in Mexico with Bonnie Fitzgerald

1 Aug

Architectural Installations, Exterior Mosaics & Community Projects with Bonnie Hacienda Yucca CropBonnie Fitzgerald
January 15 -20, 2017
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
$1,875 Per Person, Double Occupancy

This is Bonnie Fitzgerald and Maverick Mosaics’ 5th trip to the Hacienda. We’re honored and very excited to be invited back to teach at the amazing educational environment that is Hacienda Mosaico.

Mosaics in MexicoThe primary focus of this workshop is exterior and large-scale mosaics and installations. For new students, this is the perfect opportunity to learn all about large-scale installations and community mosaic projects. Our workshop will guide you through the process of designing, fabricating and installing large-scale permanent mosaics for exterior or interior architectural settings. Each student will create several “studies” using various indirect mosaic techniques and a wide variety of materials. These exercise studies are invaluable, offering students’ time to explore materials and techniques that work best for projects they have in mind. Students are welcome to take their studies home for future reference. Additionally, you will gain experience in collaborative design, fabrication, and installation as a group by creating an architectural mosaic as a gift to the Hacienda.

Mosaics in Mexico

Mosaics in MexicoAlternate Focus: All students are welcome to create their own workshop and work on personal projects of any scale. Instructor will work with students one-on-one in advance to ensure you arrive at the Hacienda with appropriate materials. If you wish to create a personal mosaic to take home, you must submit a design concept to instructor in advance so materials can be sourced. Students are responsible for bringing their materials and the appropriate hand tools to cut their selected tesserae (mosaic pieces). Workshop includes a host of valuable hand-out materials and resource information.

All skill levels are welcome. Mosaic experience is helpful but not necessary.

Mosaics in MexicoA comprehensive presentation and lecture will cover creative and technical approaches best suited for community work. When many hands are involved there is magic to the art created, but there are lots of important planning steps to be considered. We will review the process of budgeting and bidding jobs, and share ideas for developing projects, recruiting and managing volunteers, and ways to gain the support of your local community. Students interested in exploring techniques to create a community based project will participate in a series of exercises to help master the appropriate method for their future projects. Materials list & instructions on packing will be sent after registration.

Mosaics in MexicoFor our gift mural to the Hacienda we’ll create a mosaic work in mixed materials and install the piece on Hacienda property using thin-set mortar. Everyone will gain valuable experience by participating in this hands-on exercise. In 2016 we created “Three Amigos” which are installed poolside to serenade you during meals!

Students are invited to a Hacienda welcome reception on Sunday evening, January 15. During our week together there will be tons of learning and lots of free time to explore Puerto Vallarta, shop or relax. After dinner each evening we offer optional instructor-supervised open studio. Students depart Saturday, January 21.

2017 Workshop Fee: $1,875

Included
Welcome Reception
6 Nights Lodging
5 Days of Instruction
5 Breakfasts & Lunches on Workshop Days Served Poolside
Unlimited Studio Use 24/7
Saturday Departure Brunch
Instructor will provide appropriate adhesives and a wide variety of mosaic materials; students are asked to contribute a small amount of materials for exercises and must bring their own mosaic hand tools.

To Register
A $500 deposit is required to reserve your spot. Maverick Mosaics is accepting payment for this workshop, via credit card, bank wire or check. A 3% discount is extended for cash or check payment. Contact instructor for details.

Please consider Trip Insurance

Mosaics in MexicoAbout the Instructor
Bonnie Fitzgerald is an artist, educator and author. As a past Executive Board Member of the Society of American Mosaic Artists (SAMA), Bonnie has long been instrumental in raising awareness of mosaic as an art form throughout the United States. Bonnie teaches workshops throughout North America, including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, and leads study tours to destinations in Europe. She is the author of Guide to Mosaic Techniques (2015) and 300+ Mosaic Tips, Techniques, Templates and Trade Secrets (2012), which have been translated into 5 languages. To learn more, visit maverickmosaics.com and bonniefitzgeraldart.com.

Take a Look!
To “see” the Hacienda experience have a look at the video from our 2013 trip.

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MORE Flora and Fauna in Costa Rica, January 2017!

6 May

Flora + Fauna in Costa Rica with Carol Shelkin and Pam Goode
January 7 – 15, 2017
San Ramon Area, Costa Rica
$1960 per person, Double Occupancy; $2360 Single Occupancy

Costa Rica Art Retreat


“There’s really only one way to venture into the rainforest in search of the life that teems there, and that is to still your body and mind and wait. Once you  give up the searching and simply watch for tiny flutters, everything around you is brilliantly alive”
~Pam Goode, 2016

Is it any wonder we can’t stay away? Please join Carol and Pam for our third retreat in the rainforest wilds of Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Art Retreat“The trip from airport to bliss is one of my favorite parts, no matter the route. Arriving late, I miss seeing shafts of light strain through sugarcane fronds along the Pan Am highway, so tall that there is only green and sky and blacktop as far as you can see. As a consolation gift, the dark hangs purple in swaths across the skies like aprons bulging with plums.

Yellow lights twinkle across the valleys with a decidedly un-citified lack of regimentation, taking on the look of teenagers strolling idly with no set agenda, lanterns in hand.

The night deepens and the empty winding road is steeper now. The living guard rails watch as we pass, while streams topped by one-lane bridges make their dash toward the Pacific. It is an unaccustomed bliss. These days, how often do I wander through the night? I drink it in.” ~ Pam Goode 2016

Costa Rica Art RetreatOur 2017 retreat will combine a five day mosaic realism workshop on the flora and fauna of Costa Rica led by Carol Shelkin with onsite organic farm and rainforest tours and an adventure or two (think water safaris, hot springs, butterfly gardens, lava hikes). Accommodations will be at glorious Finca Luna Nueva (New Moon Farm), a sustainable rainforest ecolodge and certified organic biodynamic farm with single or double lodge and cabin accommodations Costa Rica Mosaic Art Retreats(triples and quads also available), fabulous organic food grown and prepared onsite, panoramic open-air workspace with 24-hour accessibility, wifi, ionized pool, jacuzzi, and spa. Optional activities at an extra cost include guided Arenal Volcano Lava Hike, Butterfly Garden or Cloud Forest Tours, Zipline Canopy Tour, Rafting, or Hanging Bridge Canopy Tour.

Costa Rica Art Retreat“I wake to brilliant sunlight and a cacophony of birds at 6:15, a time of day I rarely see. The purple-flowering hedge that greets our front door is a-whirr with the ever ready wings of hummingbirds, and there’s a 28″ iguana lolling in the crook of a tree 10 feet beyond me. It’s a good morning, cool and bright, and coffee, tea, juice, organic eggs, rice and beans, and an array of tropical fruits await us.” Pam Goode, 2016

Costa Rica Art RetreatINCLUDED

  • Transfer from Juan Santamaria Airport in San Jose to the Lodge and Return Transfer
  • Eight Nights Accommodation (rooms will be assigned in the order received)
  • Seven Breakfasts, Seven Lunches, Seven Dinners when at Lodge
  • 5-Day Mosaic Workshop and Open Studio Time
  • Access to the Secondary Rainforest and Primary Rainforest
  • One Guided Farm Tour
  • One Guided Rainforest Tour
  • One River Safari with Transportation

Costa Rica Art Retreat


NOT INCLUDED

  • Airfare To and From Costa Rica
  • Optional Tours and Activities
  • Transportation for Optional Tours or Local Transportation (Arrangements Provided)
  • Offsite Meals
  • Trip Insurance (Recommended)
  • Gratuities
  • Departure Tax of $29
  • Alcohol, If Available

 

NEED TO KNOW

  • Retreat has a minimum of 6  and a maximum of 10. Please reserve early, but don’t make flight reservations until notified that we’ve met the minimum.
  • Participants will bring their own materials; details to follow. Packing Tips here.
  • Photos from our 2013 Retreat are here.

GOOD TO KNOW

  • Costa Rica Art RetreatTemperatures  for January average High 73, Low 59, with .4″ of Rain
  • Central Standard Time
  • Latitude: 10° North of the equator, with equal hours of light and darkness
  • Currency: US dollars are accepted pretty much everywhere, including tips
  • Electricity: 110, with standard US plugs
  • Fast Facts: Literacy rate 96.3%; Military abolished in 1948
  • Costa Rica is among the countries with the highest amount of protected land in the world; 25% of the nation is dedicated to park systems, reserves, or natural wildlife areas
  • Bridging the northern and southern most points of the two American contents, Costa Rica is the meeting point for a variety of cultures and a density of plant and animal species said to be unlike any other country in the world
  • Approximately 850 bird species, 9000 plant species, 34,000 insect species, 205 mammalian species, 220 reptilian species, and 160 amphibian species

ABOUT THE LEADERSCarol Shelkin Workshops

  • Read more about Carol Shelkin here. Contact Carol here.
  • Read more about Pam Goode here. Contact Pam here.

ABOUT THE ACCOMMODATIONS

  • Read more about Finca Luna Nueva here.

TO REGISTER

Contact Pam here for a reservation form.

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